This off-season has been the busiest off-season for the Alabama Crimson Tide since the December of 2006. The sudden retirement of head coach Nick Saban marked the first time in over 17 years that Alabama had to make a major change in its identity. Six days after Saban retired, the team trusted Washington Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer to attempt to replicate the same impact that Saban consistently created. To make matters more difficult for the Crimson Tide, the team lost a large number of starters and potential future starters to the NCAA Transfer Portal. They also lost offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb for the same position with the Seattle Seahawks. There is optimism about the program, but Alabama might have the biggest culture shock the sport has ever.
Is Alabama Experiencing the Biggest Culture Shock in Cfb History?
Can Alabama Recover From Saban’s Retirement?
When a program-defining player or coach leaves, it can hinder a team. A couple of examples that come to mind include Bob Stoops for Oklahoma, Urban Meyer /Ohio State, Tim Tebow for Florida, and Tom Osborne /Nebraska. Most schools found success after the departure of a key individual, but they were never the same powerhouse.
For Saban leaving Alabama, the fear that the Crimson Tide will be an afterthought of national championship conservation for years to come is a real concern. Saban is one, if not the greatest head coach in college football history. A national title shouldn’t immediately be brought up just one month after DeBoer arrives in a new program, but the fans demand it because it was easy for Saban to create. DeBoer could be an incredible head coach in his first season, but if the team is short of a championship, fans and maybe current players will wonder if the program hired the wrong guy.
That was the case for most coaches after Osborne retired from Nebraska. The Cornhuskers never touched the conversation of championship contender at the end of a season. Florida has seen horrible quarterback play, outside of Kyle Trask and Anthony Richardson, after Tebow left. They were great passers, but not championship winners. Ohio State is starting to wonder if Ryan Day was the wrong decision after Meyer left the Buckeyes.
Alabama had a similar issue after the retirement of Paul “Bear” Bryant after the 1982 season. They had Ray Perkins for four seasons before he left for the NFL. They got lucky with Gene Stallings in the 1992 season with a national championship. After Stallings, however, Alabama has bad runs with Mike DuBose, Dennis Franchione, and Mike Shula. Not to mention Mike Price in 2003.
Who Is the Face of the Alabama Crimson Tide?
Saban was the face of the Crimson Tide and college football, for that matter, for several seasons. Now the program must find a new identity to carry their potential championship run next season. It will be up to the players and new coaches if Alabama can recover.
One current player who might be the new face of The Tide, or more, is Jalen Milroe. He is a player who has shown preservence all within a season. Milroe went from a tryout quarterback, who was benched to becoming one of the more prolific playmakers of college football that same season. Now Alabama will turn to him to lead an offense that once again experiences significant changes on the offensive side of the ball.
Defensively, Alabama lost some star players throughout the field. Among the biggest losses are edge rusher Dallas Turner, cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry and cornerback Terrion Arnold. These are players who are projected to be high picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. Immediate names that come to mind as new leaders defensively are edge rusher Deontae Lawson and long-time starter Malachi Moore. A defensive player can be the face of the team but they do not provide points on the scoreboard.
Not many Alabama fans would be able to point out DeBoer in a lineup like they would with Saban. Several fans will get their first real look at DeBoer in the 2024 Alabama A-Day Game that will be broadcast on ESPN on April 13. There Alabama will see more players that will attempt to be the face of Alabama.
