What Kalen DeBoer Said About the Vols Before Alabama’s Trip to Knoxville

Credit: University of Alabama Athletics

By Tucker Harlin

#11 Tennessee (5-1, 2-1) hosts #8 Alabama (5-1, 2-1) in Neyland Stadium on the fast approaching Third Saturday of October.

Oddly enough, the two coaches in the 104th installment of the rivalry that built the SEC grew up less than 100 miles away from one another in rural South Dakota townships.

The coach from Milbank spoke to the media in Tuscaloosa Monday ahead of the Third Saturday of October.

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Much of the conversation at DeBoer’s Monday availability revolved around the Tide’s previous outing, a 27-25 survival against South Carolina in Bryant-Denny Stadium. However, DeBoer did address the Vols in a pair of moments in the press conference.

The first moment DeBoer addressed Tennessee was when asked about the traditions of the rivalry.

“I know this tradition goes back quite a ways, and I know that cigars are part of it,” DeBoer said. “But what I’m trying to do is make sure we do our part as a football program and prepare so people can celebrate and enjoy the rivalry on our end.”

The second time DeBoer was asked about the Vols related to the play of Nico Iamaleava through half of the season.

“He’s a live arm, extremely talented. You can tell they’ve got the skill on the outside to where they can hit the home run,” DeBoer said. “A lot of it is trying to disrupt him to where the continuity and the flow is not consistent. They get into their tempo on positive play, and the key is to try an keep them from getting in that rhythm.”