Back in September 2017, riding high after a big win over Kansas State, Vanderbilt defensive lineman Nifae Lealao stood at the mic and made a bold proclamation: “When you come to our house, we show you how to play some SEC ball… Alabama, you’re next.” That comment, made on national television, didn’t go unnoticed. According to former Alabama running back Damien Harris, Nick Saban played the clip for the Crimson Tide without saying a word. Then they hit the practice field. A week later, Alabama dismantled Vanderbilt 59-0. That clip still circulates online as a reminder: don’t poke the bear especially when the bear is Alabama under Saban.
Trash talk directed at Alabama during the Saban era rarely ended well. He was the best coach in the game, the Tide had unmatched talent, and they backed up the hype. There was no disputing Alabama’s dominance they ruled college football.
But with Saban now more than a year into retirement, the chatter is back. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia and Florida State’s Thomas Castellanos have both taken shots at Alabama this offseason, the kind of comments that would’ve been unthinkable just a couple of years ago.
It’s a clear sign: Alabama no longer scares people the way it used to. That’s something second-year head coach Kalen DeBoer needs to fix. If opponents think Alabama is down, if they feel bold enough to talk, then it’s time to hit back hard. Reestablish the fear factor. Remind everyone that Alabama is still Alabama.
Let’s look at what’s been said. Castellanos told On3’s Pete Nakos, “I dreamed of playing Alabama. They don’t have Nick Saban to save them. I just don’t see them stopping me.”
Pavia, responding to Alabama receiver Ryan Williams’ comment that playing Vanderbilt would be like “killing an ant with a sledgehammer,” fired back on Instagram with a repost of the quote over Gucci Mane’s “Made It (Outro)” and a captioned lyric: “They actin’ like they tough but don’t want no confrontation.” To be fair, Pavia earned some credibility after leading Vandy to a rare win over Alabama in 2024.
But still Florida State, coming off a 2-10 season? Vanderbilt, a team that’s spent most of its history in the SEC basement? That kind of talk underscores how far the perception of Alabama’s invincibility has slipped.
Of course, replacing a legend like Saban is impossible. DeBoer knew that when he took the job. But Alabama didn’t just win under Saban it intimidated. The Tide used to beat teams before the opening kickoff. Opponents were rattled just seeing Saban on the sideline. That psychological edge is gone, and regaining it will take time and consistent winning.
After last year’s stunning loss to Vanderbilt, a comparison was made to Tiger Woods in his prime not because of sheer numbers, but because of presence. When Tiger was in contention, others folded. The pressure, the aura it broke people. That’s what Alabama had under Saban. They didn’t just win with talent. They won with fear.
That fear is missing now. Maybe only Georgia’s Kirby Smart commands that level of intimidation today. But DeBoer can start building his own version by doing one thing this fall: dominate. Shut up the mouths. Flatten Castellanos. Silence Pavia. Rack up points and run the scoreboard until people stop talking.
That’s what Alabama fans want. They know what Saban brought and understand the program’s transition was always going to be rocky. But entering the 2025 season, the narrative is that Alabama is fading and that DeBoer might not be the guy. People seem to forget he took Washington to a national title game just two years ago.
And despite the bumps in 2024 including losses to Vandy and an injury-riddled Oklahoma squad, the foundation remains strong. DeBoer secured a top-tier recruiting class, held together much of the roster, and crushed the transfer portal. Alabama still has one of the most talented teams in the country. A quarterback needs to emerge, sure, but the Tide are built to compete for the College Football Playoff.
DeBoer deserves some slack. But he also knows the stakes. Alabama doesn’t do patience. Not when fans have seen what greatness looks like.
So now it’s simple: go be scary again. The longer Alabama lives without that edge, the harder it’ll be to get it back.
Be the first to comment