Kalen DeBoer does not see the USF game as a wake-up call. This is how he sees it

Kalen DeBoer didn’t want to describe the Alabama football team’s performance against South Florida as a cliché.

After the Crimson Tide had major problems at times against the Bulls with penalties, turnovers and just plain ugly football, DeBoer – unlike many coaches – did not want to classify the game.

“This is not a wake-up call or anything like that,” DeBoer said. “It’s just about continuing to raise the standard.”

No. 4 Alabama beat South Florida 42-16 on Saturday at Saban Field in Bryant-Denny Stadium, but the final score is not indicative of the chaos that reigned for three and a half quarters.

After USF kicked a 22-yard field goal with 6:45 minutes left in the game, Alabama was only leading 21-16.

Then the Crimson Tide scored three touchdowns in the final six minutes.

Alabama had three turnovers and 13 penalties in the second half. Nine of those were committed by the offensive line. Two holding calls resulted in touchdowns.

DeBoer said he talked in the locker room about learning from things that didn’t go right, but he also wanted to impress upon his players that good things will happen if they keep fighting.

“If we avoid the penalties and turnovers in the fourth quarter,” DeBoer said, “it’s incredible what can happen.”

Alabama takes a 42-16 lead. That’s just how it is. The defense stayed strong enough while the offense stumbled. And the Crimson Tide held on.