The Joel Klatt Show: A College Football Podcast - Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer on Following Nick Saban and the Future of the Tide | Big Noon Conversations

Episode Date: July 15, 2024

First-year Alabama Head Coach Kalen DeBoer sits down with FOX Sports’ lead college football analyst Joel Klatt to discuss his whirlwind 5 days that began with coaching in the National Championship Game to Nick Saban’s surprise retirement to his accepting the Head Coaching job at Alabama. Coach DeBoer discusses why he was willing to take on the responsibility of following the GOAT. The two also discuss Coach's unconventional path to Tuscaloosa and the challenges he now faces coming into the SEC with a program that has National Championship expectations. DeBoer lays out what he envisions for the future of the program and how he’ll maximize the potential of QB Jalen Milroe this upcoming season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Everyone says you don't want to be the guy that follows the guy. Did anybody say like, hey, I don't know about this? Yeah, I've heard that. I mean, not a hundred times. I've heard that thousands of times. Most influential people in the sport talking about the sport globally. This week on Big Noon Conversations, I talk with the new head football coach at the University of Alabama, Kaelin DeBoer. Kailen DeBoer, brand new head coach, University of Alabama.

Thanks for joining us. man. This is great. Great to have you here. It's good to be here. First things first. Before we get to the question I've asked everybody, I was here last year talking with coach. He offered me a job. So is that offer still on the table or do I need to talk with him about that? You know, I feel like there's always a reason why he did things. And so there must have been a reason for that too. So I'm going to put my trust in him on that one. So yeah, sure. Oh, man. That's, it was fun, though. And I'm excited for you. I know you haven't had a chance to coach the fall yet. yet, but in your short time here, what's been the best part of being the head coach at Alabama?

I mean, it always starts with our players, and they've just been amazing. They've embraced everything we've put in front of them. I'm really proud of them. I'm really proud of the way they kind of weathered the storms early, really continue to push through, stuck together. And, you know, I think the other piece is just the excitement around the program that just exists here at Alabama. And so it's fun being a part of that.

You know, the season's coming on fast, and so, you know, the excitement continues to grow. But got my family here now. And so, you know, that's a little bit more of a routine and all that really, really enjoying it. The staff's doing a great job as well. Your path is unique, you know. I mean, Sue Falls, I sat with you at Indiana and covered some of your teams when you were the offensive coordinator at Indiana. You go to Fresno. Obviously, your success at Washington. Let me go back to that. You know, the last time we sat together was when you were a coordinator at Indiana with a young quarterback named Michael Pinnock and no one knew anything about, you know? And if I told that guy that day, hey, in five years, you're going to take over for Nick

Saban at the University of Alabama. What would you have said? I mean, I would have been really surprised, you know, that obviously things worked out in a special way. But I also know that anything is possible. And it really wouldn't have been about reaching that goal if you'd have told me, if you do this, this and this, it'd have been just about pouring everything into the moments you're in at that time. So yeah, it'd have been a little bit crazy if you'd have said that, but I also know that anything's possible. And I learned that way back being at the University of Sioux Falls where a place like that really had no business at one point winning national championships even at the small college level and doing that and happening over and over and over again there. And so anything's

possible. I'm just, you know, I am very blessed to certainly be in this spot and a lot of great things have fell into place. I've been around a lot of great people. I imagine if you set out, if we're sitting there and that was your goal that day and that's at the forefront of your mind. And you're not where your feet are to take an old, you know, coach Sabinism, if you will, then this probably doesn't work out. But if you're just pouring in. end of the now every single day, trying to make Indiana's offense the best it can possibly be on that Tuesday or whatever day it may be. Same with Fresno, same with Sue Falls, same with Washington. This doesn't happen. I completely agree. I think when you start pressing and you know,

you see this players, but especially coaches throughout the 20 plus years I've been doing this, when they start thinking about what's next and how their career path right now isn't in line with other people they compare themselves to or it's gone the wrong way for a year or two. You know, that stress level, just, you know, they're not enjoying the job. And when you're enjoying the job, that's when you do your best work. Sure. And, you know, just things fall into place because, you know, your best work is going to lead to success. So I completely agree with that comment. How about the craziness of post-national championship game? So you have an incredible season at Washington, Incredible season, you know, culminating and two undefeated teams facing off in the national.

I mean, it was a great game, you know, and they outlasted you guys and win the national championship. You're coming off of that. And it is January 8th. January 10th, Nick Saban, who I believe is the greatest college football coach in the history of our sport, steps away. And it's just like, I mean, like college football, it's the biggest domino there is in our sport. in a coaching sense. You know that. By January 12th, you're the head coach here. Yeah. Can you start with the day after the national championship game?

