Kalen DeBoer escaped the hot seat. He didn’t escape expectations
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Kalen DeBoer will face immense pressure as Alabama’s coach until either the day he wins a national championship, or the day he no longer coaches Alabama.
But, don’t confuse pressure with the hot seat.
DeBoer isn’t on the hot seat, entering his third Alabama season. His contract extension in April should tell you that.
DeBoer’s deal now runs through the 2032 season, and his salary increased to $12.5 million after a season that ended with a 38-3 loss to Indiana in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
DeBoer’s buyout would be in the ballpark of $70 million after this season, and his contract does not include an offset clause.
Alabama doubled down on DeBoer, after he “never flinched” and stayed committed to the Crimson Tide, even as the Michigan job came open last winter, a job for which DeBoer was well-qualified.
On this edition of “SEC Football Unfiltered,” hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams discuss DeBoer’s present, future and contract extension.
Plus, they weigh in on what they need to see from DeBoer in what will be a bellwether season for his tenure, after the Tide went 11-4 in his second season.
How to interpret Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama contract extension?
Adams: It puts the kibosh on any hot-seat talk. This reaffirms DeBoer is Alabama’s guy, and the administration believes in him. On one hand, Alabama’s Rose Bowl loss served as an embarrassing end to DeBoer’s second season. On the other hand, could Alabama do better than DeBoer if he left or it decided to replace him? I doubt it.
Toppmeyer: Agreed, it’s a forceful (and pricey) way for Alabama to show that DeBoer’s position is secure and to nip any hot-seat chatter in the bud. Also, although the extension got announced in April, sometimes deals like these are months in the making. DeBoer says he never talked with anyone at Michigan or Penn State about their job openings. As DeBoer told me earlier this spring: “I’m at Alabama. I don’t mean that in an arrogant way. I just, I have a great opportunity. I’m at a great place. I’ve got great support.”
Fair enough, but he would have been a good fit for either of those Big Ten jobs. An active coaching carousel usually means raises for good coaches who stay put, like DeBoer did.
What do we need to see from Alabama this season?
Adams: No backsliding. And, no blowouts. It’s one thing to lose in a close game to the eventual national champion in the playoff. It’s another thing to get embarrassed. Alabama got embarrassed by the Hoosiers, just as it got embarrassed in Week 1 by Florida State. In between those bookends, some good things happened. Don’t go backward, and don’t suffer fates like those endured against FSU and Indiana, and DeBoer could claim progress in Year 3, even if it doesn’t end in a national title.
Toppmeyer: Spot-on with the no backsliding point. Better yet, show tangible gains like either winning the SEC Championship or advancing at least one round deeper into the playoff. Also, DeBoer could create some buzz for his future if his new starting quarterback flourishes. DeBoer and right-hand man Ryan Grubb did a great job with Michael Penix Jr. at Washington. At Alabama, Jalen Milroe regressed under DeBoer. Ty Simpson developed into a fine starter and became a first-round NFL Draft pick, but he struggled in Alabama’s losses.
DeBoer inherited Milroe and Simpson from the Nick Saban era. Now, one of his guys will take the baton, either veteran Austin Mack (who followed DeBoer from Washington) or Keelon Russell, a tantalizing five-star redshirt freshman who signed with DeBoer after his hire. If Russell wins the job and dazzles, that’s a good sign for DeBoer’s Alabama future.
Later in this episode
∎ Who faces more pressure this season, Kalen DeBoer or Lane Kiffin?
∎ How the Big Ten stole the SEC’s playbook when it comes to playoff negotiations.
Where to listen to SEC Football Unfiltered
Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. John Adams is the senior sports columnist for the Knoxville News Sentinel. Subscribe to the SEC Football Unfiltered podcast, and check out the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kalen DeBoer isn’t on Alabama football hot seat. He is under pressure
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