In the world of college football, rumors spread faster than a quarterback scramble on 4 and inches. But this time, the gossip wasn’t about the playbook or a star player’s trade; it was about Alabama Crimson Tide head coach. Kalen DeBoer, and a bit about his personal life. In true small-town fashion, the rumor sparked from one to another. Hey coach! Is it true?

Seems like there is a new DeBoer in town, wait what? We thought that’s true. As is tradition on Hey Coach and The Kalen DeBoer Show, Peewee from Grand Bay was the first caller on Wednesday night. But before getting his answers, he wanted to congratulate the Alabama coach on his wife’s pregnancy after seeing an “announcement.” Just one problem, though. DeBoer and his wife aren’t expecting a third child. The Bama coach and show host Chris Stewart had a good laugh about the rumor.

“Peewee, I hate to burst your bubble on that one,” DeBoer chuckled, “but that’s something that’s been happening with a lot of people, not just me.” Turns out, the congratulatory messages filling DeBoer’s inbox were all based on a false Facebook post. It seems someone, somewhere, got a little creative with their social media update—and DeBoer’s friends and fans were quick to believe it. He explained that he found out only after receiving multiple texts saying “Congrats,” which left him a little confused. This whole situation says a lot about the rumor mill nature of college football communities. These fans are deeply invested in their favorite coaches and players, sometimes reading a bit too much between the lines.

After DeBoer cleared it on air, Alabama staff writer Rodak shared the news too. But thankfully, he handled it with humor and grace. As Kalen DeBoer and boys are gearing up for a high-stakes showdown with major playoff implications. They’re hitting the road for a night game in the infamous Death Valley to face LSU this Saturday. Given the initial rankings of both the teams, it could be a ‘battle for survival’ game of sorts. It’s like a heavyweight boxing match, where one misstep could mean the end of playoff dreams.

The lesson? It shows that the Crimson Tide coach doesn’t take himself too seriously and knows that sometimes the best defense is a good laugh. But some do take him seriously.

Poll’s CFP rankings shouldn’t matter for Kalen DeBoer and Alabama

Kalen DeBoer might have handled this situation pretty gracefully. But things aren’t going too graceful for him on the field. His 6-2 overall Bama side is fighting for reputation to enter the playoff. And he knows what he has to do for the final four games left in the season: Just win.

With, no knowledge of where they are ranked in the eyes of the College Football Playoff selection committee. It came to light only until Wednesday Alabama seeded at No. 11, making them the lone two-loss team in the 12-team field.

But it’s only the initial rankings and Kalen DeBoer knows this. “Each week is what it’s about for us,” DeBoer said. Unfazed by the CFP rankings, bringing in a winning mindset is only what matters to them. For both the sakes of the team and himself.