TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer acknowledged a slow start and costly mistakes contributed to his team’s 31-17 season-opening loss to Florida State on Sunday. DeBoer addressed the media following the game, discussing the performance of quarterback Ty Simpson, the struggling run game, and overall team execution.DeBoer stated the Crimson tide needed to start faster, despite scoring on their opening drive. “The name of the game is that we can’t be hesitant early on. We got to start faster in all ways,” he said. He noted that allowing Florida State to build momentum in the first half put Alabama in a challenging position, requiring “perfection” to recover.
While expressing belief in his team’s potential, DeBoer emphasized accountability extended beyond the players. “That falls on everyone. I don’t just point the finger at the players,” he stated. He acknowledged the challenges of integrating new coordinators but stressed there were “no excuses” for the outcome.
DeBoer also highlighted the need to focus on the present, stating, “Last year isn’t this year, and it’s going to be an uphill climb for us, but you can’t think of it in the big scope of things. You got to focus on the moment.” He concluded by saying the team’s chemistry and hard work would be tested, adding, “We’ll find out if that sticks.”
