Alabama not letting Kalen DeBoer rumors become a distraction

The Michigan Wolverines fired Sherrone Moore, and immediately, Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer’s name popped up as a potential replacement.

In fact, DeBoer’s name has been popping up a whole bunch as of late. When James Franklin was fired by the Penn State Nittany Lions, DeBoer was linked to that job, as well.

It makes sense, too. DeBoer has Midwest coaching roots, and he’s in the ultimate pressure cooker down in Tuscaloosa. The expectation is not just a championship at Alabama; it’s multiple championships. That’s the price you pay when you’re the one to replace Nick Saban.

Time and time again, though, DeBoer has pushed back on those connections to open jobs and, instead, he’s spoken about how much he likes it at Alabama.

On Monday, he did so again. He was asked about the Michigan job in a news conference and responded with no wishy-washiness.

“A lot of the same things I said before, you know, a couple weeks ago, when asked really the same question, just feel completely supported,” DeBoer said, according to Nick Kosko of On3. “My family loves living here. Just all the things that we continue to build on, love the progress. Haven’t talked with anyone, no plans of talking with anyone. So just, I think that’s a lot of what I said a couple weeks ago, and continues to be the same thing.”

Alabama Crimson Tide focused on the College Football Playoff 

DeBoer is preparing his No. 9-seeded Alabama team to take on No. 8 Oklahoma in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Dec. 19. It’s an away game for the Tide in Norman, so focus is going to be extra important for the team.

The head coach being linked to other jobs could serve as a distraction, so perhaps that’s why DeBoer is being so adamant about his desire to stick around in Tuscaloosa.

Of course, college football coaches are notorious for saying one thing and doing another, but DeBoer relayed that he feels a sense of focus about his team. Other programs looking for a good coach aren’t making enough noise. 

“Our guys, if there’s been any distraction, I haven’t seen it, haven’t felt it,’ DeBoer said. “And so I’m really proud of the way they’ve handled whatever noise is out there. And again, we probably all season long, have dealt with enough noise to where it wouldn’t surprise me on how they handle this.”

If Alabama loses (again) to Oklahoma, perhaps the sentiments around Tuscaloosa will change. For now, though, there appears to be a happy union between DeBoer and the Crimson Tide.