Alabama
Why Kalen DeBoer told Alabama players not to get cigar ash on his black hoodie
After Alabama football finished beating Tennessee on Saturday, Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer fielded yet another question about his signature garment. Is he just wearing the black hoodie to humor fans, or is he actually superstitious about how much better his record with the Crimson Tide is when he wears it?
DeBoer, of course clad in the hoodie during his postgame press conference, laughed at the query.
“This isn’t new,” DeBoer said. “I’ve done this for years. But we’re gonna ride the momentum. I told the guys not to put any ashes, or get any ashes on it. Whatever works.”
A quick glance back through the internet archive shows DeBoer wearing a similar hoodie while the head coach at Washington and Fresno State. The current model remained undamaged from postgame victory cigars following the 37-20 win on Saturday.
Just as many things did at Alabama during Nick Saban’s tenure, from lucky pennies to Little Debbie cakes to Ferrari Wednesday, the fixation on DeBoer’s hoodie has exploded in recent weeks. It first attracted attention due to a viral social media post showing his Alabama record was markedly better when he wears the hoodie.
That mark moved to 14-2 on Saturday when the Tide avenged last year’s loss to the Volunteers.
Before Alabama’s win over Missouri last week, Tiger head coach Eli Drinkwitz jumped on the SEC’s weekly media teleconference to ask his Alabama counterpart if he planned on keeping up the tradition.
“Hey Kalen,” Drinkwitz began. “Are you gonna wear the black hoodie of death on the sideline this game, with us wearing black jerseys?”
DeBoer let Drinkwitz know that the hoodie would likely make the trip.
“Oh, coach Drink,” DeBoer said, pausing for a moment before continuing as Drinkwitz audibly laughed. “I gotta fit in somehow. More than likely. We’ll see what the forecast is. I kind of know, but yeah, I’m expecting that, so it’s kind of got its own life of its own right now.”
One of DeBoer’s hoodies from last season is currently on exhibit in the Paul W. Bryant Museum on campus in Tuscaloosa. The coach and his famous shirt will be back in action next week, when Alabama travels to South Carolina.
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