The Alabama Crimson Tide and their fans are in a position they aren’t used to after suffering two losses just eight weeks into the college football season.
A major upset loss to the Vanderbilt Commodores and a loss to one of their biggest rivals, the Tennessee Volunteers, has Alabama fans questioning whether head coach Kalen DeBoer is the man to replace the legendary Nick Saban.
The actions of Alabama Crimson Tide players are raising the eyebrows of fans
Several incidents throughout the 2024 season have forced Alabama fans to call DeBoer’s methods into question. The first pair came in the upset loss to Vanderbilt. Defensive back and captain Malachi Moore had what many considered a temper tantrum in the loss to Vanderbilt that saw him kick the ball after the official spotted it.
Moore was also seen refusing to go out when an Alabama coach was trying to get him to come off the field. Alabama coaches will live in the shadow of Saban for years to come, but instances like these are not helping DeBoer’s case.
Malachi Moore is a bum @AlabamaFTBL pic.twitter.com/61F2cGgtIp
— Kane (@kanej13_) October 6, 2024
Former Alabama running back Damien Harris explained what would’ve happened if Moore acted that way during the Saban era in an article from ESPN.
“I can tell you what would have happened in the days that I was there,” Harris said on a podcast with The Athletic. “We would have tried to rip the ‘C’ off his jersey. We would have lit him up, from every coach, every player. … Everybody would have been on this dude’s head, like we don’t do that.”
The most recent incident involves Alabama Crimson Tide WR Ryan Williams painting his nails
Incidents like these set the stage for a much lighter offense to be taken much more seriously in their wake. Star 17-year-old freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams, who has been a bright spot on the Alabama team, went viral for painting his nails Tennessee orange.
Imagine showing Bear Bryant this pic.twitter.com/CgxsTmbMJa
— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) October 23, 2024
Williams and the Crimson Tide just lost to Tennessee in a 24-17 SEC battle that put Alabama in a position they haven’t been familiar with for nearly two decades. The image upset many Alabama fans who argued the winning ways of past coaches wouldn’t have allowed such behavior.
Imagine telling Bear that one day football players would paint their nails…SMH
— Skeeterwx2100 (@skeeterwx2100) October 23, 2024
Or Nick Saban
— Mario Pandolfo (@MarioPandolfo3) October 23, 2024
Yeah, I can understand why Nick Saban left.
— Unprecedented Times (@UnprecTimes23) October 23, 2024
Williams addressed the upset fans and noted that he allowed his little sister to paint his nails and choose the color of said nails. Williams told the origin of the painted nails in an article from AtoZSports.
“Starting my sophomore year of high school, my little sister she decided that she really liked doing nails,” said Williams. “And first she started with my mom and [then] she wanted to try on me. So, I was just like, I’m comfortable in my own skin. It didn’t really bother me. I think the first time it was just clear. Now she’s more confident and gotten so much better every week. Anytime she can, she tries to come up here before the game and do them for me. And she just loves to do them.”
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