After Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama Crimson Tide suffered a surprising defeat to the Vanderbilt Commodores, criticism has been directed at the new head coach. Just a week after receiving praise for a significant win over Georgia, many fans and analysts have shifted their tone, questioning DeBoer’s leadership and decision-making.’

Paul Finebaum, a prominent sports commentator, has joined the conversation, expressing doubts about both DeBoer and quarterback Jalen Milroe’s commitments to the program. “Can you imagine trying to get Nick Saban four days after a major win? Coach, I know you got Vanderbilt. Let’s go back and talk. He would have bitten. First of all, I wouldn’t have done the interview. And then I watched Sports Center Thursday night. There’s Jalen Milroe. I mean, that did not happen under Nick Saban, for a reason.”

Finebaum further highlighted the shift in perspective, “Matt, and I think what’s what we’re going to hear is this program is a little bit too loose. Whether it’s NIL, I don’t really know what it is. I liked it until I didn’t like it Saturday afternoon.”

One of the main reasons Alabama lost to Vanderbilt was their defense. In the first four games of the season, the Crimson Tide had been very good on third downs, allowing opponents to convert only 11 out of 64 attempts, which is just a 17.2% success rate and ranked second in the nation.

But you won’t believe Vanderbilt found a way to take advantage of this defense, converting an impressive 12 out of 18 third-down attempts during the game.

A Milestone for Vanderbilt and a Test for Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama

Vanderbilt fans never imagined their team could defeat No. 1 Alabama, but head coach Clark Lea and his players delivered a memorable day for supporters by pulling off the unexpected upset. The Commodores’ historic 40-35 victory marked their first win against a top-ranked team, ending a 40-year drought against Alabama.

The Vanderbilt Commodores dominated the Alabama Crimson Tide from the very first quarter, scoring their first touchdown against the Tide since 2007. This early success set the tone for a historic game. Running back Sedrick Alexander played a crucial role in Vanderbilt’s historic victory over Alabama, scoring two touchdowns that helped the team secure an early lead. Meanwhile, quarterback Diego Pavia outperformed Heisman Trophy contender Jalen Milroe, showcasing his skills in a must-needed game.

Kalen DeBoer, the new head coach of Alabama, has faced significant challenges since stepping into his role. Initially, many questioned his leadership abilities, but he silenced critics with back-to-back wins. However, following a recent loss to Vanderbilt, doubts have a reason to point out at him once again.

ESPN reported the head coach’s statement after their first loss. DeBoer emphasized that the season had already tested the team in various ways, but the recent defeat is a new challenge. “We’re going to find out really how much we care about each other and what it looks like moving forward.” Kalen DeBoer added, “We’ve been tested in different ways, really, a lot of the games here this season, and this is a different type of test now in our response.” The Alabama Crimson Tide will face off against South Carolina in their next game, and all eyes will be on Kalen DeBoer’s strategies as the team looks to bounce back after their recent loss to Vanderbilt.