Kalen Deboer Takes Nick Saban’s Successor Crown to New Level With Alabama’s 100,077-Strong Sellout Debut

When GOAT Nick Saban left, Bama fans had hit the panic button! However, the new HC Kalen DeBoer is donning Nick Saban’s successor crown like a pro. And guess how? Well, the program had expected not to hit the 100,000 mark now that their all-time favorite HC was not to be spotted on the sidelines, but no. That has not been the case! Instead, the ticket sell-out number amounted to 100,077. But what makes Alabama fans fill the Bryant-Denny Stadium to the brim? It’s their passion on overdrive to see how effectively DeBoer lives up to the GOAT’s standard from the sidelines and whether Saban’s mind games reap any benefit.

The 2024 season comes with a bittersweet feeling for the Bama fans. Besides DeBoer holding the baton handed over by Saban, the Crimson Tide is coming off a season where they aced the SEC championship but failed to secure victory in the College Football Playoff. But it didn’t put a dent in the fans’ hype. It was like Black Friday for Bama fans—those tickets were gone in a few hours for the face-off against Western Kentucky. This number isn’t just big—it’s jumbo-sized, 100,077!

Ticketmaster had opened their portal for the fans to buy their passes for the Big Day and first time without their all-time fav Nick Saban. The prices of the tickets ranged from the cheapest being $26 and went as high as $294. The credit behind stuffing the stands goes to DeBoer. The new Alabama HC had come up with the assurance that fans would still be able to find the quintessential Saban touch in the game even after his departure. 

On May 29, during a press conference, the GOAT’s successor guaranteed the connection of his roster with their former HC. “I want to make sure that that connection is always there and that they always feel like they can reach out to the coach that recruited them… also that coach Saban knows he’s always got an open door,” promised DeBoer. And yes, even not holding the coaching throne, Saban served up a buffet of brain teasers.      

Nick Saban’s mind games to motivate the Tide tribe

Back in July, the Crimson Tide squad had been left crestfallen by Saban’s words when the GOAT did not pick his former team as his favorite. Instead, the ex-HC ended up choosing Alabama rivals Georgia Bulldogs and Texas Longhorns as his favorites in the SEC Championship race. Yes, you read that right. But if you think that’s something he truly believes, then hold on!

On August 29, during an interview with ESPN Saban let the cat out of the bag. “Having to predict and make hypothetical decisions about who’s going to win a game…I’ve always hated that. I picked Georgia and Texas because it’s reverse rat poison for Alabama,” revealed the ex-HC. But what instigated Saban to apply this reverse psychology?

What the GOAT did was to put DeBoer in his position since when he drove the Alabama wagon he hated being picked up first or second. All because these claims left the players basking in overconfidence, putting an end to their desire to unleash their best potential. Thus as Nick Saban confirmed, “It’s a motivating factor for them.” That’s why Saban is called the GOAT.