Maybe Alabama isn't the mountain top for college football coaches after all.
As the No. 9 Crimson Tide prepare to face the No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners on Friday, Dec. 19, at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in the first round of the College Football Playoff, Bama head coach Kalen DeBoer has emerged as the top target to replace recently fired Sherrone Moore at Michigan to stir up some distractions that could cause the Crimson Tide to lose focus on the Sooners.
Bama coach Kalen DeBoer considered top target to replace Sherrone Moore at Michigan
This isn't the first time during this wild coaching carousel that DeBoer has been mentioned as a possible candidate for an opening. There was also buzz about him leaving Bama for Penn State, but there was never a credible source to back up the claims. DeBoer also denied those rumors. However, even the likes of ESPN have reported DeBoer as a candidate for the new Michigan opening, which would need to be filled before the Transfer Portal opens on Jan. 2. Vegas even has DeBoer as the favorite to get the job.
DeBoer may not actually leave Bama any time soon in just his second season at the helm since replacing Nick Saban, but the possibility has to keep coming up for some reason. There is definitely reason to as Bama fans continually gripe that DeBoer isn't reaching the standards despite being a playoff snub in Year 1 and getting in this season. Those unrealistic expectations could drive anyone away from anywhere, especially with no real connections.
Regardless, there's a lot of noise in Tuscaloosa, and noises are distracting. Even if DeBoer isn't actually taking time away from preparation to flirt with Michigan, Bama players still see the same rumors and reports as fans. That at least sets in doubt and disparity in a locker room.
Meanwhile, OU fans are going to bat for their head coach and furious Brent Venables continues to be a snub for national coach awards. And players feel the same way as the entire program is focused on the rematch ahead with the Crimson Tide.
The Sooners already had the advantages of beating Bama once before and being at home, but now the Crimson Tide are also causing their own disadvantages.