Alabama HC Kalen DeBoer Called Out for His Emotional Maturity

For the first two years of Kalen DeBoer's tenure with the Alabama Crimson Tide, he was criticized for fielding teams that were "too soft."

Alabama fans longed for the days of the rougher Nick Saban, who led Alabama to six national championships during his stay in Tuscaloosa.

So now, DeBoer is trying to be more like Saban ... except it's backfiring.

The Alabama coach attempted to do his best Saban impression against the Georgia Bulldogs this past Saturday, going apoplectic on sophomore cornerback Dijon Lee Jr. following an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty late in the game.

The flag essentially sealed the Crimson Tide's fate in the 20-17 loss, and DeBoer was seen hunting down Lee and screaming "you cost us the game" numerous times in Lee's face.

DeBoer then made note of it in his postgame presser, emphasizing "emotional maturity" for Lee and his team as a whole.

Well, now, DeBoer is being criticized for the same thing.

While speaking to Rafi Kohan of The Athletic, Brian Deck, vice president of team development for the Carolina Panthers and a former Green Beret, isn't so sure that DeBoer should be preaching emotional control when he isn't practicing it himself.

“Whenever a leader can’t manage his emotions, that just basically reverberates throughout the group,” Decker said. “There’s no time when your guys will pay more attention to what you’re doing than when the [expletive] hits the fan.”

In other words, a head coach's behavior can be contagious, so DeBoer should have his emotions more in check.

“You’ve got to teach them awareness and self-regulation skills so that they learn to practice them under duress — so they can use them when they need them the most,” Decker added. “Because if you haven’t practiced it under duress, you’re not going to do it.”

The fact that we are even having this conversation about DeBoer is wild.

For far too long, the 51-year-old had been lambasted for being too laid back, too easy going. For evidently not having the stomach to win at 'Bama.

It appears that's changing.

Now in Year 3 with the Crimson Tide, DeBoer had led Alabama to a 5-0 start this season, his best with the program. The Tide also held a 14-10 lead over Georgia at one point in last weekend's affair, only to watch it slip away.

Even after the loss, Alabama is still viewed as a likely CFP entrant and a national championship contender. And that has a lot to do with the team looking quite a bit tougher.

When it comes to DeBoer, we can't have it both ways. We can't castigate him for being too soft and then turn around and bash him for being too reactionary.

Saban frequently lost his temper along the sideline and in practice, and he is now known as one of the greatest college football coaches ever.

If Alabama goes on to win a national title this season, I don't think anyone will be calling out DeBoer for his emotional control again.