1-0 mentality taking on deeper meaning for Alabama football in year 2 under DeBoer

A football game is often define by certain moments that happen throughout it, and Alabama football was on the wrong side of some impactful moments in games the Crimson Tide lost in 2024.

Those moments prompted Kalen DeBoer to put an emphasis during the offseason on capitalizing on every moment, no matter how small.

“DeBoer had a meeting with us, I think, two days ago, about moments, and it was those little things that you don’t think matter throughout the game, you look back in the fourth quarter, you’re down by two, by three. You down by seven, whatever, and it’s those little moments that add up,” Alabama cornerback, Domani Jackson told reporters at Alabama’s Media Day. “And that’s one thing we took into consideration this offseason. We have to do every little thing right, and if one person messes up, that’s a touchdown or that’s a fumble. We have a big three, so that’s a quick three up-downs, our offense goes and touches a little TNT sign. And we take that probably, it was like 100 probably, now it’s probably like a 1,000 percent [in terms of] how much we care about it. It really is the little things.”

Former Alabama football defensive back, Marlon Humphrey returned to Alabama during the offseason and talked to the Tide’s current team during his time in Tuscaloosa. He shared the importance of those little things leading to big and impactful moments.

“Marlon Humphrey talked to us, and he hit on, it’s these little things that add up,” Jackson said. “His example was like how you have to wear a certain thing. It was his freshman year or whatever in the league, he was like, I ain’t going to wear it. But it’s those little things like that, it matters that when you think it doesn’t matter. Those little things add up over time, and it’s going to hurt you.”

Germie Bernard, an Alabama football wide receiver, feels this emphasis on moments has helped remind him why it is important to stay even-keeled throughout the ebbs and flows of a football game.

“We know there’s going to be ups and downs in the game,” Bernard said. “That’s just the game of football, and that’s life. There is always going to be adversity, but it’s how you respond, like just being steadfast, to be honest, never getting too high, never getting too low, just knowing that you’re going to have another opportunity to make an impact play or make an impactful moment. So, just being ready for that moment and not getting discouraged just because something doesn’t go the way that you want it to go.”

Deontae Lawson returns as one of Alabama football’s veteran defenders. He feels this strategic approach has always been an emphasis for the Crimson Tide’s defense.

“I think that’s always an emphasis, especially on defense,” Lawson said. “We always talk about playing the next play like it’s the most important play of the game because it might be. You never know. I think just having that real-life 1-0 mindset is everything for us as a team. I think it’ll help us accomplish what we want to accomplish. ”

The 1-0 mindset looks to still be alive in Tuscaloosa, but it must be respected at every turn. Alabama will look to put this mindset to a test against Florida State when the Tide kick off the season on the road.