"This is a tough transition for Kalen DeBoer & he has to do what he does his way..
He's been successful & I think that his way will work..
He's a good guy & he's a good coach..
I'm just trying to be supportive & helpful in any way that I can" ~ Nick Saban #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/biyIrdnjkk
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 18, 2024
Nick Saban believes Alabama has chosen the right coach, though it will be a tough adjustment for Kalen DeBoer. During an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Saban commented on the situation in Tuscaloosa following a close win over South Carolina and a loss to Vanderbilt.
“Whenever you take over a successful program, you have to do things your own way,” Saban remarked. “You can’t try to be someone else. I think there’s more than one way to approach it, and he’s already proven himself as a successful coach. His approach will work, but it’s an adjustment for fans. In time, he’ll win them over because he’s a good coach with a solid system and organization. I’m here to support him and help make the transition as smooth as possible.”
Saban drew a comparison to his own experience at Michigan State, where he replaced George Perles, who had led the team to a Big Ten Championship. “Because I had been on his staff, I was expected to do things exactly the way he did,” Saban explained. “But over time, I learned new methods, especially from working with people like Bill Belichick. There were times when I felt pressure to follow the old ways, and I see a similar challenge for Kalen.”
