Mark Ingram is confident that Alabama fans shouldn’t worry after Kalen DeBoer’s first year as head coach.
On Jan. 7, 2010, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, Alabama Crimson Tide running back Mark Ingram (22) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter of the 2010 BCS National Championship game against the Texas Longhorns. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
On Jan. 7, 2010, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, Alabama Crimson Tide running back Mark Ingram (22) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter of the 2010 BCS National Championship game against the Texas Longhorns. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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The Alabama Crimson Tide football season ended disappointingly with a loss to Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl. It marked the first time since 2007 that Alabama finished with fewer than 10 wins.
Alabama ended the season ranked No. 17 in the final AP Poll, their lowest ranking since 2007.
On Jan. 10, 2024, legendary head coach Nick Saban announced his retirement, sending shockwaves across the internet. Just two days later, the Crimson Tide named Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer as Saban’s successor, though the stats above highlight that this season didn’t meet Alabama’s high standards, leading to panic among fans throughout the fall.
“We’re fine, we are just fine, just give DeBoer time,” college football analyst Mark Ingram told Yahoo Sports’ Jason Fitz at Super Bowl LIX radio row in New Orleans on Wednesday. “We’ve got the talent, we’ve got everything we need, we just need to make it work. We’ll be fine.”
Ingram played running back for Alabama from 2008-10, winning the Heisman Trophy in 2009 and helping lead the Crimson Tide to a National Championship victory. Saban’s first season at Alabama was in 2007, and Ingram played for him in years 2-4. Ingram helped lay the foundation of the dynasty, and like DeBoer, Saban’s first season also didn’t meet expectations (7-6 record).
“It’s tough, but we had a good first year,” Ingram said. “The finish wasn’t ideal, but we’ve got another year, a second year. [DeBoer] has been a winner, having been in the National Championship just two years ago. Give him time to build. Let him get his players and system in place and establish his belief with the players. We’ll be fine. We’ll be fine.”
There’s a saying that “When Alabama loses, America wins.” While college football fans may have had more to cheer for this past season than usual, it only fuels Alabama’s drive to win. Ingram fully embraces this mindset.
“People are excited we didn’t win 10 games,” Ingram said. “Most teams would celebrate nine wins. For us, it feels like a failure. We know that. That’s The Standard. We are the standard. 18 National Championships. When your team gets close, let me know. So it’s Roll Tide, all day, every day, until I die. I don’t care what happens. It’s always Roll Tide. We are always the standard. That’s why they hate us. We have 18, and their school isn’t even close.”
Ingram has immense faith in DeBoer to fill Saban’s enormous shoes, though he acknowledges that it will take some time. The three-time NFL Pro Bowler concluded the conversation by telling Fitz to ask him again about Alabama football’s status next year.
