Questions on how the Alabama Crimson Tide would fare with out its legendary head coach, Nick Saban, getting into the 2024 season had been squashed on Saturday after they blew out Western Kentucky, 63-0, beneath new coach Kalen DeBoer.
The Crimson Tide heard all of the skeptical jargon about them getting into Week 1, and Western Kentucky quarterback TJ Finley was amongst them.
Finley, who performed at LSU, Auburn and Texas State earlier than becoming a member of WKU in his fifth collegiate season, mentioned earlier than the sport that Alabama “won’t be who they suppose they’re.”
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Alabama offensive lineman Tyler Booker talking at Omni Dallas Lodge. (Brett Patzke/USA Immediately Sports activities)
Alabama linebacker Tyler Booker admitted that was simply gas to the Crimson Tide’s fireplace.
“It was slightly disrespectful, we undoubtedly noticed what he mentioned,” Booker mentioned, by way of SI.com. “That wasn’t the principle motivation for going on the market and hanging 63 factors on them, clearly, we’ll play to our commonplace however that simply added slightly gas to the hearth.
“When one in every of their gamers says one thing alongside the traces of, ‘[They] won’t be who [they] suppose [they] are,’ our complete goal of the sport is to only present ’em who we’re and who we are saying we’re. I really feel like we achieved that and I feel he’d say the identical.”
SIDELINE-TO-HELMET COMMUNICATIONS GARNER PRAISE, SOME FRUSTRATION IN WEEK 1
Alabama, the fourth-ranked workforce within the nation getting into the brand new season, was electrical with Jalen Milroe, their veteran quarterback who wasn’t among the many many who entered the switch portal following information of Saban’s retirement, throwing for 200 yards and three touchdowns on simply seven completions. Milroe additionally rushed for 2 touchdowns on 10 makes an attempt with 79 yards on the bottom as effectively.
In the meantime, Finley was 18-for-31 for simply 92 yards with two interceptions and no touchdowns. The speeding yards chief for WKU was Elijah Younger with solely 18 yards on 10 carries.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers quarterback TJ Finley (2) runs the ball towards the Alabama Crimson Tide through the first quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. (Will McLelland-USA TODAY Sports activities)
When trying on the workforce stats, Alabama had 600 yards of complete offense to WKU’s 145, and the Crimson Tide nearly averaged 10 yards per play (9.2).
It was fairly the primary recreation for DeBoer, who beforehand led the Washington Huskies to the nationwide title recreation in 2023. His squad finally misplaced to the Michigan Wolverines, however DeBoer impressed the Crimson Tide sufficient to make him the following head coach of the storied SEC program.
DeBoer’s squad answered some questions of their first recreation, and there’s a tricky schedule forward, together with No. 1-ranked Georgia in three weeks.
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer coaches his gamers throughout heat ups earlier than their recreation towards the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Bryant-Denny Stadium. (Will McLelland-USA TODAY Sports activities)
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However for groups likes South Florida and Wisconsin within the subsequent couple of weeks, protecting feedback like Finley needed to themselves could be finest, as Alabama’s fireplace is already shining shiny after its dominant efficiency.
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