Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular and Big Sports Radio
October 7, 2024
The new B1G is so big, there is little clarity after the first two weekends of conference play other than the fact that everyone is chasing the Buckeyes.
There are already those who feel Kalen DeBoer is not the right choice to command the Alabama football program now that Nick Saban has retired to the broadcast booth. In sports, whether high school, college or pro, it’s not a great idea to follow a legend. Now, we’re seeing that Kalen DeBoer is dealing with an even worse situation – replacing the GOAT. And make no mistake, Nick Saban is the greatest of all time when it comes to college football coaches.
We’re now hearing from some quarters that Kalen DeBoer may not have what is needed to be the head coach at Alabama despite his 108-13 record and 2nd place finish in the College Football Playoff (CFP) last season with the loss to Michigan. The upset loss to Vanderbilt has shaken both the Alabama fanbase and the media covering the football juggernaut.
I don’t claim to know the future, but my sense is that a coach with DeBoer’s resume and ability to innovate is too good to write off this soon. That doesn’t mean he is a guaranteed success but to call him the Les Miles of Alabama is too soon.
There is no doubt the coach is the most critical person in a college football program. But, in today’s NIL world, there are many other moving pieces that are important. An AD who can plan and keep his program on the cutting edge of a miasma of changing rules, an NIL organization that can close the deal for the dollars that feed successful recruiting, an ability to evaluate talent (both high school and portal-based), facilities that are up-to-date and competitive (not needing a capital infusion), and a little luck like a beneficial schedule.
DeBoer may not be the answer at Alabama, but it’s too soon to know with certainty and he’s got all the support around him necessary to succeed. The need to get clicks and try to be the first to predict his demise is a game I’d rather not play. Time will tell us soon enough.
A lot of folks don’t like the conference realignment that has occurred. I can see why.
There was a loss of regional rivalries due to conference affiliation changes – teams like Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are in different conferences. The Pac 12 lost its four most athletically prominent schools. Travel costs are skyrocketing for a few schools. Conferences are being blown up and recreated in nearly real time.
But there is one huge advantage to this new conference alignment. The schedule. Let’s preview the matchups in the B1G alone this weekend:
7 pm Friday
11 am Saturday
2:30 pm Saturday
6:30 pm Saturday
8 pm Saturday
This is a great slate of games. The powers that be needed great games to sell to their various network partners. With 18 games, the B1G has them.
At the five-game mark, the B1G is starting to differentiate teams – at least into rough tiers.
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