The Kalen DeBoer era of Alabama football started at approximately 8:37 central time.
That’s when the 28th head coach of the Crimson Tide touched down in Tuscaloosa National Airport on Friday night, hours after news of hire broke and just over two days following the retirement of DeBoer’s predecessor, the legendary Nick Saban. Saban famously had a crowd awaiting him 17 years ago when he accepted the job.
“ALA-BAMA, ALA-BAMA,” rang through the hastily assembling crowd, phone apps recording the temperature at 50 degrees.
Hymns of “Dixieland Delight” ran out as fans awaited DeBoer’s plane, including his wife, Nicole, two daughters Alexis and Avery, and Washington team general manager Courtney Morgan. UA athletics director Greg Byrne pulled up and shook hands with fans, sharing “Roll Tides.”
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Byrne, who reportedly had a 72-hour time self-imposed frame to replace Saban, joked with reporters that he was tired. But it was all smiles once DeBoer arrived in a gray quarterzip. After hanging out with the fans for a beat, DeBoer piled into the back of a Black SUV, Byrne in the driver’s seat and set off toward campus.
“Coach DeBoer has proven he is a winner and has done an incredible job as a head coach at each of his stops. One of the things I told our team the other day is we are going to get someone who is not only a great coach with the Xs and Os, but also someone who cares about his players and someone I’d want my sons to play for, just like I would have wanted them to play for Coach Saban. We got that in Coach DeBoer,” Byrne said in a release provided by the program.
Fans and more news cameras awaited their arrival at the Mal M. Moore Athletic Facility, cheering as players gathered for a 9 p.m. mandatory team meeting. DeBoer entered through a side door in the parking lot and began his tenure leading the Crimson Tide.
He will be officially introduced in Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday at 1 p.m.
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Kalen DeBoer Arrival 2024
Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at NAlvarez@al.com.
Ismael Camara has announced a verbal commitment to the Texas Longhorns.
Camara is an extremely talented 2027 five-star offensive lineman prospect, and he currently attends Gilmer High School in Texas. His decision leaves the Tide with one offensive lineman commit in Stafford Willis.
The Longhorns beat out Alabama, LSU, Oregon, SMU, Texas A&M and others to snag a commitment from Camara. The Crimson Tide hosted Camara during the spring, and Alabama’s offensive line coach Adrian Klemm once had the Tide trending with Camara.
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“Coach Klemm has three Super Bowl rings as a player and has coached at the highest levels,” Camara said while previously discussing Klemm. “He is someone I look up to because he has been where I want to go. He runs his offensive line room like an NFL offensive line room because that is what he knows and where he is from. I think the best way to sum up our relationship is respect.”
It is likely Alabama will end this cycle with only one offensive lineman commit in what is expected to be a small class.
Justin Smith is the Managing Editor and Lead Writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine with over 10 years of writing experience & expertise. Smith has consistently delivered high quality, extensively researched information on the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide football team that fans can trust. Smith is official credentialed media with the University of Alabama under Touchdown Alabama Magazine. He is also the Director of Recruiting for Touchdown Enterprises, specializing in scouting and analyzing high school recruits around the nation, specifically focusing on recruits within the state of Alabama.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. –An estimated 30,000 fans packed the State Capitol grounds Friday night for a concert by country band Alabama, according to officials.
The band, known for hits such as “Mountain Music,” “Dixieland Delight” and “Song of the South,” headlined West Virginia’s America250 celebration.
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The band formed in Fort Payne, Alabama, in 1969 when Randy Owen and his cousin Teddy Gentry were joined by another cousin, Jeff Cook.
Earlier in the evening, West Virginia native Philip Bowen opened for Alabama.
The celebration continues through Sunday.
A full schedule can be found at wvtourism.com/america250.
MILLBROOK, Ala. (WSFA) – Casting a line on a hot summer day is about as Alabama as you can get. You can reel in catfish all over the state and now Alabama is hoping to capitalize on that with the new Alabama Catfish Trail.
“Summertime is the perfect time to grab the family, fishing pole, and head out to the nearest pond or lake and enjoy the season,” said Marina Childress with Alabama Blackbelt Adventures.
Alabama just unveiled its new Alabama Catfish Trail. It features 50 locations where you can fish, eat, and shop.(WSFA)
Catfish in Alabama is a big deal. If you combine the farm raised catfish industry, restaurants, and recreation, the catfish sector contributes about $92 million a year to our states economy.
“There are 50 waterways you can enjoy on the trail, from North Alabama to Central Alabama, to South Alabama.”
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Alabama just unveiled its new Alabama Catfish Trail. It features 50 locations where you can fish, eat, and shop.(WSFA)
State leaders hope this is a big catch for Alabama.
“Our new Catfish Trail invites visitors to experience our beautiful state through its waterways, recipes and cultural traditions,” said Alabama Tourism director Lee Sentell.
“There’s nobody, I mean nobody, who loves a plate of Alabama catfish more than I do,” saidAlabama Senator Tommy Tuberville. “As a former catfish restaurant owner, I know how critical the catfish industry is to our great state. The Alabama Catfish Trail is a great opportunity to recognize and thank all of our farmers who drive this industry. It’s also a chance to bring people together, to connect with friends and family, and enjoy Alabama’s waterways.”
It’s a program that’ll surely make a big splash.
Alabama just unveiled its new Alabama Catfish Trail. It features 50 locations where you can fish, eat, and shop.(WSFA)
“It goes back to years and years of generations, restaurants, recreation and catfish farming in general,” said Childress.
Along with the brand new trail, you can also show off you big catch. Alabama Blackbelt Adventures is hosting a catfish photo contest. The fish must be caught in the Blackbelt Region. The deadline to submit you picture is July 12th. The contest winner receiving a two-person, half-day guided trip with Bama Noodling in 2027.
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