Kalen DeBoer already learned a thing or two about living in Alabama .
"They love football on another level here," the Crimson Tide's first-year coach told me recently.
When you love something that much, you tend to have high demands. Throughout Nick Saban 's unparalleled tenure, Alabama fans became accustomed to persistent dominance.
DeBoer, a career winner, steps into one of the most pressure-packed assignments in college football history. He's one cool cucumber, though, and he has been a smashing success at every stop of his career.
During a wide-ranging interview with the USA TODAY Network, DeBoer discussed Year 1 expectations, his South Dakota upbringing, his impressions of Jalen Milroe and how often he talks to Saban.
Also, is it true DeBoer doesn't cuss ?
Here are 10 burning questions from my interview with DeBoer. Questions and answers are lightly edited for brevity and clarity.
How would you describe your coaching style?
DeBoer:I would just say, focused on the people and the joy of bringing everything together and providing a place that is an atmosphere, an environment where everyone wants to be a part of it. Culture is contagious, and that's what we want here. We want a place where people want to be a part of it, whether it's your players or your staff.
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If you hire the right people, they'll come in and want to be the best they can be. Giving them direction, providing organization, the parameters you want, as long as they have a similar philosophy — their why — they want to put into the team, we can be aligned where I don't have to sit and micromanage every minute of the day and the decisions that are made, because they all fall in line with what our ultimate goals are.
After the spring game, Jalen Milroe said this coaching staff uplifts him and speaks light into him. He referenced this staff's positivity and belief in him. Where does that stem from?
DeBoer:We ask our guys to bring their best attitude, energy and effort every day, and so if we're asking that of them, we have to do that ourselves. That's where I think the positivity comes, because you're talking about your attitude, the way you're approaching every moment you're in. I think a lot of that really is simple to say, but it's hard to execute. It's hard to follow through with that.
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You can take extra minutes out of your day when you see someone to go talk with them, or you can come up with a reason why you're too busy to not do it. I think our staff is made up of people who will find extra minutes to pour into the others who are here, a lot of that being our players. I'm proud of our staff that they will take that extra time to sit down and it not even be about ball, just being about building relationships. I think that's what Jalen feels when he says stuff like that. This is a group of people, a staff, that has the best interests of our players front and center.
How did growing up in Milbank, South Dakota, shape you?
DeBoer:It's a town of about 3,000 people. You knew everyone. You did all the sports. Basketball, baseball, track, football. It was just a great community to grow up in, especially if you enjoy sports. Now, you're very remote. Sioux Falls is an hour and 45 minutes away. That's one of the bigger cities. You had to go four hours to get to Minneapolis to see any NFL or pro sports at all. You're kind of secluded that way.
I got back this spring for about 24 hours and really got to have some perspective on what home is and the people there, just how amazing they are. It was awesome growing up in Milbank. Sports was such a big deal — all sports — and the community was super supportive.
The big thing in Milbank is farming. The other thing is, they have a huge industry that's a cheese factory, Valley Queen Cheese.
Were you a Vikings fan growing up?
DeBoer:Yes, I was a Vikings fan. I lived out in the country until I was in ninth grade. There weren't a lot of stations to pick from, so I became a pretty diehard Vikings and Twins fan. I can't say I had a favorite basketball team. I was probably more of a Lakers fan. They were on TV all the time there. That was actually before the Timberwolves came into town. But, yeah, you had to be a Vikings fan.
Everything about Alabama's coach gets overly scrutinized, and one of the things that got a lot of attention after your hire is that you supposedly don't cuss. What's the truth of that? Do you not cuss during games?
DeBoer:That is not a thing that I necessarily make a rule or anything. It's not even about that. I just generally don't feel like I have to go there. It's just kind of who I am. I'm not saying it never happens. (Laughs.) I know that's kind of the thing is that it's 'never happened.' I will say that it's very infrequent.
It's just how I am all the time. Growing up, it wasn't part of the way we talked as a family, and it just kind of has carried on through all these years. It's not that big of a deal to me. I have no, really, rules when it comes to language on the team or even staff, but I just always feel like, as a leader, if I'm trying to be consistent and trying to be first class in everything I do, there's pieces to that.
Again, I think you can be first class and top notch and your language can involve different words. Some people I've been around are top notch and high level, and they're cussing all the time. (Laughs.) It's not even about that. It's just not a thing for me. I feel like I can do what I need to do without having to go there very much.
Again, it happens. Believe me, it happens, but it's few and far between is probably the best way to put it.
How does Jalen Milroe suit your system, and what do you think of his game?
DeBoer:He's got a lot of talent. He's got great arm strength. He's an accurate passer. His arm talent is really good. Now, it's just a matter of learning our system and being able to play fast. He's really gotten into that and dove in headfirst to everything we're teaching him each and every day.
He's obviously got a skill set when it comes to running as a quarterback that has got to be, if not the best in the country, close to it. You combine running the football with the arm talent, he's a pretty special guy.
He's been doing a great job of leading our team as well. He's a guy that's got a personality that's enjoyable to be around, not just from a coach standpoint, but also with his teammates. There's humility about him. There's a team-first mindset about him that's really helping us bring our team together. He's not wavered since we've been here, and the team, the guys that are here, they appreciate that. He's a uniter of people, and that shows out each and every day.
When you look at this roster, what excites you? Are there any areas where you need more pieces or feel concern?
DeBoer:We're very solid across the board as a program. I think there are some areas that are highlighted and stronger. I think our quarterback room and specifically Jalen — but, our whole room — we've got some good depth there. We've got some very talented guys. I can go from position to position, and the more talent, the more competition that happens each and every day at practice, which raises the level of our whole team. I just feel like we're very solid across the board, and that gives us a chance.
Since getting the job, how often do you talk to Nick Saban?
DeBoer:Early on, there were multiple phone calls in the first few weeks, just trying to understand staffing and our team and roster and a couple logistical things. Then, I think there was probably some time where I was just settled in with our staff and working, and he's busy doing his stuff, too. I can't say it's consistent or anything like that, but I know I'm welcome to call him anytime I need to when you have a question. We spoke a week or two ago, and I'm hoping to do the same here this summer, just to get some perspective on some things going into the season.
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Is qualifying for a 12-team College Football Playoff a realistic goal to set for Year 1?
DeBoer:Yeah, I think this program has that expectation of being championship caliber and being involved in the playoff every single year. And so, easier said than done, especially here with a schedule like we have this year, but that's the expectation. And you just try to make it about more of what that process looks like and improving every single day to be the best you can be, and then the results taking care of themselves. That's the way it's always been for me, no matter where I've been.
As a native Midwesterner who has lived in other parts of the country, what have you learned about living in the South and living in Alabama?
DeBoer:It's been so welcoming and inviting here. They love football on another level here, and, in particular, Alabama. We're really the pro team. That's really cool. There's a lot of history, and excitement has always been high. More and more people gravitate to the Alabama passion as well as the brand of the program.
I will say, living here reminds me of the Midwest and reminds me of home as much as any place I've been to over the last 20 years. It's got that Midwest feel to it in a lot of ways.
Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's SEC Columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer .
Also, check out his podcast, SEC Football Unfiltered , and newsletter, SEC Football Unfiltered . Subscribe to read all of his columns.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Does Kalen DeBoer cuss? Alabama football coach answers 10 questions