What was your reaction when Coach Saven retired and how quickly did this become a possibility? Well, I think, you know, we stayed overnight after the championship and the next day it was a travel day. And there's some of these guys that were making their final decisions on that team with whether they're going to move on in the NFL. And so that communication's happening, and you wake up, and you got a sick feeling in your stomach just because he came up short. And you wanted the dreams and goals that we all had and the work that had been put in to be realized in the national championship. And so, you know, you're licking your wounds a little bit, working on the next season. And then, you know, I just remember that morning, Wednesday, you know, the eighth or that had been the 10th, just realizing like, hey, not like your spirit. feeling sorry for yourself, but you're just like, get up and let's go attack the day and let's make this happen.

I mean, I specifically remember that. So a lot of meetings with our players that morning, early afternoon, you know, and that's kind of what that routine was. And of course, the news with Coach Saban hitting. And just I think, you know, I knew nothing at that time and whether it be approached, but I just knew that there's always the names that get thrown out there. Sure. And that would be a distraction to Washington and the team I was trying to continue to put together

and you're ready, you know, mid-January by that time. So that was what was in my mind. And of course then by late that night, you know, the opportunity put in front of you to talk to Greg Byrne and just really the next 48 hours just being about that, you know, an interview. and then the opportunity to actually be the head coach and all the emotions that go along with, you know,

the decision and, you know, then having to talk to everyone there at Washington and then get down here quick and be in this very room to talk to the team, which had been going through a lot of things on their own, you know. And so there's a lot of emotions. Probably the one thing that I just, you know, wish really could have happened there is that you have a chance to celebrate what was an amazing season. And, you know, things got flipped.

so quickly. Unfortunately, the players in particular, but also the fan base, just really not being able to celebrate all the success that had gone into that season or even, you know, the previous two combined. Sure. I can tell you, like, on the 10th, I remember recording a show, right, when we heard the news of Coach Stepping Away. And immediately, I thought, all right, if I'm Greg Byrne, there's three names on the list. And that's it. And I did a whole show. This is, you can go back and watch it, all you subscribers on YouTube. You were one of those three names.

And I said on that show, I said, I think Alabama is going to work quickly, and I think Kailen DeBore is going to be the head coach. And I believed that very much so. No insight. We hadn't texted. I didn't text Greg. That sentiment was born out of the truth that you know how to win. Bear with me for a moment.

I believe in what Tiger Woods always talks about. And I watched a documentary. I'm, you know, anytime anything on whether it's Muhammad Ali or Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods, I'm watching it, right? This is what I want. And he talked about, yes, it was important to be technically proficient at the game of golf. But it was also equally important to be competitively proficient at the game of golf and learn how to win at a young age, which he did to a mark that no one. one's ever seen. And then that carried over. And now he's obviously who he is in the greatest golfer of all time. Well, to some extent, you know, I know this is going to sound weird, but

you have that type of Tiger Woods winning track record throughout your career. You're 104 and 12 as a head coach. No one else touches that. So even though you're following the guy, do you have a level of confidence that you know how to win regardless of where you're at? Yeah, I mean, I really appreciate all those comments and that confidence that you have and then others obviously have had to bring me here and the other places I've been as well. But I do. I just think that, you know, it's, and I don't mean that. And I mean, hopefully it doesn't come across an arrogant way. It's just you just know that if you pour everything you got into the right things and the right people,

and you have the right support around you, that it can be done. And I've been at great places. All those places that have led to that record have been great places with great support, great people. And, of course, players who you bring in that just want to do something together. And, you know, that's what this is all about. That's what Alabama's all about. And Greg Byrne, you know, showing me that vision, showing me how it's been done. And seeing that, you know, this can continue on.

This place, Coach Saban's built it up to be something again, just like many others before him, to where it's greater than one person. And his face and the legacy he leaves and being the best of the best will certainly live on forever. But he's built this place up to be bigger than one person. And, you know, coming in, I'm very careful with that task, with that responsibility. I understand it. And you're paying attention to all the cues and why things were the way they were and this decision and why this routine and schedule was in place.

You're paying attention to all that. Because it was thought about it. There's a reason. There's a reason forever. There's a reason. And so, you know, that's what I'm certainly, you know, with my experiences and have been through. You know, I feel confident that, you know, they aren't going to be perfect. No one is.

