Kalen DeBoer remembers the most meaningful conversation he had with Nick Saban after being hired at Alabama

Kalen DeBoer had many meaningful moments with Nick Saban when he took over as head coach Alabama.

As far as the two’s public and private conversations go, there’s no doubt that the transition went smoothly. Replacing the GOAT isn’t easy, but so far it’s good for DeBoer.

On Saturday he revealed a little insight into his appointment as head coach College game day.

“I think it was probably the morning that it all happened and I just think the conversation I had with the coach, just feeling, you know, just feeling how he felt about things has,” DeBoer said. “Knowing that somehow I had some kind of peace in my heart that the transition was going to be smooth and that I was going to have the grace from him to be able to go and take everything on and still be able to accept everything that he was ready for this program is.”

After his retirement, Saban moved to television. But he had the opportunity to share a moment with DeBoer during Saturday’s show before that evening’s showdown against DeBoer Georgia.

“Well, I appreciate the fact that I think Kalen has done a fantastic job in the transition, which is not easy when you take over a successful program,” Saban said. “But you know, he respects the tradition here, he appreciates the success that we’ve had, but actually he put his stamp on the program and the program based on how he wanted to do it and the players really bought into that .” And I think that’s reflected in the way they played this year.”

Alabama is 3-0 and ranked No. 4 in the country. A win today would certainly cement a spot in the top three, perhaps a second spot if swapping with Georgia.

DeBoer took over for Saban and had to face players so used to a legend. But it was a surreal moment.

“I knew when I got together with these guys that Friday night that it was going to be dead quiet and they were going to have a lot of questions,” DeBoer said. “There were a lot of emotions and things that they were going through and it was just a matter of meeting them where they were at the time, you know, and really trying again and using the word ‘hug’ a lot.” , but that’s exactly what it was about.”

Saban, of course, had the last laugh.

“But the real advantage you had is that they were really sick of my ass,” Saban said.