DeBoer embraces chance to replace Saban at ’Bama
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Kalen DeBoer stood at a lectern, only a few feet from Nick Saban, and enthusiastically embraced the chance to both replace and learn from his larger-than-life predecessor.
The outsized expectations Saban leaves behind are a big part of that.
The former Washington coach, hired two days after Saban’s retirement, said he’s giving the 72-year-old excoach “100 percent access” to his program — saying he’d “be a fool not to” — and that Saban firmly wants the Crimson Tide’s success to continue. All that makes it easier to be the guy who replaces the guy who brought six national championships to Tuscaloosa in 17 years.
“I felt confident enough in my abilities, along with knowing that you have someone that wants this program to be so successful,” DeBoer said Saturday, speaking to reporters after he was introduced at Bryant-Denny Stadium. “I firmly, 100 percent believe that he wants nothing but the best. Some people when they leave, it’s like, ‘Eh, I want to be that legend and I don’t want it to be as good as it was when I was there.’
“That’s obviously not the case. He wants this thing to be even better. His legendary status will never be questioned.”
Saban and his wife, Terry, sat in the front row Saturday watching DeBoer address a room with dozens of Tide supporters and university brass. Then they slipped out without talking to reporters.
But Saban’s shadow still loomed. A huge photo of Saban and players hoisting a national championship trophy hung on the wall behind DeBoer as he talked to reporters.
University President Stuart R. Bell said Alabama found “the perfect person” to lead the program. But he drew loud applause when he gave a nod to Saban.
“Your legacy will forever be interwoven with the fabric of the university,” Bell said.
DeBoer spoke with Saban on the phone Friday morning and called him again the next morning. Saban has told ESPN he will keep an office at the stadium.
Still, it’s DeBoer’s moment. The 49-year-old from South Dakota was hired on Friday after leading Washington to the national championship game in his second season and earning Associated Press coach of the year honors. He’s 104-12 as a head coach, winning three NAIA national titles at alma mater Sioux Falls and quickly having success at Fresno State and Washington. He was 25-3 with the Huskies.
DeBoer was greeted by a large group of Alabama fans when he landed at the Tuscaloosa airport a little after 8:30 p.m. Friday, and others lined the path to the football building. He high-fived some fans before getting whisked away for a meeting with his new players.
SEATTLE — In five days, Washington went from the precipice of its first national title in more than three decades to a program in shambles.
The championship game — lost to Michigan.
It’s head coach — gone to Alabama.
It’s roster — many headed to the NFL draft, others already saying they’re headed to the transfer portal, including the presumptive next quarterback.
What was as a devastating week for Washington came to a conclusion on Friday when Kalen DeBoer left the school to take the head job at Alabama and the chance at being Nick Saban’s replacement with the Crimson Tide.
DeBoer walked away from the potential of a massive new contract with the Huskies for the opportunity of leading one of the premier programs in the country with resources and cachet that new Washington athletic director Troy Dannen couldn’t match.
But by doing so, DeBoer left a program facing an uncertain future and major challenges headed to the Big Ten starting next season with a roster that could be picked apart by the time a new coach is in place.
As edge rusher Zion Tuputola-Fetui posted on social media on Friday, “Sometimes we have to be reminded it’s all a business.”
“We are sad to see him leave and we did all that we could to keep Kalen at UW,” Dannen said in a statement Friday night.
It’s hard to find the downside in a 14-1 season that ended with playing for a national title. Even into the early moments of the fourth quarter of Monday’s 34-13 loss to Michigan, there were hopes that Washington could put together one more comeback and win the school’s first title since 1991.
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points, rebounds, assists (three) and steals (two). UAlbany, which led for the final 36:51 of the game, never got threatened to the point where Killings needed to gamble by overplaying Beagle.
“For me, it was my confidence level,” Newton said. “All my teammates try to push me. They know what I’m capable of, as you saw today. I’m not surprised.”
There was plenty of other support, too, in a game that saw Beagle limited to one point and five rebounds. He was averaging 13.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.
Sebastian Thomas led five double-figure scorers with 30 points, two shy of his career high, to go with seven assists. Amar’e Marshall
had 17 points and is averaging 15.8 over his past six games. Marcus Jackson scored 15 despite getting injured a couple of times in the second half. Aaron Reddish added 11, his third double-figure scoring output in the past four games.
As a team, UAlbany had its highest scoring output against a Division I foe this season.
“We scored 90 points,” Thomas said, “and Jonathan had one point. He usually averages 10-plus. Offensively, we can compete with anybody in the America East, but defensively, that’s where we’re going to win our games, and hopefully win a championship.”
The Danes helped their defense considerably by committing a season-low five turnovers, one in the second half. They had averaged 17.8 in their previous five
games and entered Saturday with a conference-leading 14.9 turnovers per game.
“We have the talent,” Killings said. “but we need the discipline. We’ll get challenged differently than we did today vs. UMass Lowell (on Thursday) and Bryant (next Saturday), but we took a big step. Valuing the ball is huge.”
Notes:
Jackson appeared to injure his ankle in the second half but returned to the game, then left for good after a hard fall with 2:03 remaining. “I think he’s OK,” Killings said. “He’s one of the toughest guys that we have, and he’ll battle his way back. I don’t think it’s anything serious.” … Guard Will Amica, who missed the previous two games with a hand injury, did not play because of a pulled hamstring, but Killings said “we’ll get him back out there pretty soon.”
The College of Saint Rose women’s basketball team rolled to a 61-47 victory over Adelphi on Saturday in a Northeast-10 Conference game in Garden City.
The Golden Knights outscored the Panthers 18-9 in the second quarter to take control and coasted to the win to climb to 11-2 and 7-2 in league action.