The passing of the torch from Nick Saban to Kalen DeBoer as the Alabama Crimson Tide head coach is already taking shape, including a change in a couple rules that Saban had.
Saban, who retired from coaching, didn't allow assistants to speak to reporters. However, DeBoer will allow assistants to do that this spring. DeBoer, formerly of the Washington Huskies, will also allow portions of practice to be viewed by reporters.
The world ? has changed.
Alabama will allow its assistants to speak to the media this spring ? and there will viewing sessions at practices for reporters.
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) February 27, 2024
"The world ... has changed," Brandon Marcello of 247Sports reported. "Alabama will allow its assistants to speak to the media this spring — and there will be viewing sessions at practices for reporters."
While DeBoer is making these changes, he's not writing off Saban entirely and will still seek advice and tutelage from the seven-time national champion head coach.
"I'm going to ask him that he shows up, makes sure that he gives me at least one thing every day," DeBoer said of Saban during his press conference when he became the new head coach of the Crimson Tide. "I'm sure he's going to have 10, but I'm going to be good with that. At least one thing that he sees that we could get better at."
The Alabama Crimson Tide are coming off a season in which they defeated the Georgia Bulldogs in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game. They stumbled early in the year, losing to the Texas Longhorns in Week 2. But they reached the College Football Playoff, losing in the first round to the eventual champion, the Michigan Wolverines.
DeBoer is also coming off a national championship appearance, losing to the Wolverines.
With Jalen Milroe back under center, the Crimson Tide will look to recapture their glory with a new regime despite some key players transferring upon DeBoer's arrival.
Their season begins Aug. 31 against Western Kentucky.
