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“I have always had an incredible respect for Alabama football and its commitment to excellence,” DeBoer said in his first official statement as Crimson Tide head coach. “The tradition-rich history of this program is unmatched across the landscape of college athletics, and I look forward to continuing that moving forward.”

DeBoer, despite the lofty expectations he volunteered for, said following Saban is an honor and referred to him as “the standard for college football.”

“I would not have left Washington for just any school,” he said. “The chance to lead the football program at the University of Alabama is the opportunity of a lifetime. My family and I feel truly blessed and look forward to becoming a part of the Tuscaloosa community. I want to thank Director of Athletics Greg Byrne, President Stuart R. Bell, Chancellor Finis St. John and The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees for their belief in me to lead this program.”

The news that DeBoer and the university were finalizing discussions for him to become the Crimson Tide’s next head coach broke early in the afternoon Friday, roughly 48 hours after Saban shocked the entire college football world by announcing Wednesday that he would retire after 17 transformative seasons for Tuscaloosa.

“I want nothing more than to see Alabama football continue to be successful, and Coach DeDoer is an outstanding choice to lead this program,” Saban said in a statement Friday. “He has a proven track record of success and is one of the brightest football minds.”

Saban went on to say that his successor has an excellent understanding of what it takes to be a successful head coach as it relates to coaching, recruiting, developing players and building a culture.

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“He has done a fantastic job at every stop of his coaching career, and I am excited to see what he will be able to accomplish in Tuscaloosa,” he said. “Terry and I will be here to support Coach DeBoer and his family with anything they need.”

At the Tuscaloosa National Airport about an hour and a half after Byrne’s post on X, the small vanguard of the Crimson Tide nation — roughly a dozen excited college kids — waited behind the chainlink fence at the main terminal. But over the next two hours, that small force would slowly swell as a steady trickle of Crimson-clad fans crowded together in the cold and biting wind for the chance to catch a glimpse of the man tasked with replacing an icon.
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As the crowd steadily grew, so did the anticipation, with a nearby boombox first playing “Rammer Jammer” before those gathered joined in singing along with Alabama’s “Dixieland Delight.”

A trusted source not affiliated with the university told Patch that the anticipated arrival time for DeBoer would be about 8:30 p.m., but as early as 7:45 p.m., some in the swelling gaggle of shivering fans began to look for any moving light in the sky before hollering “That’s him!”

“He’s over Lake Tuscaloosa,” I heard one man say several times.

Another echoed “He’s over Northwood Lake.”

But as the excitement built up to its crescendo, fans united once again to sing the chorus of “Dixieland Delight,” followed by chants of “Kalen DeBoer! Kalen DeBoer!”

Byrne arrived about a half-hour before DeBoer landed and was joined by his wife as the couple got out of a black Mercedes on the other side of the fence from the throng of cheering Alabama fans.

They were met with thunderous applause and Byrne went down the length of the fence interacting with those who had braved the elements to show support for the new coach and the program.

The crowd was well into the hundreds by this point, with some even bringing signs that read:

“DeBoer says Roll Tide”

“Welcome home coach”

Are you my new Daddy?”

I also met a sweet pooch named Scylla (pictured above) who arrived with her family to show love to the new coach wearing a crimson football jersey with a “00” on the back.

But the loudest applause up to that point came at 8:37 p.m. Tuscaloosa time when a private jet carrying the man with the herculean task of replacing Nick Saban touched down on the runway at Tuscaloosa National Airport.

This was followed by a second, even louder roar of approval when the plane’s door opened and DeBoer set foot on Tuscaloosa soil for the very first time as Alabama’s head football coach.

In a tumultuous week that few, if any, expected, this is when the reality of the situation seemed to sink in for many as DeBoer made his way along the fence to briefly interact with fans before heading over to the Mal Moore Athletic Complex for a 9 p.m. meeting with the team.

While DeBoer did not offer any quotes to the media members gathered, he had a wide smile on his face and seemed to be comfortable not just with the fans on the ground, but the new responsibilities and expectations resting on his shoulders.

Fans chanted and cheered and tried desperately to snag a photo of the new coach or get an up-close look at the man before he loaded up in a university vehicle and headed to campus.

DeBoer will be officially introduced as the Crimson Tide’s football coach during a press conference at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Tuscaloosa Patch will be in attendance so but sure to follow us for updates from DeBoer’s first day on the job.

Visit us on Facebook, X, TikTok and Instagram for more videos and photos from tonight!

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