Kalen DeBoer isn't worried about replacing Nick Saban at Alabama

One would think that the pressure could almost be too much in Tuscaloosa.

They say that you never want to be "the guy" who replaces "the guy," but rather "the guy" who replaces "the guy" who replaced "the guy."

That's what new Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer will be dealing with in 2024 and likely for the rest of his time coaching the Crimson Tide. The coach he replaced, Nick Saban, brought six national championships to the program and had seven total under his belt when he retired.

Yes, DeBoer took Washington to the College Football Playoffs National Championship last season so he does have a history of being able to take a program to the big game, but even if he wins one championship or heck, even two, that would still pale in comparison to Saban's legacy.

Those are big shoes to fill, but recently talking to college football analyst Joel Klatt (h/t On3 ), DeBoer explained that he's not focused on that.

“I’ve heard that. I mean not 100 times. I’ve heard that thousands of times, which I get,” DeBoer said when asked about the pressure of replacing Saban. “I get where it comes from, but you really never make it about that… You make it about these players and when you pour into the right things, the right things will happen to you."

DeBoer is controlling what he can control, in other words.

He'll never be Saban and to expect him to would be a fool's errand. The program is going to look different and feel different — though DeBoer has already picked up where Saban left off regarding success on the recruiting trail — and that's okay. They're two different coaches with two different philosophies on life and football.

That said, the changing of the guard in Tuscaloosa doesn't mean that Saban still can't have his finger on the pulse of the program. In fact, he said that he'd be available to counsel DeBoer at any time, and that's something that the new head coach has apparently already taken the legendary head coach up on.

“Every time I’ve called him, he’s picked up the phone. And it’s been quite often,” DeBoer had said early on in his tenure. “I’m trying to give him some space and let him enjoy his time, but I know he sees my number come in and knows that I’m looking for maybe a little bit of advice or just a talk through something, and he’s just been awesome in every way."

The ultimate coach. Not only can Saban make football players, but he has a way of coaching coaches as well — and that's one of the many reasons he was so special as a head coach.

Now let's wait and see what else DeBoer can glean from him.