Stephen A. Smith Insists Alabama Should Have Let Kalen DeBoer Walk To Michigan

Stephen A. Smith asserted on ESPN's First Take that Alabama should have simply let Kalen DeBoer leave when the Michigan head coaching opening became available.

The outspoken sports television commentator did not hold back his frustration with the Crimson Tide's administration.

He openly criticized the school's leadership for committing massive financial resources to keep DeBoer in Tuscaloosa.

Smith made it abundantly clear that he would have handled the situation far differently.

"Kalen DeBoer did not live up to that, and has not lived up to that," Smith said on the program.

"I’d have let his behind go to Michigan personally when that job opened. Because I don’t care what anybody says," Smith stated.

The fiery remarks were shared via Instagram from a recent episode of the popular morning sports show.

Smith went so far as to suggest that the school's recent contract negotiations deserved serious outside scrutiny.

"I still think there needs to be an investigation as to why the extension was given to Kalen DeBoer last year," Smith demanded.

He questioned why university decision-makers felt compelled to reward a coach who had not yet delivered championship hardware to the powerhouse program.

"For what?" Smith shouted during his broadcast segment.

"You already were paying him," Smith reminded viewers.

"He was getting paid beaucoup dollars," Smith said.

"You understand what I’m saying?" the analyst asked.

"About 11, 12 million dollars a year," Smith pointed out regarding DeBoer's existing compensation level.

"What the hell, you go out there and give him a damn 87 million-dollar extension, or whatever it was for?" Smith argued.

"For what?" the television host repeated.

"Did he live up to anything yet?" Smith asked bluntly.

"No," Smith answered immediately to emphasize his point.

A MASSIVE FINANCIAL COMMITMENT

The contractual situation surrounding DeBoer has sparked intense conversation among college football analysts.

In April of this year, DeBoer was granted a two-year contract extension by Alabama officials.

That revised arrangement locked DeBoer in as the leader of the Crimson Tide through January 31, 2033.

The updated terms gave DeBoer an average annual salary reaching $12.5 million.

It also incorporated a massive buyout clause totaling $10 million through January 31, 2027.

According to the agreement, that buyout figure will decrease by $2 million during each of the subsequent two years.

The financial commitment came on top of what was already one of the richest pacts in college athletics.

Back in March 2024, Alabama initially signed DeBoer to an eight-year deal worth $87 million.

The revised paperwork transformed that agreement into a seven-year package valued at $87.5 million.

Critics like Smith point out that handing out an extension so quickly seemed completely unnecessary.

The revised terms came after DeBoer had compiled a 20-8 record across his first two seasons in Tuscaloosa.

For a program accustomed to relentless dominance, a record featuring eight losses naturally invites scrutiny.

THE SHADOW OF NICK SABAN

No coach in the modern era of college athletics faces higher expectations than the person leading Alabama football.

Nick Saban established a standard of excellence that remains practically unmatched in college football history.

During his legendary tenure in Tuscaloosa, Saban brought six national championships to the university.

Saban transformed Alabama into an unstoppable machine that dominated recruiting and won SEC titles routinely.

Following a legend of that caliber represents an extraordinarily difficult task for any head coach.

Smith has repeatedly argued that DeBoer has failed to meet the lofty bar established by Saban.

In Smith's view, Alabama leadership should not have been desperate to protect DeBoer from outside suitors.

Smith noted that high-profile coaching vacancies opened at major traditional powerhouses like Michigan and Penn State.

DeBoer did not actually interview for the vacancies at Michigan or Penn State during the past offseason.

Yet Smith believes DeBoer should have pursued those opportunities rather than signing a new long-term extension with Alabama.

Smith argued that Alabama should have happily let DeBoer depart for Ann Arbor rather than increasing his financial package.

PRESSURE BUILDS IN A 6-2 SEASON

Alabama currently sits at 6-2 on the season as November football gets underway.

While a 6-2 mark represents a strong campaign for most programs, Alabama fans view it with heightened anxiety.

The Crimson Tide are fighting to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive down the stretch.

Every upcoming matchup carries direct postseason elimination stakes for DeBoer's squad.

DeBoer has admitted to monitoring the postseason picture closely as the first official playoff rankings emerge.

The head coach watched the unveiling of the initial College Football Playoff poll to see where his team stood.

He also fielded questions regarding whether he has openly discussed the playoff rankings with his roster.

Margin for error has vanished completely for the Crimson Tide as they navigate the remainder of their schedule.

A single additional loss would almost certainly derail their hopes of securing a coveted playoff invitation.

HIGH STAKES IN BATON ROUGE

The immediate obstacle standing in Alabama's way is a high-profile Southeastern Conference road battle.

Alabama faces an upcoming showdown against LSU in an environment that promises pure hostility.

Smith warned that the clash against LSU will serve as a definitive turning point for Alabama's season.

Both Alabama and LSU enter the contest sharing identical 6-2 records on the season.

That identical standing means the loser will face an uphill climb to remain relevant in the national picture.

LSU has proven nearly unbeatable on its own turf throughout the current campaign.