PRESS PICKS (Week 2): Game time for DeBoer in Tuscaloosa
STAFF REPORT
Following a “legend.”
The term is thrown around way too much but since anyone can define who the “greatest” is, and thanks to social media and the time we live in where “GOAT” is used for anything but the four-legged animal, it’s understandable to think everybody has an idea of who reaches the unequaled.
But in the case of Nick Saban, no one doubts where he ranks among the history of college football.
The greatest? Probably. Most likely. Absolutely.
Ironically, he is still the face of college football. If you don’t think so, watch the games this weekend and count the number of advertisements that use his Name, Image and Likeness.
Oh, and don’t forget his weekly appearance on ESPN’s College Game Day, which began last week across the seas.
So, it’s Kalen DeBoer’s turn. The former star of the Sioux Falls Cobras in a local indoor football league in South Dakota, has moved to the south where every inch of his life is scrutinized and talked about, from how he practices his Tide (music, really?) to what he wears on the sidelines.
The question is not will he handle the pressure. It’s more about the residual part of the job. When Ray Perkins decided to leave Alabama and return to the NFL, he said players had come to Alabama because of Bear Bryant but no one really came “because of Ray Perkins.”
When Dennis Franchione left in a huff after the 2002 season, he admitted the job wasn’t what he expected. It wasn’t the pressure or the extra job of maintaining a good relationship with fans.
It was dealing with the pressure. He said that in a matter of words but never really explained what specifically ran him off to Texas A&M.
DeBoer may be different. He has said all the right things since arriving in January. He has praised the program and has made it clear that he is visiting his predecessor on a constant basis.
But Saturday opens up a new set of rules, namely how well your team plays against a sub-par opponent. The comparisons officially began around 6 p.m. and if there is any sort of a dropoff from the 17 years under Saban, he’ll hear about it. The Crimson Tide doesn’t need to be perfect, just dominant. “Make that ass quit” dominant, even though we have only seen a glimpse of that in the last couple of years.
Add in a slice of an offense that is unstoppable and DeBoer is in business.
See, there’s nothing to it, is there.
2024 Standings (Last Week)
1. Tim Gayle 11-4 (11-4) .733
2. Rick Hendrick 10-5 (10-5) .667
Michael Butler 10-5 (10-5) .667
Graham Dunn 10-5 (10-5) .667
Wesley Lyle 10-5 (10-5) .667
6. Doug Amos 9-6 (9-6) .600
Mike Peacock 9-6 (9-6) .600
Rosie Langello 9-6 (9-6) .600
Lindsey Bonner 9-6 (9-6) .600
10. Barry McKnight 8-7 (8-7) .533
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports/Montgomery Independent)
11-4 (11-4) .733
Pike Road at Enterprise - Enterprise
Reeltown at Trinity - Reeltown
Prattville at Stanhope Elmore - Prattville
St. James at Montgomery Academy - Montgomery Academy
Tallassee at Elmore County - Tallassee
Western Kentucky at Alabama - Alabama
Alabama A&M at Auburn - Auburn
Nevada at Troy - Troy
Georgia vs. Clemson (Atlanta) - Georgia
Notre Dame at Texas A&M - Texas A&M
LSU vs. Southern Cal (Sunday - Las Vegas) - LSU
Miami, Fla. at Florida - Florida
Va Tech at Vanderbilt - Va Tech
Fresno St. at Michigan - Michigan
Penn St at West Virginia - Penn St
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA Montgomery Biscuits)
10-5 (10-5) .667
Pike Road at Enterprise - Pike Road
Reeltown at Trinity - Trinity
Prattville at Stanhope Elmore - Prattville
St. James at Montgomery Academy - St. James
Tallassee at Elmore County - Tallassee
Western Kentucky at Alabama - Alabama
Alabama A&M at Auburn - Auburn
Nevada at Troy - Troy
Georgia vs. Clemson (Atlanta) - Georgia
Notre Dame at Texas A&M - Notre Dame
LSU vs. Southern Cal (Sunday - Las Vegas) - LSU
Miami, Fla. at Florida - Florida
Va Tech at Vanderbilt - Va Tech
Fresno St. at Michigan - Michigan
Penn St at West Virginia - Penn St
Wesley Lyle (River Region Sports & al.com)
10-5 (10-5) .667
Pike Road at Enterprise - Enterprise
Reeltown at Trinity - Reeltown
Prattville at Stanhope Elmore - Prattville
St. James at Montgomery Academy - Montgomery Academy
Tallassee at Elmore County - Elmore County
Western Kentucky at Alabama - Alabama
Alabama A&M at Auburn - Auburn
Nevada at Troy - Troy
Georgia vs. Clemson (Atlanta) - Georgia
Notre Dame at Texas A&M - Notre Dame
LSU vs. Southern Cal (Sunday - Las Vegas) - LSU
