The Alabama Crimson Tide’s long-standing aura of invincibility took a serious hit on opening weekend. Traveling to Tallahassee, Alabama, was stunned by an unranked Florida State team, which fell 31-17 as the Seminoles ran for over 230 yards and controlled the line of scrimmage. For fans used to dominance under Nick Saban, the defeat was a startling reminder that the Tide is no longer untouchable.
Kalen DeBoer, in just his second season, became the first Alabama head coach in 24 years to open a season 0-1, breaking Saban’s perfect 17-0 streak in openers. The Seminoles’ victory marked their first over Alabama since 2007 and only their second in six meetings. With glaring weaknesses exposed, the new coach now faces the critical task of regrouping quickly to avoid a rocky start to the 2025 campaign.
Nick Saban’s Advice To Kalen DeBoer
Few roles in sports face as intense a microscope as the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Since stepping into the position in 2024 after Saban’s legendary tenure, Kalen DeBoer has posted a 9-5 record, a solid performance by conventional standards. Yet at Alabama, success isn’t defined by wins alone; it’s measured by championships.
Fans aren’t just frustrated, they’re anxious. Can the program still uphold the standard that defined nearly two decades of dominance under Saban?
If anyone understands the unique pressure DeBoer faces, it’s Saban himself. Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show earlier this week, the legendary coach offered both perspective and reassurance to a fan base desperate for answers.
“Kalen DeBoer is a really good coach and he’s had success everywhere he’s been,” Saban said. “Maybe he hadn’t had to deal with this kind of scrutiny before, but if you’re going to be successful, you have to be able to self-assess and ask yourself, ‘What can I do better?’ I know he’s reaching out to people for advice, and hopefully they turn it around this week and develop confidence so they can move forward.”
While Saban’s words won’t erase the sting of Saturday night’s loss, they highlight an essential truth: confidence—and trust in a new leader—takes time to rebuild. DeBoer inherited one of the most challenging jobs in sports: following an icon. For fans, that reality is hard to swallow, but it is the challenge he must now navigate.
