Alabama

Kalen DeBoer emotional about leaving UW Huskies at Bama intro

Published

10 months ago

January 13, 2024

Kalen DeBoer emotional about leaving UW Huskies at Bama intro

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Former UW Huskies coach 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.

UW Huskies try to rebuild after Kalen DeBoer leaves at end of tumultuous week

The outsized expectations Saban leaves behind are a big part of that.

Hired two days after Saban’s retirement and four after leading Washington to the national championship game, DeBoer said he’s giving the 72-year-old ex-coach “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.”

While DeBoer is embracing the opportunity at Alabama, he wiped away tears while talking about leaving his UW Huskies players who made it to the brink of the program’s first national title in over three decades.

“I knew this was the right move,” DeBoer said. “I knew this was a thing that, not that I had to do, but that I really wanted to do. But it wasn’t easy. … (Washington) is a special place to me, and this is one of the few places – maybe the only place – that I would have ever left (Washington) to come coach at.”

Click play on the video below to hear Kalen DeBoer speak about leaving Washington, which begins at the 28:29 mark.

But what loomed largest Saturday was Saban’s shadow, as he and his wife, Terry, sat in the front row watching DeBoer address a room with dozens of Tide supporters and university brass. Then they slipped out without talking to reporters.

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.

He also knows Alabama players have emotions to process about losing Saban, who led the team to a Southeastern Conference championship and into the College Football Playoff in his final season.

A big challenge will be re-recruiting current players who have options to transfer. The most high-profile players who have entered the transfer portal or announced plans to this week are five-star 2023 cornerback Dezz Ricks and wide receiver Isaiah Bonds.

DeBoer met with a number of players both Friday and Saturday.

The transfer portal issue brought some urgency to athletic director Greg Byrne’s efforts to hire a new coach. He needed only two days.

Byrne declined to offer details about the terms of Alabama’s deal with DeBoer. But after meeting with DeBoer and his wife, Nicole, the athletic director was convinced that both were entirely comfortable with the challenge of replacing a coach who won a record seven national titles between LSU and Alabama.

Byrne acknowledged he was familiar with the argument that “nobody’s going to want to replace Coach Saban.”

“As I thought about it over the years, one of the things that I thought about was, you’d better have somebody who’s comfortable in their own skin and that looks at this as a challenge and an opportunity, not as a detriment,” Byrne said.

DeBoer appears to fit that description.

Seattle Sports staff made contributions to this post.

More on Kalen DeBoer leaving UW Huskies

• Kalen DeBoer officially hired as Alabama head coach
• Bruce Feldman’s names to watch for Washington head coach job
• UW Huskies Coach Candidates: Who will replace Bama-bound DeBoer?
• Brock Huard on Kalen DeBoer leaving, what UW Huskies must do next

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Alabama

How to buy Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Mercer Bears tickets

Published

7 hours ago

November 12, 2024

Press Room

How to buy Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Mercer Bears tickets

The No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide take on an FCS opponent, the Mercer Bears (9-1), at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday, November 16, 2024.

If you are in the market for Crimson Tide vs. Bears tickets, information is available below.

Alabama vs. Mercer game info

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How to buy Alabama vs. Mercer tickets for college football Week 12

You can buy tickets to see the Crimson Tide play the Bears from multiple sources.

Alabama Crimson Tide schedule

Week 1: Aug. 31 vs. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, 63-0 win
Week 2: Sept. 7 vs. South Florida Bulls, 42-16 win
Week 3: Sept. 14 at Wisconsin Badgers, 42-10 win
Week 5: Sept. 28 vs. Georgia Bulldogs, 41-34 win
Week 6: Oct. 5 at Vanderbilt Commodores, 40-35 loss
Week 7: Oct. 12 vs. South Carolina Gamecocks, 27-25 win
Week 8: Oct. 19 at Tennessee Volunteers, 24-17 loss
Week 9: Oct. 26 vs. Missouri Tigers, 34-0 win
Week 11: Nov. 9 at LSU Tigers, 42-13 win
Week 12: Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. ET vs. Mercer Bears
Week 13: Nov. 23 at Oklahoma Sooners
Week 14: Nov. 30 vs. Auburn Tigers

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Alabama Crimson Tide stats

From an offensive standpoint, Alabama ranks 34th in the FBS with 430.4 yards per game. Meanwhile, its defense ranks 43rd in total defense (338.3 yards allowed per contest).
The Crimson Tide have been finding success on both offense and defense, ranking 13th-best in scoring offense (38.1 points per game) and 14th-best in scoring defense (18 points allowed per game).
Alabama is putting up 238 passing yards per game on offense (57th in the FBS), and ranks 38th on defense with 198.3 passing yards allowed per game.
From an offensive standpoint, the Crimson Tide rank 31st in the FBS with 192.4 rushing yards per game. Meanwhile, they rank 57th in rushing yards allowed per contest (140).