Miami, Fla. at Florida - Miami
Va Tech at Vanderbilt - Va Tech
Fresno St. at Michigan - Michigan
Penn St at West Virginia - Penn St
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports/WTLS/Voice of Alabama State Hornets)
10-5 (10-5) .667
Pike Road at Enterprise - Enterprise
Reeltown at Trinity - Reeltown
Prattville at Stanhope Elmore - Prattville
St. James at Montgomery Academy - Montgomery Academy
Tallassee at Elmore County - Elmore County
Western Kentucky at Alabama - Alabama
Alabama A&M at Auburn - Auburn
Nevada at Troy - Troy
Georgia vs. Clemson (Atlanta) - Georgia
Notre Dame at Texas A&M - Notre Dame
LSU vs. Southern Cal (Sunday - Las Vegas) - LSU
Miami, Fla. at Florida - Florida
Va Tech at Vanderbilt - Va Tech
Fresno St. at Michigan - Michigan
Penn St at West Virginia - West Virginia
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket)
9-6 (9-6) .600
Pike Road at Enterprise - Enterprise
Reeltown at Trinity - Trinity
Prattville at Stanhope Elmore - Stanhope Elmore
St. James at Montgomery Academy - St. James
Tallassee at Elmore County - Elmore County
Western Kentucky at Alabama - Alabama
Alabama A&M at Auburn - Auburn
Nevada at Troy - Troy
Georgia vs. Clemson (Atlanta) - Georgia
Notre Dame at Texas A&M - Texas A&M
LSU vs. Southern Cal (Sunday - Las Vegas) - LSU
Miami, Fla. at Florida - Florida
Va Tech at Vanderbilt - Va Tech
Fresno St. at Michigan - Michigan
Penn St at West Virginia - Penn St
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
9-6 (9-6) .600
Pike Road at Enterprise - Enterprise
Reeltown at Trinity - Trinity
Prattville at Stanhope Elmore - Prattville
St. James at Montgomery Academy - Montgomery Academy
Tallassee at Elmore County - Elmore County
Western Kentucky at Alabama - Alabama
Alabama A&M at Auburn - Auburn
Nevada at Troy - Troy
Georgia vs. Clemson (Atlanta) - Georgia
Notre Dame at Texas A&M - Texas A&M
LSU vs. Southern Cal (Sunday - Las Vegas) - LSU
Miami, Fla. at Florida - Florida
Va Tech at Vanderbilt - Va Tech
Fresno St. at Michigan - Michigan
Penn St at West Virginia - Penn St
Michael Butler (WTLS 106.9&94.7 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
10-5 (10-5) .667
Pike Road at Enterprise - Enterprise
Reeltown at Trinity - Trinity
Prattville at Stanhope Elmore - Prattville
St. James at Montgomery Academy - Montgomery Academy
Tallassee at Elmore County - Tallassee
Western Kentucky at Alabama - Alabama
Alabama A&M at Auburn - Auburn
Nevada at Troy - Troy
Georgia vs. Clemson (Atlanta) - Georgia
Notre Dame at Texas A&M - Notre Dame
LSU vs. Southern Cal (Sunday - Las Vegas) - LSU
Miami, Fla. at Florida - Florida
Va Tech at Vanderbilt - Va Tech
Fresno St. at Michigan - Michigan
Penn St at West Virginia -Penn St
Lindsey Bonner (Sports Director - WAKA Ch. 8)
9-6 (9-6) .600
Pike Road at Enterprise - Enterprise
Reeltown at Trinity - Trinity
Prattville at Stanhope Elmore - Prattville
St. James at Montgomery Academy - St. James
Tallassee at Elmore County - Elmore County
Western Kentucky at Alabama - Alabama
Alabama A&M at Auburn - Auburn
Nevada at Troy - Troy
Georgia vs. Clemson (Atlanta) - Georgia
Notre Dame at Texas A&M - Texas A&M
LSU vs. Southern Cal (Sunday - Las Vegas) - LSU
Miami, Fla. at Florida - Miami
Va Tech at Vanderbilt - Va Tech
Fresno St. at Michigan - Michigan
Penn St at West Virginia - Penn St
Rosie Langello (Sports Director - WSFA Ch. 12)
9-6 (9-6) .600
Pike Road at Enterprise - Enterprise
Reeltown at Trinity - Trinity
Prattville at Stanhope Elmore - Prattville
St. James at Montgomery Academy - St. James
Tallassee at Elmore County - Elmore County
Western Kentucky at Alabama - Alabama
Alabama A&M at Auburn - Auburn
Nevada at Troy - Troy
Georgia vs. Clemson (Atlanta) - Georgia
Notre Dame at Texas A&M - Texas A&M
LSU vs. Southern Cal (Sunday - Las Vegas) - LSU
Miami, Fla. at Florida - Miami
Va Tech at Vanderbilt - Va Tech
Fresno St. at Michigan - Michigan
Penn St at West Virginia - Penn St
Barry McKnight (Voice of Troy Trojans)
8-7 (8-7) .533
Pike Road at Enterprise - Enterprise
Reeltown at Trinity - Trinity
Prattville at Stanhope Elmore - Stanhope Elmore
St. James at Montgomery Academy - Montgomery Academy
Tallassee at Elmore County - Tallassee
Western Kentucky at Alabama - Alabama
Alabama A&M at Auburn - Auburn
Nevada at Troy - Troy
Georgia vs. Clemson (Atlanta) - Georgia
Notre Dame at Texas A&M - Notre Dame
LSU vs. Southern Cal (Sunday - Las Vegas) - Southern Cal
Miami, Fla. at Florida - Florida
Va Tech at Vanderbilt - Va Tech
Fresno St. at Michigan - Michigan
Penn St at West Virginia - Penn St