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How long is the shadow cast by the college football coach with the most national championships − seven − in the history of the sport?
Long enough that there won’t be any escaping it for new Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer, or anyone else UA Director of Athletics Greg Byrne could have tapped for the job. Retiring coach Nick Saban will maintain an office in Bryant-Denny Stadium in a role that has yet to be publicly defined, either in length or scope.
But with Saban and wife Terry sitting front row to hear DeBoer’s remarks Saturday at his introductory press conference, the new coach seemed somewhat immune to the daunting gravity of replacing a living-legend figure at a historic program with a demanding fan base. If not immune, then perhaps a bit unaware that the weight of all that is heavy enough to break the scale.
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Be it immunity or unawareness, either could serve him well. Indeed, too much awareness could be more problematic than not enough. But whereas some coaches would want as clean a break as possible from a legendary predecessor − former UA coach Ray Perkins’ much-criticized decision to immediately dismantle the iconic practice-field tower of his predecessor, Paul W. “Bear” Bryant, comes to mind − DeBoer doesn’t seem to mind Saban’s shadow one bit.
At least for now, he’ll take all the Nick Saban he can get.
And at least for now, Saban has said he will be around to provide it.
“I feel confident enough in my abilities, along with knowing that you have someone that wants this program to be so successful,” DeBoer said. “I firmly, 100% believe that (Saban) wants nothing but the best.”
These are life-changing times for a lot of people…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/alabama-football-coach-kalen-deboer-230206354.html
Author : The Tuscaloosa News
Publish date : 2024-01-13 23:02:06
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