As Kalen DeBoer stepped onto the lush green fairway of the golf course, his usual sharp focus shifted momentarily. He gripped the club, prepared for a swing, his mind settling into the routine of a simple day off. However, even amidst the peaceful backdrop of the golf course, he couldn’t fully escape the overwhelming question that has loomed over the Alabama football program for months. That question isn’t just about the upcoming season—it’s a matter of legacy, direction, and, ultimately, the fate of a dynasty that has dominated college football for over a decade.
DeBoer, now the head coach at Washington, found himself facing a scenario few coaches ever truly imagine: the question of whether Alabama, a team that’s been the pinnacle of college football for years, can continue to thrive without its longtime leader, Nick Saban. The timing was peculiar, as DeBoer, sitting there in his golf attire, seemingly out of the spotlight, couldn’t help but overhear bits of conversation as other golfers passed by. Some were musing about the latest in recruiting, while others spoke more specifically about Alabama’s future in the wake of Saban’s eventual retirement, a topic that has dominated college football discourse.
For DeBoer, whose team had been steadily building its reputation and gaining national attention, the question posed a challenge that stretched far beyond just Alabama. The looming uncertainty surrounding the future of the Alabama football program is no longer a mere talking point—it’s a defining topic of conversation that affects all of college football. Coaches like DeBoer, as successful as they may be in their own right, are caught in the shadows of Alabama’s dominance. They, too, are asked: Can Alabama continue to assert its dominance in a post-Saban world?
The conversation surrounding Saban’s retirement, though an inevitable reality, remains incredibly tense. Speculation about when it might happen and who will succeed him has permeated every corner of the sport. Fans, analysts, and even coaches themselves are constantly evaluating whether Alabama can replicate its past success without the legendary Saban at the helm. It’s a question that has been whispered in every press conference, in every football meeting, and even in social circles that involve those with any significant stake in the sport.
The question is important not just because of the potential shift in power dynamics in college football, but because of what Alabama’s rise under Saban has meant for the entire sport. For over 15 years, Saban has been synonymous with Alabama’s greatness. His rigorous work ethic, unmatched recruiting prowess, and tactical brilliance on game day have set a standard that every other program in the country has attempted to replicate. To ask if Alabama can maintain this level of excellence without him isn’t merely about football strategy; it’s about the sustainability of an empire.
For Kalen DeBoer, though, this question isn’t something that simply looms over Alabama’s immediate future—it also casts a shadow over the broader landscape of college football. As a coach who has spent time at multiple programs and has seen firsthand the nature of college football’s ever-changing dynamics, DeBoer understands that the success of any major program, Alabama included, is defined not just by who leads the team but by the foundational elements that make a program great. Leadership matters, but so too do the systems, recruiting, and culture that underpins everything.
One of the things that makes this particular scenario so unique is that, for all of Alabama’s dominance, its future is now uncertain. Unlike other dynasties in sports, where the transition from one generation of leaders to another can happen relatively seamlessly, Alabama’s shift from the Saban era represents an entirely different set of questions and challenges. Unlike most other programs in the country, Alabama is accustomed to instant success. The idea that they might face a period of decline is foreign to the university, its fans, and its surrounding community. The Alabama football program has been a perennial contender for so long that the very notion of rebuilding, of starting anew, seems unthinkable.
This is where the pressure falls squarely on the shoulders of those who are seen as the potential successors to Saban, whether directly or indirectly. DeBoer, for instance, is a coach who, while not officially in the running for the Alabama job, represents the kind of up-and-coming coaching talent that could lead one of college football’s top programs. His work at Washington, where he turned a once underperforming team into a national contender, has caught the eye of many in the college football world. His coaching pedigree has established him as one of the most promising leaders in the sport, but even he is not immune to the pressures of navigating a future shaped by Saban’s looming absence.
On the golf course that day, as DeBoer exchanged pleasantries with fellow golfers, he could sense the weight of the conversation pressing in from all directions. It was as if everyone had an opinion on what Alabama should do, who should succeed Saban, and what that would mean for the future of college football. But DeBoer knew that the true question wasn’t just about who could take the reins from Saban—it was about who could maintain the culture that made Alabama great. Whoever followed Saban wouldn’t just be stepping into a new role; they would be tasked with preserving the legacy that Saban had built, which would be no small feat.
For now, Kalen DeBoer’s focus remains on Washington and continuing the upward trajectory of his own program. He knows that his work at Washington isn’t just about winning games—it’s about building a program that can stand the test of time and compete at the highest levels of college football. That, in many ways, is the same challenge that awaits whoever steps into the head coaching role at Alabama when Saban ultimately decides to retire.
As the golf round continued, DeBoer couldn’t help but reflect on how the larger dynamics of college football are always in motion. Whether it’s a program on the rise, a legendary coach like Saban nearing the end of their tenure, or the next great recruiting class about to make an impact, the sport is always evolving. The question surrounding Alabama’s future is only one of many that shapes the ever-changing landscape of college football. But for DeBoer, it was a reminder that even when he tried to take a break and enjoy some time away from the daily grind, college football would always find a way to bring him back to the biggest questions of the moment.
The days ahead for DeBoer, Saban, and college football as a whole will continue to unfold with uncertainty, but one thing is clear: the question of Alabama’s future is one that will haunt the sport for years to come. And no matter how far he tries to distance himself from the noise, the weight of that question will continue to follow Kalen DeBoer, just like it follows every coach, player, and fan of college football.