But that we can take those experiences and continue to build here. Just I think one thing with that, in between being a head coach and a head coach, there was 10 years where I was with great other head coaches. And I think that that... And having success, wild success as a coordinator, which I touched on, you know, at Indiana. And they all did it different ways. They all did it their ways. They had their strengths. And just taking all that in and kind of adding what fit me and my identity, my way of doing things, ways to make things better. That was really invaluable to, you know, kind of these last four or five years. Who'd you talk to for advice during that really tight window? Yeah. Who was it?

I mean, the first and foremost, it was my family, you know, just we loved where we were at, and that was the hardest thing. Life was really good at Washington, the people around us, and my daughter was going to college there. You know, the next year she's a senior, just graduated from high school. So a lot of things just perfectly aligned, and that's where it started. You know, But getting that blessing there to look into this and understand more was from them. I think there's a couple friends that, you know, you just kind of, hey, you know, get some perspective on because they know me. And then, you know, there's some people in the professional world, and I don't really want to get into those people.

But a few that understand what this job is, what being a head coach at the Power 5 level is, you know, just what this is all about. And so, you know, reaching out to a few of them that understand, you know, what this would feel like, look like, you know, and just really getting their support was important to me. I'm fascinated. Everyone says you don't want to be the guy that follows the guy. Did anybody say like, hey, I don't know about this. Yeah, I mean, those particular people know me. And so they understood it really wasn't about that. But, yeah, I've heard that.

I mean, not a hundred times. I've heard that thousands of times. Which I get. I mean, I get where it comes from, but you really never make it about that. You just get in full circle, what I said earlier, you make it about these players. And when you pour into the right things, the right things will happen to you. I just believe that. How involved do you think Coach Saban was?

And then what was your first interaction with him like? How involved was he? In the process to bring you here. You know, I mean, I'm sure, you know, that there was a conversation or two. I'm not aware of those conversations, but, you know, I just know the places I've been when you pour everything you have into that place. So Washington, Fresno State, and it's going in a good direction. You want it to continue on. Sure.

You know, I want those programs, the University of Falls and even Eastern Michigan, Indiana. You know, those places, you want what you did and pour it into. that to continue on to to to experience and grow because it will still come back to hey that time in history and past where you you you you did your part yeah you know to make it what it is today and into the future so um i i'm very confident that coach you know would have had some thoughts um because you know he wants it to continue to be at a high level i don't think any anybody anywhere including me, would think that you'd be sitting here unless he gave at least like a nod in that direction. And I did reach out to him even before I was offered the job officially.

Just, you know, that morning, which I think would have been the Friday morning. And, you know, the cool connection there was Don James. And, you know, I could really get a sense. This is really the first time coach and I had ever talked. And, you know, man, just hearing him talk about. that relationship, what that meant to him and the things that he learned even during that time. And I know what Don James meant to Washington and where I was at. It was really a cool connector trying to kind of get that conversation going.

But then I heard him talk a lot about just the program and, you know, kind of, you know, getting to know each other just a little bit. Have you thought about the fact that, you know, he will be around? and not just, you know, around here in Tuscaloosa, but he's going to have a platform and a voice where everyone in America is going to want to know what he thinks about what you're doing. Have you thought about that?

Yeah, I mean, you know, I'm going to have to be held, you know, we're going to be at a high standard no matter what, whether he was in his role with, you know, the, because that's Bama football. game day. It's BAMO football. And, you know, I think shoot, just another person that has, you know, done it well that you want to really help make proud of what they've put into it, you know. And that's what we're trying to do here. We're trying to make everyone who came before us proud of what happened. And the alumni, you know, of course the fan base, but all these

coaches that have poured everything into making the championships happen here, we want to make them proud and we want to continue to build this program on to where those that come after us, they got a great, they got even a better foundation than what was here before I got here. I'm fascinated because when he did leave, he also had some very pointed comments about where we are in the sport, you know, and it wasn't, I know that people took it as as really specific to this locker room, but I think it was part and parcel to what the sport and the structure of the sport has created in every locker room. Having said that, What was your first interaction like with the team when you first got in front of them?

Well, I think a lot of it was I knew how important just to give them a couple nuggets. They weren't going to hear everything because they're just trying to get a gauge of who this person is in front of them. But I think it was positive. I think they felt like there was some energy. Obviously, had just been to a national championship. I tried, I think, connecting with them on what they had just been through, not even with the coaching change. but going to a semi-final game and coming up short and me coming up short with the team

and there at Washington. I think it was something that, you know, over the next couple weeks at least, helped us connect. But I think the guys, you know, pulled a leadership group into a room and talking with them. I think they heard, they saw that I'll listen and felt that it was, you know, genuine.

