It was a pretty obvious missed call. Just before halftime on Saturday, right in front of Alabama football head coach Kalen DeBoer, Georgia’s Daniel Harris blanked Crimson Tide receiver Germie Bernard, preventing him from making a third-down catch.
DeBoer looked around for the flag. When it became apparent the referees hadn’t seen it his way, he went off.
“I was just fighting for my team,” DeBoer said Monday. “I know they were out there fighting, doing everything they could. Loved the way we were playing up until that point. I saw it a certain way and wanted to make it known.”
He waves his arms, jumped up and down, pointed at the video board, letting the officials have it for the perceived mistake.
The first-year Alabama head coach doesn’t typically do that. He’s known for his calm, even temperament, a stark departure from the headset-busting, bombastic persona of Nick Saban.
Crimson Tide safety Keon Sabb said he enjoyed watching the outburst, appreciating DeBoer sticking up for the team. He said it was the most heated he’s seen the coach.
“He got a little fired up in practice, but that was the most I’ve seen him for sure,” Sabb said. “Jumping around and almost throwing stuff. That was fun to see, it was good.”
UA center Parker Brailsford agreed.
“Its’s definitely not the first (time), but it don’t happen often,” Brailsford, who followed DeBoer from Washington, said. “He’s more of a calm guy. If we look at him and he’s calm, it’s gonna make us calm. So that’s definitely what I think he goes for.”
In contrast to Saban, who would occasionally let some intense profanity fly over terrestrial radio waves, DeBoer doesn’t swear much. Based on evidence from open practice viewing periods, his staff, especially defensive coordinator Kane Wommack, more than make up for his lack of cussing.
Even in the midst of his Saturday tirade, it seemed DeBoer kept the language in check. Brailsford jokingly said he had no comment when asked if he’d ever heard his coach swear before.
Sabb admitted that on occasion, DeBoer will let one fly.
“Not any big cuss words,” he said. “One might have slipped out, but I don’t want to sell coach out.”
In the end, the pass interference that got DeBoer so hot didn’t impact the outcome. Alabama won a thriller, and is on to Vanderbilt.
The Crimson Tide and Commodores are scheduled to kick off at 3:15 p.m. CT Saturday in Nashville. The game will be aired on the SEC Network.
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