🏈 🔥 Hot Seat 2025 / Coaching Carousel: OL Coach Kap and Alabama part ways

[musso]

The fans run off a good coach in DeBoer and you think this thing becomes “attractive”? I’m afraid you’re wrong.

What I meant was this job’s appeal will increase when the expectations are recalibrated to our NIL budget. And by “expectations” I mean that of both fans and the media. Now I will admit that I suspect most of the negative reaction I see from media criticism is insincere. It’s fake outrage or fake astonishment of Bama’s decline intended to attract attention, clicks, and follows from (a) spoiled Bama fans still shocked by the rapid fall to mediocrity, and (b) rival fans reveling in the fall of the dynasty and greater opportunity for their favorite team. My point is any coach wants maximum resources with minimal pressure, and it may take DeBoer’s departure and another HC after him before the pressure from media and fans is commensurate with our resources.

 

[musso]

but there has to be realistic expectations

Agreed, but the business model of media is to be UNrealistic. It’s to generate an audience, hence the tactics of Finebaum and others of his ilk. Hot takes. Hasty conclusions. Predicting the future. Etc. One of the few things that really benefits from a realistic and reasonable assessment of how Bama fits in with the current landscape is the stress levels of the Bama HC. That’s the irony: nearly everything in the economy of big time college football benefits from the extreme and delusional expectations of fans, except the health and job stability of coaches.

 

[Justneedme81]

I don't think people "are unhappy with CKD".. Most just wanted to see significant changes with some of the staff.. really significant changes did not occur... so if the team has the same deficiencies and problems in 2026 "it's going to get ugly for him"...As it should..

You can tell by the comments lately.

 

[BamaFan334]

You can tell by the comments lately.

I don't dislike DeBoer, I just want more. That's not unobtainable or unrealistic to want. Lose by less than an ass whooping. Not unrealistic or far fetched to want that atleast.

 

[musso]

Lose by less than an ass whooping. Not unrealistic or far fetched to want that atleast.

I empathize for sure. But you have to admit, the undefeated records against LSU, Auburn, and UGA (postseason notwithstanding) were critical in establishing DeBoer's legitimacy in the SEC. Yes, he took Wash to the natty, but there was skepticism surrounding their path that year. Blowouts in highly visible games against UGA and IU certainly hurt. BUT I would still prefer the current results over, say, narrow postseason losses to UGA and IU and splitting the regular season matchups against LSU, Auburn, and UGA these last two seasons. The UGA loss was almost meaningless and arguably gave us the easiest path to the natty. And the IU blowout would have hurt more if IU didn't finish 16-0.

 

[BamaFan334]

I empathize for sure. But you have to admit, the undefeated records against LSU, Auburn, and UGA (postseason notwithstanding) were critical in establishing DeBoer's legitimacy in the SEC. Yes, he took Wash to the natty, but there was skepticism surrounding their path that year. Blowouts in highly visible games against UGA and IU certainly hurt. BUT I would still prefer the current results over, say, narrow postseason losses to UGA and IU and splitting the regular season matchups against LSU, Auburn, and UGA these last two seasons. The UGA loss was almost meaningless and arguably gave us the easiest path to the natty. And the IU blowout would have hurt more if IU didn't finish 16-0.

I'm not saying you're wrong. Beating Georgia in Athens was top drawer. Beating LSU and Auburn this year was nothing out of this world due to their lack of enthusiasm. Heck, everyone else beat them. They were beat before they showed up, but we dang sure let LSU hang around.

I'll say this again, I like DeBoer. I'm not sold on him being "the man", but I'm ok watching him build something if he shows me he's trying to make positive changes. The offensive line coach move was the right move. Losing the portal was not a great move. There is a delicate balance between talent and coaching. Can have the best coaches in the world, but not having the talent will have you falling short. Can have all the talent, but if you don't have good leaders to direct them it won't happen either.

A guy making $10M a year gets a short leash with me. Four years is all I'm giving a guy, and at that price, at our university, with our facilities and support, I expect us to make the Playoffs every year and host a game atleast every other year. We should be a Top 12 program no matter what our schedule is every year. That's not unrealistic like a few keep flapping their gums about. And it's ok to expect that when we keep giving and giving. I want value is all, that's not crazy to desire.

 

[musso]

I want value is all, that's not crazy to desire.

Totally agree with your sentiment. But I've come to believe that DeBoer is the best value we could have gotten following Saban in this era. Now if/when the NCAA is replaced with something fairer and uniform for all, we can revisit and reevaluate our HC options. Let's face it, few (if any) elite coaches would want to come to Bama under the present rules.

 

[BamaFan334]

Totally agree with your sentiment. But I've come to believe that DeBoer is the best value we could have gotten following Saban in this era. Now if/when the NCAA is replaced with something fairer and uniform for all, we can revisit and reevaluate our HC options. Let's face it, few (if any) elite coaches would want to come to Bama under the present rules.

But who wouldn't for $10M? Sign that and a massive buyout? Sounds like building a future to me. Almost a can't lose situation.

 

[mando]

Maybe that's the problem ... Adjusting to the new expectations

Problem? The Bama expectation of excellence should never waiver. If someone is ok with settling then maybe they should be an Auburn fan.