There are many formidable coaches, but can anyone truly compare to Nick Saban's 297-71-1 record? Especially, Kalen DeBoer, who is leading the Alabama Crimson Tide after him. An analyst has asked DoBoer to do his best and warned that it won't suffice.

“Generally speaking, but there was never, it's never going to be good enough. It was never going to be good enough,” CBS Sports' John Talty said on the July 18 episode of the Paul Finebaum Show. 

Saban left the Crimson Tide after an illustrious 17-year career with a 201-29 record. His Pro College Football record stands at 17-6. Those are some big shoes to fill, and the task seems almost impossible to fulfill. 

DeBoer has been a head coach for just six years and has already made six bowl game appearances. His record at major schools like Washington and Alabama is 57-17, but it is not quite enough. 

Saban’s legacy rests on the consistency in his delivery at Alabama. That quality of his has set the standard for other coaches in the future. It has proved incredibly difficult to surpass, as pointed out by Talty. 

“The consistency of the excellence that they had around here for so long. It was never going to live up to that,” he said on the podcast shared by ESPN College Football on YouTube. “And so there was always going to be this natural backlash.”

When Saban joined the Crimson Tide, he architected an overhaul that changed the program’s culture, status and record. Before him, the Crimson Tide under Mike Shula posted a 62-49 record from 1997–2006.

16 of Shula’s 26 victories were vacated after they were found to have violated NCAA guidelines. He was let go after the 2006 season, and the program welcomed Saban for an incredible run which began in 2007. 

The Crimson Tide and its fans are used to untouchable victories. DeBoer is under the crushing weight of Saban’s legacy and, set to face immense backlash over failure, including failures in landing coveted prospects.

Monshun Sales’ Indiana Hoosiers’ commitment flashes as an alarming misstep for Kalen DeBoer

On the afternoon of July 17, Monshun Sales, the nation’s top-ranked wide receiver prospect, announced his commitment to the Indiana Hoosiers. He made his decision known on The Pat McAfee Show and picked over Alabama, Texas, LSU, and Ohio State.

“Missing out on Monshun Sales feels like the biggest misstep of the Kalen DeBoer era, as this is a kid who should be set to play for Alabama,” Nicholas Rome of the Saturday Blitz wrote on July 17. 

This recruiting misstep exemplifies the backlash Talty warned about. Sales grew up in the Yellowhammer State and was nicknamed “Bama.” The Crimson Tide narrowly lost against the Hoosiers, as their recruiting class currently ranks 32nd nationwide. 

“The Nick Saban era isn't coming back to Tuscaloosa, and neither are the Pre-NIL days where the Alabama factor outweighed any other program,” Rome added further.

DeBoer and his staff have much to prove, but only time can tell how they will fare. 

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar