WATCH: New Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer arrives in Tuscaloosa to crowd of fans
The Alabama Crimson Tide made the biggest hire of this coaching cycle when they landed Washington’s Kalen Deboer to fill the vacancy left by Nick Saban. DeBoer has won everywhere he has been and is coming off a national championship appearance with the Huskies.
The fan base has responded incredibly well to DeBoer and seems to be all in on Saban’s successor.
The deal became official Friday afternoon. Within hours, DeBoer left Seattle for Tuscaloosa and arrived at 8:30 p.m. CT to a swarm of Alabama fans at the airport. The Crimson Tide faithful showed out: The crowd looked to be in the thousands. DeBoer spent a quick moment greeting the fans before he and athletic director Greg Byrne headed to Mal Moore Athletic Facility to meet with the team. His first task as the new man of the Crimson Tide will be recruiting and retaining the players currently on the roster
Jalen Milroe was one of the players seen walking into the facility screaming “Roll Tide.” After the meeting, players reportedly were yelling Roll Tide back to the fans with a strong sense of optimism.
A new chapter in Tuscaloosa
The new boss has arrived pic.twitter.com/pMpoUVivac
— Ryan Phillips (@JournoRyan) January 13, 2024
Mal Moore is packed, too!
Students lined up for the arrival of Head Coach Kalen DeBoer at the Mal Moore Athletic Facility. @AlabamaFTBL | #RollTide pic.twitter.com/z2twp2GIpV
— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) January 13, 2024
A swarm of Crimson
The scene at Tuscaloosa airport with Kalen DeBoer set to arrive any minute pic.twitter.com/leszr1wTWm
— Nick Kelly (@_NickKelly) January 13, 2024
DeBoer loves the Tide!
Kalen DeBoer literally stopped to take a photo with some Alabama bros on the tarmac pic.twitter.com/w79ZVXnd9C
— Patrick Greenfield (@PCGreenfield) January 13, 2024
The moment he touched down..
#Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer has arrived in Tuscaloosa.
The dawn of a new era begins. pic.twitter.com/swbn1yCFlZ
— Mathey Gibson (@Mathey_Gibson1) January 13, 2024
Alabama fans love Greg Byrne's new hire
Bama fans HYPE with the arrival of Kalen DeBoer in Tuscaloosa @BarstoolAlabama pic.twitter.com/a3dEECjMGM
— Barstool SEC (@SECBarstool) January 13, 2024
30 minutes before arrival and it looked like this..
The scene at Tuscaloosa airport with DeBoer about 30 min away pic.twitter.com/mbZCJOB65d
— Nick Kelly (@_NickKelly) January 13, 2024
Milroe yelling 'Roll Tide' to the fans
Jalen Milroe arrives at the Mal Moore Athletic Facility prior to Kalen DeBoer’s arrival. @AlabamaFTBL | #RollTide pic.twitter.com/3QnQfsYusj
— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) January 13, 2024
Milroe pumping up the crowd; he has a chance to be a legend
Jalen Milroe arriving to the players meeting with new Alabama HC Kalen DeBoer yelling "Roll Tide" to the fans @abc3340 pic.twitter.com/X8tO5OOIpn
— Chris McCulley (@ChrisMcCulleyTV) January 13, 2024
Two partners in crime
Kalen DeBoer heading back to football facility, riding shotgun with AD Greg Byrne driving pic.twitter.com/hguEksmGgb
— Nick Kelly (@_NickKelly) January 13, 2024
Insane...
The scene in Tuscaloosa at airport waiting for Kalen DeBoer pic.twitter.com/ZiSQVVa1Y5
— Nick Kelly (@_NickKelly) January 13, 2024
How the times have changed
Biggest takeaway from the DeBoer airport arrival vs. Saban's: they built more fences in the last 17 years.
— Michael Casagrande (@ByCasagrande) January 13, 2024
