Just before halftime on Saturday, Georgia’s Daniel Harris interfered with Alabama’s Germie Bernard, preventing him from making a third-down catch, right in front of Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer. DeBoer looked for a flag, but when the referees didn’t call it, he became visibly upset.
“I was just fighting for my team,” DeBoer explained on Monday. “I saw it one way and wanted to make that clear. I loved how we were playing up until that point.”
DeBoer, known for his calm demeanor, uncharacteristically waved his arms, jumped up and down, and pointed to the video board, showing his frustration at the missed call. This outburst was unusual for the first-year head coach, who differs from his fiery predecessor Nick Saban.
Alabama safety Keon Sabb appreciated seeing DeBoer’s passion, noting it was the most emotional he’d ever seen the coach. “He got a bit fired up in practice before, but this was on another level. It was fun to see.”
UA center Parker Brailsford, who played under DeBoer at Washington, also acknowledged that DeBoer’s calmness usually helps keep the team composed, but this was a rare exception. “It doesn’t happen often, but it’s not the first time. If he’s calm, we stay calm too, which is what he aims for.”
Unlike Saban, who was known for letting out intense profanity, DeBoer generally avoids swearing, with his staff, especially defensive coordinator Kane Wommack, filling that gap. Even during his outburst on Saturday, DeBoer kept his language mostly clean. Brailsford humorously declined to comment on whether he’d ever heard DeBoer curse, while Sabb admitted that occasionally, a mild word might slip out.
In the end, the missed pass interference didn’t affect the game’s outcome, as Alabama secured a thrilling win and now turns its focus to Vanderbilt. The Crimson Tide and Commodores will face off at 3:15 p.m. CT on Saturday in Nashville, airing on the SEC Network.