And, you know, that's, I think one of the things I pride myself on is, you know, giving them direction, giving them the organization, the parameters we want this team and vision to look like, but also hearing them out and hearing what's important to them and making it there so that they have ownership in it and willing to invest on another level. It's such a unique situation. I've been trying to, I've been racking my brain about, okay, what's the, what's the comparable situation here? What does history tell us about this situation? And here's the hard part. This almost never happens, almost in the history of our sport.

It is so rare, and I know the example, and I'll bring it up in a moment, where a coach leaves in his prime, and the program is in its prime. It's in the pocket. They haven't had a downturn. You know, he's not walking away after a couple of seasons where maybe the standard wasn't met. They are there. You know, yes, people say Georgia is the standard. They're 50 and four.

They're one and three against Alabama. You know, like, Bama is still the SEC champion. They still are the SEC representative in the playoff. Coach Sabin has won all of these titles. Every other time that we've seen a move like this in college football, in particular in modern history, it's from within. We're seeing it at Michigan right now with Sharon Moore. We saw it at Oklahoma with Lincoln Riley and Ryan Day at Ohio State. Even when Harbaugh left Stanford, it was David Shaw.

We see examples like this time and time again. What we don't see is a guy that was at Sioux Falls and Fresno and Washington come in from the outside. The last time we've seen this was when Jimmy Johnson stepped away from Miami and Dennis Erickson became the head coach of the Hurricanes. He won a national championship. Tell me the challenges that you face being, quote, an outsider in this program at its peak. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, I hear all that. And, you know, I think the situation also that we went through, I mean, I thought about that because I was in it.

I call it the fire that we were in those days right after I was announced as the head coach because on top of the success that was being had and where this program was at, we were also in the middle of January. And it was a contact period where, you know, people were on the road, coaches were on the road. of the staffs were all in place and our guys were now able to enter the portal. And, you know, I just, I'm glad we went about things the way we did where we just really focused on our team here. And while you're building the staff, you're just 100% pouring into individual conversations, group conversations, and even just calling team meetings, you know, a couple times a day to update them and communicate that way. Yeah, I think just You know, for me, you know, going back to Fresno State was easy because I understood the traditions and had seen it for two years under coach Jeff Tedford there, you know, who was an alum himself.

And so you kind of had a little bit of the recipe, but Washington was different. That was a new area, new territory. It really hadn't spent much time in Seattle. So embracing everything that the program, you know, was about. is very similar to here, you know, embracing it and knowing that, you know, I'm a proud alum of my, you know, University of Sioux Falls. And when you go back there, you know, you want to be greeted. You want that to be home. And just having a sensitivity, I think, to all the greats that have been here and the passion that this, you know, program has with its band base. It's just, you know, being really

sensitive to that. And probably the biggest thing is you just don't know what you don't know sometimes. And you don't know that tradition that existed and where it came from and how long it's been going on. And so I'm still learning today. But I've asked a lot of questions and really, you know, when I get a chance to being around an alum from the different eras, just really listening to what they have to say, writing things down, you know, and trying to keep that alive, embracing that while you still do what you've done and doing things the way that you've felt have been successful in the reasons why we've won over the years. During that January contact period and portals open, during that time,

and then now continuing into and through spring ball, what was your message to your guys, whether individually or as a team? Yeah, I mean, once we got past those first few days, and I just really, I think they kind of felt like, okay, you know, we can give this a chance. We got the staff in place, and just the culture started, coming through in our daily talks and how we did things in practice and the energy we brought. There was some great continuity here in the program, whether it's Dave Ballou with a strength

staff or Jeff Allen with the training room, many of the player development staff and some others around the program that really were, I mean, just so critical to the transition and helping me out, but also helping these guys out. And so once we got past that first week or two, I really felt comfortable that, you know, you might lose a guy at some point over those 30 days, but it wasn't just going to fall apart. And we were going to get a chance in Springball, and I knew once we got into Springball, again, we'd be okay because they'd enjoy the way we coach, the way we operated. And, you know, the expectations weren't going to fall off.

Yeah. You know, the expectations were going to be at a high level. The standard, as we refer to it here, was going to be at a high level. It just might be messaged a different way, you know. no matter who was going to be here, whether it was even someone from within, that person is going to, that coach is going to still message it their way. Sure. And so, you know, there's only one coach Saban. There's only one, you know, of every coach at every place. And so the guys have just been amazing. They've embraced everything. I couldn't have asked for anything more.

