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Casagrande: Alabama's Kalen DeBoer not emotional enough? The suspension question fixed the problem

Casagrande: Alabama's Kalen DeBoer not emotional enough? The suspension question fixed the problem

This is an opinion column.

The Alabama football program is just days behind Vanderbilt (AV) and the aftershocks are still raging in Tuscaloosa.

The questions are legitimate.

Kalen DeBoer and his team of first-graders plow new snow as they navigate the rubble of a loss few could have imagined. He has the fashion police writing T-shirt tickets in addition to legitimate complaints about game plans and adjustments to Vanderbilt's dynamic offense.

But Monday's conversation was also about emotions.

Too much.

And not enough.

We hit the full spectrum with a discussion from fifth-year captain Malachi Moore late in the game (for which he publicly apologized) to DeBoer's Saban-style lack of anger after a stunning loss.

Five games into his tenure at Alabama, DeBoer stood at the press conference podium Monday and defended his level of frustration and the reaction Moore had to him.

RELATED: Welcome to Alabama, Kalen DeBoer. Now you're official

This moment was inevitable given DeBoer's more consistent presence (unless a referee misses a pass interference flag). The outward expression of outrage was heartbreaking for anyone who followed Nick Saban's 17 years of hiding none of his feelings in Tuscaloosa.

The same was true for Jalen Hurts, whose version of an Eli Manning face was mistaken for disinterest in difficult moments.

On Saturday, DeBoer's postgame press conference EKG wasn't much different from an average Monday lunchtime in Tuscaloosa. Not a flat line, but the line didn't dance the way many expected from his predecessor as performance and discipline waned.

The outside reaction was so concerning that DeBoer was asked Monday if he had a message for fans who wanted to see more fire Saturday night. He was noticeably surprised by the question, as he asked to repeat it.

“Oh, I’m extremely frustrated,” DeBoer said. “We all are. But we will not lose our temper over this. We understand what happened and a lot of what I see in the reaction, even in the dressing room – are you talking about the press conference afterwards or something like that? Because that’s really the only time you could have seen me, I guess.”

Once again: welcome to Alabama.

He continued that the reaction of the players he saw in the locker room between the final shot and entering the interview room contributed to his relaxed presentation.

“I also did my part to help us understand what happened and how it wasn't up to our standard and how we need to move forward,” DeBoer continued. “And yes, we were all extremely frustrated. But we won't stand idly by because I don't think that's the right path. There is a time and a place for everything.”

By Vanessa

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