ESPN personality calls Alabama football soft, says Tide should hire Big 12 coach

ESPN personality and the host of First Take, Stephen A. Smith is not on the Kalen DeBoer train at Alabama.

Smith has been loud and open about his love for Alabama football in the past. Some of that love appeared to have wavered during DeBoer’s first year in Tuscaloosa.

“I’m not sold on DeBoer,” Smith said on a recent episode of “First Take.” ” I know that he did a great job in Washington, but listen, they miss Nick Saban in Alabama. You know this, Paul (Finebaum.) They miss Nick Saban. I miss Nick Saban. Now, he does a great, great job for us on College game day. They all do a fabulous job. That show is fantastic. And I get that. So, we benefit from it. But my goodness, this man at Alabama is Nick Saban, and when you don’t have him, you can’t have somebody that brings a finesse style of game to Alabama. That’s meat, potatoes, yall. That’s steak and potatoes for breakfast. This is what we talking about here. Hogs up in there, right? This is what we’re talking about. We don’t see that. We didn’t see that with the DeBoer. I thought they were considerably softer. And I’m not gonna lie to you, I would not have minded at all if Alabama changed course and they brought somebody like Prime Time to Alabama. That would have been spectacular. And I think it’s something they still should consider down the line if this season is a repeat of last season. That’s just my personal opinion.”

Alabama football will enter the 2025 season with some high expectations with a talented roster and a lot of continuity.