I think I'm most fascinated in what I, we, the college football public, what will we see that's, different. That's a really good question. I mean, I know what I want it to look like. What is that? What do you want to look like? You know, you can watch the game from even the TV screen and see that there's passion in our guys play with that, you know, all 11 guys are pursuing the ball carrier, you know, and just doing everything they can from an effort standpoint, every single play. You know, playing as hard as they can, that there's a physicality that exists because that's just how you win football games. You know, the last couple of years, you know, the last couple of years, you know, We had some strong talent in the passing game, right, with pennics and receiving core.

And there was a lot made about that. But in the end, when you really look down, when you look at it, there was battles that we were winning every play at the line of scrimmage, offensively and defensively. Really good old line. And it was the best old line in the country. Yes. You know, and so, you know, that emphasis will not drop off. That's how it's happened over 25 years at different places is because of those things.

So, you know, I hope that what also comes out is just, you know, that when a guy has success, he makes it, he scores a touchdown, he gets a pick that, you know, the celebration of the others shows that our team is united. Yeah. That there's a bond. There's a family, brotherhood, whatever term you want to use that exists to where, you know, it's, man, it's important. These guys really care about each other. Yeah, I'm a son of a coach, you know, everyone listening, that kind of knows that. And I, deep down to my bones, believe that teams and people and organizations and programs all, you achieve what you emphasize.

And if you emphasize being different, then you're going to be different. That just means that you're going to be different. If you emphasize being excellent, then you will be excellent. And I've always felt like the pitfalls of any new coach, whether it's from within, from outside, whether they're coming in for a program that needs. needs a change of direction or not, if what you're doing is just emphasizing being different, it's not going to work. But if you emphasize being excellent, probably going to work. Tomorrow, when we have our prospects here about slide four or five is going to be achieve what you

emphasize. Those very words are going to be on the slide. And so, and I will talk about what we're emphasizing. And, you know, the standard that will emphasize it at. And so, you know, you know, You know, now it's a matter of do you want to be a part of that. Yeah. And, you know, these guys have told me some of the things that they want to continue to emphasize here in this program that I can completely relate to and fit the identity of what I want our team to be. What did you learn in taking over a team that candidly was filled with a lot of Chris Peterson recruits and having success with them? Now, obviously, you brought some of your, you know, players and recruits and transfers in to help. that and supplement that. But a lot of your main guys, you know, outside of Michael were Chris Peterson

recruits originally and stayed there and you got them to stay there and have success. Dennis Erickson won with guys that he didn't recruit at Miami. I'm fascinated in this idea of how. How you go about winning over those guys that committed to something and they saw a slideshow at one point was someone else selling them that slideshow. And now you have to win them, you know, not just on your side, but towards the culture for the team. You've been successful in doing that. How do you do that? Well, I think fortunately, there's some similarities, again, with the standard that those guys were recruited to.

And the same thing exists here with the standard of what guys wanted when they came here to play for Coach Sabin. and that matched what, you know, what is important to my recipe for success. And so continuity is a huge part of success, you know, and you can bring in some portal guys, as you mentioned, that can really put you over the top. It might be to fill some gaps, even in our case this year, where a guy or two left and we needed to fill in those areas with some experience. But I think in the end, the continuity of a coaching staff, which we were able to have, and I've had, you know, at multiple places, you know, and here that's going to be important for the future,

but the continuity of the players and keeping the guys that are your core. And just it was really easy to connect here because the standard and the things that they were recruited to here, although a lot of it, of course, was playing for Coach Sabin. They still understand that Alabama football has this, has these core values, this identity. to it and it matched what I was saying and they could tell it was heartfelt and really who I am. And so that continuity is important for our future just like it was the last two years. One of the assistants that you're not going to have in terms of continuity of staff is Coach Grubb, Ryan Grubb, who's been with you, I believe 12 years.

At least. At least, right? And so he moves on and gets a great opportunity, obviously, in the National Football League. But how do you feel like that's going to impact you? Oh, man. You know, I'm just so happy for him because it goes back to 2000, even before we were 2007, but that was the first year we coached together and just that journey. And there were some couple of years we were away from each other.