Mercer Bears schedule

Week 1: Aug. 29 vs. Presbyterian Blue Hose, 63-10 win
Week 2: Sept. 7 at Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, 31-2 win
Week 3: Sept. 14 at Chattanooga Mocs, 10-3 win
Week 4: Sept. 21 vs. The Citadel Bulldogs, 38-21 win
Week 5: Sept. 28 at Wofford Terriers, 22-3 win
Week 7: Oct. 12 vs. Princeton Tigers, 34-7 win
Week 8: Oct. 19 at Samford Bulldogs, 55-35 loss
Week 9: Oct. 26 vs. Western Carolina Catamounts, 44-34 win
Week 10: Nov. 2 vs. East Tennessee State Buccaneers, 37-31 win
Week 11: Nov. 9 at VMI Keydets, 34-0 win
Week 12: Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. ET at Alabama Crimson Tide
Week 13: Nov. 23 at 3 p.m. ET vs. Furman Paladins

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Mercer Bears stats

Mercer has been keeping opposing offenses in check on defense, allowing just 296.5 total yards per game (11th-best). Offensively, it ranks 26th by racking up 409.7 total yards per game.
The Bears have been productive on both offense and defense this season, ranking 16th-best in points per game (34.8) and eighth-best in points allowed per game (16.6).
With 233.2 passing yards per game on offense, Mercer ranks 33rd in the FCS. On defense, it ranks 97th, allowing 239.1 passing yards per contest.
The Bears rank 30th in the FCS with 176.5 rushing yards per game, but they’ve been carried by their defense, which ranks best by allowing just 57.4 rushing yards per contest.

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This content was created for Gannett using technology provided by Data Skrive.

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Alabama

Alabama Guard Latrell Wrightsell’s Second Half Shooting Keeps Crimson Tide Unbeaten

Published

15 hours ago

November 12, 2024

Press Room

Alabama Guard Latrell Wrightsell’s Second Half Shooting Keeps Crimson Tide Unbeaten

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The No. 2 Alabama basketball team survived an early season scare on Monday night as the Crimson Tide defeated the McNeese State Cowboys 72-64 to stay unbeaten through the season’s first three games.

Alabama endured an over nine-minute field goal drought in the second half but was able to scrape together just enough offense to hang on for the win. Who shouldered the load offensively for the Crimson Tide in the middle of their second half struggles? Graduate guard Latrell Wrightsell.

Wrightsell scored a season-high 15 points along with two rebounds and two assists as his season continues to warm up. The veteran guard missed significant portions of the offseason with injury and started the season a bit slow, making just two of his first 13 three-point attempts in his first two games. His shooting stroke looked to have returned on Monday as he made five-of-nine from beyond the arc, including four in the second half to ensure an Alabama victory.

“Yeah, I mean, this is what we expected him to be,” Nate Oats said. “He’s another one that missed the exhibitions with an injury so he’s just now getting back into his rhythm. The one-for-nine that’s not him, last game. Some of those were good shots he just missed. Some of them, you know, you’ve got to get a feel for what’s a good shot, what’s not. Some of that’s hard to do if you’re not practicing like he was out a month. So I thought he had a lot better feel. Honestly, I thought he turned down some I wish he would have taken. As well as he was shooting it tonight there were three or four he should have shot, I thought. If he would have taken three or four more and get 12 or 13 threes up, that’d be great, because he’s one of the best shooters in the country in my opinion.”

Wrightsell’s 12 second-half points paced the Crimson Tide in the second half, doubling forward Grant Nelson’s six points as the Alabama offense struggled in the second frame. His third three-point make of the second half extended the Crimson Tide’s lead to 21 before Alabama went ice-cold.

McNeese State was able to cut Alabama’s lead down to six at 60-54 as the underdogs rallied, but it was Wrightsell again, making his fourth three-point shot of the second half that re-extended the lead to nine with just over five minutes to play, stopping the drought and propelling Alabama to victory.

“I mean, I just work out every day,” Wrightsell said on his last make .”I didn’t even realize that, but I’m just thankful for my teammates finding me when I’m open, trusting my shot and just getting to shoot when I’m ready.”

The Crimson Tide enters a challenging stretch of non-conference action beginning on Friday against Purdue. Wrightsell returning to form as one of the nation’s most dangerous shooters will go a long way towards helping Alabama navigate the nation’s most difficult non-conference schedule.

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Alabama

Alabama Decimates the LSU Tigers on The Joe Gaither Show

Published

22 hours ago

November 11, 2024

Press Room

Alabama Decimates the LSU Tigers on The Joe Gaither Show

The Alabama Crimson Tide went to LSU this past weekend and dominated the Tigers in Death Valley. Let’s break down the game on the Monday edition of “The Joe Gaither Show on BamaCentral” with Mason Woods as we look at the offense and defense during part one, the special teams and off field implications in part two.

The conversation opens by discussing the Alabama offense as offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan was in his bag the entire game. We discuss the Crimson Tide’s usage of its running backs as Jam Miller and Justice Haynes combined for 27 touches in the game. We discussed Jalen Milroe’s performance as it was nearly perfect and then discuss the Crimson Tide’s newest offensive wrinkle.

The conversation shift to the defensive end as we talk about Kane Wommack’s outfit and his plan to torment the LSU offense. Domani Jackson got a special shoutout as we discussed his efforts in erasing LSU wide receiver Kyren Lacy as well as Jihaad Campbell and Deontae Lawson’s performances.

Part two begins by concluding the LSU game, talking about the Alabama special teams performance and LSU coach Brian Kelly’s postgame complaints involving officiating and Alabama’s defensive game plan.

The conversation then moves to the greater landscape of college football and where Alabama finds themselves before turning to the hardwood and discussing Alabama’s basketball game against Arkansas State.

The show can be seen on the BamaCentral YouTube channel. Keep up with each show on YouTube,Facebook and Twitter. Shows can also be heard on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon.

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