Story by
The Tuscaloosa News
Kalen DeBoer stops 'trap game' narrative around Alabama vs undefeated Missouri
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- Kalen DeBoer stops 'trap game' narrative around Alabama vs undefeated Missouri
When Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer was asked about the Crimson Tide's upcoming meeting with Missouri being described as a "trap" road game, he shut that narrative down immediately.
"They're 5-0," DeBoer said. "They're a ranked team."
Advertisement
DeBoer is not surprised Missouri is where it is: undefeated through five games and ranked as the No. 14 team in the country with Alabama going to Columbia Saturday, Oct. 11 as a slight road favorite. Each SEC road game is difficult, DeBoer said. Each SEC game is difficult period, DeBoer said.
And as Alabama hits the road with four straight wins, and with two SEC wins in two conference games, DeBoer wants to see a team that has learned its lessons from earlier this season, and from 2024.
"Taking our lessons learned and experiences ... understanding how we've become successful, how we've had improvement here," DeBoer said. "It just goes back to shutting up and doing the work, showing up and doing the work."
That work is what creates confidence, DeBoer said. It's what allows the Crimson Tide to "keep the pedal down," which the Alabama coach said is the goal once again Saturday against the Tigers .
Advertisement
The difference is DeBoer and Alabama "can see what the ceiling is." It's much higher after Saturday's win against Vanderbilt, and it's something to be excited about, the coach admits. But it's a ceiling Alabama has not yet reached.
"They haven't listened to what is outside," DeBoer said. "You can't help but know that it's out there or hear it a little bit, whether it's the negative talk or the pats on the back. It means nothing. Our guys have to keep moving forward."
Alabama kicks off against Missouri at 11 a.m. CT Saturday on ABC.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Kalen DeBoer stops 'trap game' narrative around Alabama vs Missouri
