The Alabama Crimson Tide will celebrate their new legacy without Saban in 18 days. While fans will watch their beloved team play with tears in their eyes over the irate coach’s absence, they will also welcome Kalen DeBoer’s new coaching style with open arms. It may be a bit of a shock to see a new coach take over from Nick Saban, who was on television for over 17 years, but his daughter’s acceptance is a sign that the community is ready for the drastic change. Kristen Saban was just 21 years old when Saban took over, and now she’s a grown 38-year-old woman with a husband who shares her passion for Alabama as well. The excitement for Alabama continues as the Tide prepares to make a splash this season.
On August 13, Kristen posted a gorgeous photo on Instagram from her fit test, where she looked absolutely stunning in an all-black leather jacket with a dazzling handbag on her side. Her eyes, however, appeared to glow red, which may have been due to the camera angle, but Kristen turned the tables and talked about her love for Alabama instead. She captioned the post: “(red) heart eyes because @alabamafbl is coming back in 18 days 😍“The Alabama Crimson Tide will play the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on September 1st, and by the looks of things, Kristen is overjoyed to see the men in maroon back in action and watch the game from the stands with her dad sitting right next to her rather than out on the field.
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Is Nick Saban’s absence a big blow to Alabama fans? React!
Moreover, the feelings of missing Saban won’t just disappear into thin air for fans, especially for this fan who has yet to accept one of the biggest changes in recent college football history. He said: “It certainly won’t be the same without your father. I’m still sad about it.” Of course, this massive change will be hard for Alabama fans to swallow, but change is usually inevitable. And while they may not welcome it right now, DeBoer’s qualities could change their minds after a while.
A new era for Alabama, but the opponents remain the same. As for the Kentucky Hilltoppers, Alabama has played them four times in history, and yet the team is still desperate for its first win. The two teams met for the very first time in 2008, when Saban’s second-season team easily defeated the Hilltoppers by a score of 41-7. Later in 2012, Nick Saban embarrassed the Kentucky team again, finishing the game at 35-0. But for Alabama’s opponents, there was no better time to aim for the head since their most feared Nick Saban is no longer in the game. Also, let’s look at what tactics Kalen DeBoer will use heading into this season to cement his claim as the new and deserving HC for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Fans express their nostalgia for Nick Saban
No matter who takes the helm at Alabama, Nick Saban’s name will always be remembered in the history of the club, literally. Most recently, the Alabama organization honored Saban’s legacy by renaming the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium “Nick Saban Field.” The man who brought six championships to Tuscaloosa will not soon be forgotten, and those sentiments echoed throughout the comments section of Kristen Saban’s post.
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One of the Alabama fans asked Saban’s daughter a long question, but not without first mentioning the college motto. He wrote: “Roll Tide!! How do you think it’s going to feel to actually have your dad (Coach Saban) in the box next to you watching someone else coach Alabama football. I still had to call him Coach Saban, but didn’t want to do that in front of dad.”
Next, a user commented on how much they miss Saban, but are still excited to experience the new season under Kalen DeBoer, just like Kristen. Her comment read: “Roll Tide!! I will miss your dad on the sidelines but I love the Tide and can’t wait for the season to start!!”
This person seemed more interested in Kristen’s outfit than the Saban-Kalen equation and said: “Well damn girl! 🔥 I can’t wait to see this season’s football fits 🙌”
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And finally, this user was a little too enthusiastic about his love for Alabama when he used a curse word to say it out loud. This comment read: “Don’t worry about anything but the flood”
As a result, the Alabama Crimson Tide are now sporting a newer maroon color, and while it may not be as bright and flashy at first, it could reveal a different, never-before-seen side of the team under the leadership of Kalen DeBoer.
