TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Kalen DeBoer stood at a lectern, only a few feet from Nick Saban, and enthusiastically embraced the chance to both replace and learn from his larger-than-life predecessor.
The outsized expectations Saban leaves behind at the University of Alabama football program are a big part of that.
Hired away from reigning national runner-up Washington on Friday, two days after Saban’s retirement, DeBoer said he’s giving the 72-year-old ex-coach “100% access” to his program — the former Huskies coach said he’d “be a fool not to” — and that Saban firmly wants the Tide’s success to continue. All that makes it easier to be the guy who replaces the guy who brought six national championships to Tuscaloosa in 17 years before stepping down Wednesday.
“I felt confident enough in my abilities, along with knowing that you have someone that wants this program to be so successful,” DeBoer said Saturday, speaking to reporters after he was introduced at Bryant-Denny Stadium. “I firmly, 100% believe that he wants nothing but the best. Some people when they leave, it’s like, ‘Eh, I want to be that legend, and I don’t want it to be as good as it was when I was there.’
“That’s obviously not the case. He wants this thing to be even better. His legendary status will never be questioned.”