When Nick Saban first came to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Jon Gilbert, a former Alabama staff member, recalled, “It was like Michael Jordan arriving at O’Hare in his prime and walking through the airport. It was a very surreal moment.” From that point, Saban, who valued first impressions, instructed Todd Alles, one of his initial hires as director of football operations, to gather everyone associated with the program, regardless of their role, for a meeting at 3:00 pm.
Saban entered the room and shared a message that became central to his success at Alabama. “Everything we do,” Saban stated, “is about recruiting. Everything we do.” His approach to achieving this was rooted in making a strong first impression. He emphasized that if anyone walked into the building and saw dirty bathrooms, it would tarnish the program’s image. The same applied if the floors weren’t spotless. “This place has to be show-ready 100 percent of the time,” Saban insisted.
The announcement of Saban’s retirement during a team meeting on January 14 last year shocked many, and the effects are still felt. With Kalen DeBoer now at the helm, there are growing concerns about the stability of the foundation Saban built, especially since Alabama’s activity in the transfer portal has done little to ease these worries. After a season that didn’t meet their usual high standards, this offseason was crucial. Yet, it seems the program has taken a step back.
A mass departure of 5-star recruits from Alabama followed Nick Saban’s announcement. Within hours, Ryan Williams, a five-star recruit and the No. 9 overall prospect (No. 3 wide receiver) on ESPN’s 2024 rankings, recommitted. Just two days later, another 5-star wide receiver, Jaime Ffrench, did the same. Coupled with the loss of key players such as Jihaad Campbell, Jalen Milroe, and Tyler Booker to the NFL, questions have arisen about Alabama’s approach. Is the powerhouse program not using its full potential? Many believe there is more to come from this football juggernaut, and one Alabama alum is making sure Kalen DeBoer and others are aware of it.
Mick Gillispie of the “Bama Tailgate” YouTube channel shared an intriguing piece of information regarding the most valuable college athletic programs. Ohio State leads the list with a massive $1.32 billion valuation, followed by Texas and Texas A&M, valued at $1.28 billion and $1.26 billion, respectively. Michigan holds the fourth spot with $1.02 billion. Alabama rounds out the top five with a $978 million valuation across all sports, with the bulk of that figure attributed to its football program. Gillispie expressed frustration that this financial muscle isn’t resulting in better roster quality and performance for Kalen DeBoer.
“Ohio State went out and spent almost $30 million on the transfer portal and they’re going to win the national championship on Monday. Texas, look at what they’re worth, $1.28 billion, guess where they were, the college football playoff. Michigan won it last year they’re worth over a billion. We can’t figure out why Texas A&M isn’t able to take advantage of their money but there’s Alabama at number five just under a billion dollars reported,” Gillispie said.
Kalen DeBoer’s $20M Emulation Proves Fruitless as Promising Career Shift May Lead to Major Regrets
“I’ve always felt like some of that money is not showing up where it should be,” said Gillispie. “The bottom line is this…these schools can take advantage of this system. That includes Alabama…I think that’s what we’re seeing right now obviously with Ohio State.” Ohio State has assembled the most expensive roster in college football history, and it’s clear they’re benefiting from this significant investment.
“You cannot let Ohio State, Texas, Michigan, and Texas A&M, as well as the schools behind you, have better rosters than you. There are resources available to do something about it,” Gillespie remarked. This statement reflects his concern that Alabama might fall behind as the sport evolves.
For years, Alabama recruited top-tier talent directly out of high school, with Nick Saban being a major factor in attracting players to Tuscaloosa for development. However, as recruitment shifted from an art to a science with the introduction of NIL, Alabama’s appeal has slowly diminished. If NIL created a level playing field, then Kalen DeBoer—or whoever followed the legendary Saban—has put Alabama in a tough position. After a disappointing first season, this gap appears to be widening. Those in power are aware of this, and Athletic Director Greg Byrne is actively working to restore Alabama to its former dominance. Whether under Saban or DeBoer, this program cannot afford setbacks like 2024. But the question remains: Will that ever happen? Hear from the GOAT himself.
Alabama has now lost 108 players in the transfer portal over the last 4 years.
They have signed 31.
That's a net total of -77 since the 2022 portal class.
Sheesh.
— Chris Marler (@VernDumbquist) January 6, 2025
Last year, Nick Saban emphasized to Pat McAfee that Kalen DeBoer should not try to replicate the approach Saban used during his 17 years as Alabama’s head coach. Instead, Saban advised that DeBoer should bring his own style to the Crimson Tide’s head coaching position. Saban believes that DeBoer will do so successfully.
“I do think this is a tough transition for Kalen,” Saban said during the October 18, 2024, episode of The Pat McAfee Show. “Any time you take over a successful program — I don’t want to be judgmental about what they do, because I feel like he has to do what he does his way. He can’t be me. He can’t try to be somebody that he isn’t. I think there’s more than one way to skin a cat, and I actually think the guy has been successful and I think his way will work.”
“I think it’s an adjustment for a lot of fans and the people. But I think he’ll win them over because he’s a good guy and he’s a good coach. He’s got a good system, a good organization. I’m just trying to be supportive and helpful in any way that I can so he can make a smooth transition.”
In one way, DeBoer is following a similar path to Saban’s. Just as Saban experienced a tough loss to Louisiana-Monroe in 2007, DeBoer has faced his own challenging defeat: a 40-35 loss to Vanderbilt, despite being a three-touchdown favorite. However, DeBoer may be in a better position. He inherited two of the best recruiting classes (2021, 2023) in recent memory, and even though there have been many transfers since Saban’s departure, DeBoer still has a wealth of talent left behind. Realistically, he may never replicate Saban’s dynasty at Alabama, but DeBoer’s goal is to maintain it. He may also gain support along the way.
Kalen DeBoer might soon receive the support he needs to join the ranks of the top-tier programs
Greg Byrne recently took to X with an urgent message for the Alabama fanbase, addressing the impact of NIL and how it has shifted the recruitment landscape. In his open letter, he said, “There’s a time for talk and a time for action. Now is a time for action. Although we have been competitive from an NIL standpoint, our competition has us in their sights and are actively trying to surge ahead with NIL.”
Byrne further acknowledged how other teams have leveraged offers of million-dollar deals to attract Alabama’s players or dissuade potential recruits from joining. He declared, “It is time for the Bama Nation to fight back.” He also outlined the purpose of Alabama’s official NIL fundraising arm, “Yea Alabama,” which helps raise funds through “legitimate products” such as merchandise and exclusive content, offering fans something in return for their contributions. He made it clear that the initiative would be expanded with more diverse content offerings.
Byrne concluded with a bold statement, saying, “At Alabama, we’ve not measured ourselves against our competition. We are the standard, and that measurement is against the mirror and against a rich and proud history, but it’s impossible to ignore what is taking place in college athletics. Hungry fan bases are acting decisively to give their respective programs competitive advantages. We must respond. We are Alabama.”
Meanwhile, Kalen DeBoer has proven himself as a talented coach, as demonstrated by his success at Washington. However, even great coaching isn’t enough without the proper resources. Their failed attempts to add a new QB1 to replace the departing Jalen Milroe serve as a clear indication of the struggles in their portal efforts. Change is necessary, and it needs to happen fast.
