Kalen DeBoer reacts to Conor Talty yelling at long snapper after missed field goal vs. Oklahoma

With three seconds left on the play clock in the first half, Alabama sent out the field goal team to try a 36-yard attempt that would tie the game at 17. That did not happen as an Oklahoma defender was able to hop over the line and get a finger on Conor Talty’s kick that came off his foot a bit odd in the first place.

Long snapper David Bird’s snap was a bit high but ultimately was handled by holder Blake Dowd. Moments after the failed field goal try, cameras picked up on an angry reaction from Talty directed at the long snapper, and that drew some criticism from fans and media across the country.

On Monday, Kalen DeBoer was asked about that moment in Saturday’s loss to Oklahoma, and he believes it is a sign of them being competitors that want to get things right.

“We’re all competitive, and those guys are competitive,” DeBoer said. “They want to make that kick and have the execution be at a high level, and every single one of those guys are always taking ownership. Obviously in that moment, you know, Conor’s a competitive guy, and he knows how important those points are. The response and everything like that, not exactly what you want, but it’s also an understanding of how important it is to these guys. They work together relentlessly in practice. I see it. There’s a cohesiveness these guys have, and so, in the locker room, I think they got that resolved very quickly after the fact and were ready to go out there and execute more throughout the game.”

DeBoer’s final sentence or so is implying that there will be no further issue moving forward between those teammates, but special teams are part of the reason Alabama lost that game when considering that the Crimson Tide lost by two points.

Regardless of whose fault it is for the failed field goal, Talty now has six missed field goals this season, moving his field goal percentage to 64.7%.

SEC analyst Cole Cubelic had a viral tweet pertaining to Talty’s reaction toward his long snapper.

“If I’m looking through my legs, snapping a football, then trying to block multiple 300 pounders, I’ll be damned if I need you puffing up in my face running off the field after you shanked a kick,” Cubelic said on X.

Alabama will look to get back on track in the kicking game this weekend against Eastern Illinois.