Under the direction of the legendary Nick Saban, Alabama football had a certain mystique to it.
Arkansas knew that better than anyone. The Hogs were the only team in the SEC West never to beat Saban at Alabama, losing 17 straight games. The Crimson Tide were so big, strong and fast that many opponents lost the game before it even began, simply due to the mental block.
That’s why Kalen DeBoer’s time in Tuscaloosa has felt so strange. It’s hard to label 20 wins in two years as a failure – especially as an Arkansas sportswriter – but the Crimson Tide have been uncharacteristically mortal under his watch, ending both seasons with four defeats. Saban retired riding a streak of 14 straight seasons with two losses or less.
The biggest head-scratcher has been Alabama’s weakness in the trenches.
DeBoer’s squad ranked a dismal 125th out of 136 FBS teams in rushing (104.1 yards per game) and 111th in sacks allowed (32). Both of those marks were second-worst in the SEC. Even 2-10 Arkansas was better in those categories.
It’s hard to remember an Alabama team that struggled to run the ball and protect the quarterback. Thus, it was little surprise to see the Tide wash away offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic on Sunday.
With pressure mounting on DeBoer, Alabama fans are clamoring for change in the trenches.
More specifically, they’re clamoring for Sam Pittman.
Sam Pittman’s Return?
The former Arkansas football coach was fired in September after a 2-3 start and a 32-34 record through five years and change. Pittman has an ironclad reputation as one of the best offensive line coaches in the sport. He coached Georgia’s hog mollies for four years under Kirby Smart. Before that, he fulfilled Bret Bielema’s fantasy by assembling the biggest offensive line in the country at Arkansas.
Now, Alabama football fans want Pittman to return to an apprentice role and resurrect the Tide’s offensive line. Bama Hammer’s Ronald Evans called Pittman the “first choice” for most fans and a “great fit” for Alabama. TouchdownAlabama conducted a fan poll that had Pittman as one of the most common responses. Cover Crimson’s Clint Lamb even said that Pittman had been on Alabama’s radar even before he was fired by Arkansas.
“I think Sam Pittman could fit because of his personality,” Lamb said. “He’s a lovable guy, he’s very down to Earth. He’s very approachable, he’s good to work with. Despite the fact there’s no real overlap with Kalen DeBoer, I think their personalities would go well together.”
Both men know the challenge of entering a new head coaching job with an insurmountable task at hand. For Pittman, that was rebuilding an SEC cellar dweller after the Chad Morris disaster. For DeBoer, that was filling the shoes of the greatest college football coach of all time.
