An Alabama fan voiced his frustration with the Crimson Tide’s lopsided 24-3 loss to unranked Oklahoma during Monday’s episode of The Paul Finebaum Show. The caller, known as “Legend from Alabama,” a frequent contributor and outspoken supporter of Alabama football, delivered a fiery, four-minute rant aimed at first-year head coach Kalen DeBoer.
The Tide, ranked No. 7, entered the game as a strong College Football Playoff contender after a big win over No. 10 Georgia. However, Oklahoma, a five-loss team, dashed those hopes by dominating in Norman. The Sooners forced three interceptions from quarterback Jalen Milroe and out-gained Alabama 328 to 234, including an overwhelming 260 rushing yards compared to the Tide’s 70. The loss all but ended Alabama’s playoff aspirations, leaving fans like Legend questioning the program’s direction under its new leadership.
Alabama has suffered its first three-loss season since 2010, heading into the Iron Bowl rivalry against Auburn. The Crimson Tide’s struggles this year include losses to unranked Vanderbilt, No. 11 Tennessee, and most recently, unranked Oklahoma, casting a shadow over what has traditionally been a dominant program.
“Man, I’ve never been so embarrassed in all my life,” said Legend during his fiery rant. “Three frigging losses, are you frigging kidding me? This is disgusting, man. What I saw Saturday night was pathetic.”
Replacing a legend like Nick Saban, who led Alabama to six national titles and eight SEC championships over 17 seasons, was always going to be a daunting challenge. While Kalen DeBoer is still in his first season with the Tide after winning a national championship with Washington last year, it appears some fans, like Legend, have already run out of patience.
Kalen DeBoer is in the first year of an eight-year contract worth over $10 million annually, placing him among college football’s highest-paid coaches. However, not all Alabama fans are convinced he’s the right fit. During his rant, Legend passionately criticized the transition from Nick Saban to DeBoer, comparing it to “going to bed married to Beyoncé and waking up with Whoopi Goldberg.”
“How do we accept this?” he continued. “Is this acceptable, Alabama fans? Is this Alabama football? Is this what we signed up for? Is this what Bear Bryant built? Is this what Nick Saban built?”
Alabama’s recent 21-point loss to Oklahoma marked its worst regular-season defeat since a 27-3 loss to Nick Saban’s LSU Tigers in 2003, a year LSU went on to win the national title. Legend argued that DeBoer is “clearly overwhelmed” and struggling to handle the pressures of leading one of college football’s most storied programs.
For Crimson Tide fans, a win over rival Auburn in the Iron Bowl could provide some solace. Alabama is an 11.5-point favorite against the 5-6 Tigers heading into the rivalry game in Tuscaloosa.
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