As soon as Kalen DeBoer stepped off the plane at Tuscaloosa National Airport Friday evening, he jumped into a car driven by Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne and took off to meet with players. The new football coach of the Crimson Tide needed to get to work straight away, as keeping key roster pieces together despite a 30-day transfer portal entry window triggered by Nick Saban’s retirement would be key to his future success.
When he got to Mal Moore Athletic Facility, he offered up his pitch to the assembled team.
He acknowledged the fact that they committed to play for Saban, a legendary figure who is now not running the show. Even so, he told players about the experience he was trying to provide for them at Alabama.