But just seeing him grow, seeing him work so hard to realize this opportunity, it's special. You know, and I want those opportunities for coaches that are with me because that's how I got to this spot too, you know, is people, you know, that were there to support me and help me grow. But, you know, he certainly was an important part, but fortunately there's, again, continuity with Nick Sheridan, who this is our fourth year together. And you're talking about a extremely intelligent coach. And he and Ryan Grubb together, along with Jamarca Shepard, who's my co-offensive coordinator, and getting to him as well here, those guys just, sitting in a room together over the last two years and really being aligned.

You'll lose a piece of that, but then you bring other pieces in that you know can continue to add to what our system, what our identity is offensively. And so I'm so happy for him, but I'm very confident in who we have coming in. I've been around him. It's not like you're just pulling someone from a different program that you've never been with. I know who they are, what type of people they are, the energy, the effort that they put into it, the way they build relationships. I think you can see very quickly just in the retention of four quarterbacks in our room

that are high-level guys that Nick Sheridan is that guy who can connect with them as well. I think it's fascinating because I believe Prisoner of the Moment is a great term that you can apply to basically every fan. Their rear-view mirror is not very long. And so they see Michael Pennix and Roma Dunzee in your passing game from a year. year ago and they think to themselves, well, is that mean he's going to try to do that with Jalen Milrow? And what they don't understand is that you've got a history of offensive football that doesn't always look like what Washington looked like last year. Right. And, you know, now, granted, you've been very successful throwing the football and doing things a certain way.

But, you know, I'm fascinated to get your insight on just like how you feel like you can help further Jalen Milrow into what a lot of us think can be a Heisman Trophy candidate. Yeah, I mean, it's Jalen, but it's also the guys around him. And I think our system, you know, when you've done it for 25 years and you've adjusted to the guys, especially when you're at a smaller college level, the FCS level, Southern Illinois, you're, you know, Eastern Michigan, you're adjusting to the guys that you have. And, you know, I mean, the offensive volume of the... different things you've done. Of course, it starts with your quarterback. I remember running

G-Option back in 2000, 2001 and 2002 a little bit. You know, and you might, you might dip back into that bag. I don't know how Jaylin feel about that right now. But, I mean, we were running it and the quarterback had 25 carries a game sometimes, you know, and so, and then, you know, the next, I remember years after that, you know, it was, it was a little bit more, I don't want to call it fun and gun, because I don't want that. identity, but there was a little more passing. Yeah. And I know you just adjust to your personnel.

And so that's all built within. Again, I got smart people that, you know, I can work with on that offensive staff. And got a lot of, you know, like Brian Ellis as a coordinator as well coming from Georgia Southern who, you know, can see things from a quarterback standpoint. And so us all being in a room, we can make sure we're really guiding, not have too many voices in Jalen's ear, but also just making sure we're we're making good. decisions and continue to formulate a plan around him, but also the other personnel that he has are surrounding him as well. So this conference in so many ways has been the standard in college football for years and years and years. Winning national championship after national championship, last year was a bit of an anomaly where you saw the PAC 12 and the Big Ten facing off for the national

championship. Just haven't seen that happen in a long time. So this in a lot of ways is the standard. And the SEC has been the best conference in America. And, you know, I'm sure that the conference still believes that that's what they're going to go, even, you know, with the power in the Big Ten and what's happened there. Now, having said that, those not in this conference, like really in this conference, we can peek behind the curtain, roll our eyes a little bit when we hear it just means more. So now here you are from the outside, and now you're in it. So coach, does it just mean more down here? It's pretty important. Now being in it, yes, I got to say that, right?

But it is. It's pretty fun to experience, you know, and when you really think about, you know, the stadium, 100,000 plus, 100,000 plus, and where all these people are coming to and what their Saturdays or what their whole weekends look like and how it surrounds football, It's pretty amazing.

I saw it in 8A game, $72,000 for a spring game, and the excitement leading up to it, it wasn't just a one-day thing. It was up to an all-week thing, but especially the whole weekend, you know. And it's just really cool. And wherever you go, it's not just in Tuscaloosa, but it's around the state and any beyond.

You know, it's roll-tied. It's, you know, everywhere you go, of course, relating to Alabama, but it's also just a passion for football that exists. And so it's exciting to be here. You know, I mean, the tradition of the conference certainly is well known. Absolutely. And it's great to be a part of it.

Got my Uber last night and the driver looks at me and he's like, what are you doing down here? Hey, man. I'm looking forward to you being here. And then obviously that game at Wisconsin will have you there when you travel to Madison. and 11 a.m. Central, by the way. So we'll get you home early. We're staying in our time zone.

I appreciate you so much, man. You bet. Thank you.