Stephen A. Smith Wants Alabama To Fire Kalen DeBoer, Hire Big-Name Coach

On Wednesday's edition of "First Take," Smith argued to guest Paul Finebaum that Alabama was considerably "softer" under DeBoer and even floated the idea of Colorado's Deion Sanders potentially coaching on Bama's sideline instead.

Prior to his arrival down south, DeBoer coached Washington to a 25-3 record and runner-up finish in the CFP after leading Fresno State to nine wins in 2021.

All told DeBoer has won 78% of his games (including last season's letdown) and his recruiting has been top 5 in the nation. However, Smith doesn't believe that should be enough for the 50-year-old HC to keep his job.

Stephen A. wants 'meat and potatoes'

"I'm not sold on [Kalen] DeBoer," Smith began. "I know he did a great job at Washington— listen, they miss Nick Saban in Ala bama. You know this, Paul. They miss Nick Saban. Damnit, I miss Nick Saban."

"This is Nick Saban, baby. When you don't have him, you can't have someone that brings a finesse-style of game, you understand, to Alabama. That's meat and potatoes y'all. That's steak and potatoes for breakfast. This is what we're talking about here. Hogs up in there. This is what we're talking about. We didn't see that with DeBoer. I thought they were considerably softer."

"I'm not going to lie to you. I wouldn't mind at all if Alabama changed course and brought in someone like 'Prime Time' to Alabama," he concluded. "That would've been spectacular, and I think it's still something they should consider down the line if this season is a repeat of last season."

Coach Prime at FSU?

Obviously, Stephen A. loves him some Deion Sanders, who's done a really good job at Colorado. And the ESPN personality also says he still envisions Coach Prime returning to his alma mater Florida State where he argues Sanders "desperately wanted to go."

"What if Florida State had gone with him?" Stephen A. posed. "Not saying their coach [Mike Norvell] didn't do a damn good job a couple of years back. My goodness, that's where he wanted to go. He desperately wanted to go back to Florida State, but they didn't want him. I know this for a fact because I was on the phone with him when it was all going down."

"Time" will tell where Deion's future ultimately lies but it wouldn't be surprising at all to see him leave Colorado once he feels his business is done there.