The presenter of LockedOn Ole Miss, Steven Willis, recently made some remarks that would have Alabama supporters in a tizzy since he likened newly appointed Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer to previous head coach Ray Perkins.
Despite DeBoer’s overall head coaching record of 104-12, Willis’ comments could be interpreted as validating his ideas, depending on your point of view. Only time will tell if the comment is correct or not.
The Alabama Crimson Tide’s head coach Ray Perkins’s tenure
Ray Perkins’ record: Many people consider Perkins to be among the worst Alabama coaches in history, dating back to the Tide’s SEC membership. Perkins went 32-15-1 on the record, but that still falls well short of the expectations established by the Tide supporters. The fact that he followed Bear Bryant, Alabama’s first iconic head coach, was another problem.
Comparing Bear Bryant to Ray Perkins, Bryant played for Alabama for 25 years, finishing with an overall record of 232-46-9 and an 82% winning rate. In his brief four seasons in Tuscaloosa, Perkin’s only managed a 67% winning rate. This notable decline suggests the kind of decline Willis fears for the Tide under DeBoer.
In 1983–1986 Perkins led the Tide as their coach. Given that Bryant had won four national championships and had not had a losing season while at the university, his 5-6 record in his second season raised eyebrows among Alabama supporters.
Perkins defeats the Tide: Despite having 9-2 and 10-3 records in his last two seasons, respectively, Perkins’ departure to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to pressure from supporters and former players did not leave the program in the greatest of ways. Unquestionably, he left it in a worse state than he had acquired it in the previous four years.
Given all of these events, Willis’ comparison is something Tide supporters should hope doesn’t happen again with DeBoer taking over Nick Saban’s team, which won six National Championships over Saban’s 17 years at the school.
Similarities between Kalen DeBoer and Ray Perkins
Willis, who has a wide network in the collegiate football community, feels that there is some tension between DeBoer and the boosters. “I’ve discussed this with two distinct sources. Nick Saban was very strict and controlled. Willis stated, “Alabama went above and beyond if a coach wanted to come in and bring his child to campus.”
“That is not what this new staff is doing. They’re nearly acting in the other way. To the point where high school coaches find it more difficult to bring their athletes onto campus and boosters now have access to the practice field. And it’s beginning to irritate certain folks in Alabama.”
This is why Willis thinks it’s critical that everything proceed as planned throughout the first year. If things go any other way, given DeBoer’s strategy of recruiting and working with state coaches and boosters, things may become ugly fast for the Tide. And as everyone knows, in college sports, recruiting counts.
Due to their on-field performance, the Crimson Tide were able to maintain their position as one of the best recruiting classes each year under head coach Nick Saban. Given DeBoer’s alternative strategy, the connection to Perkins might become very clear very fast if the Tide do not win early and often.
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