Alabama's Kalen DeBoer cautiously addresses $2.8 billion House vs. NCAA deal: "Trying to understand where it's really at"

Kalen DeBoer has been busy since arriving at Alabama, dealing with the NCAA transfer portal and discussions about the House settlement. The 2024 SEC spring meetings in Destin will focus on changes in revenue sharing and athlete compensation, marking the end of the amateurism era in college sports.

Last Thursday's unanimous vote by the NCAA and the Power Five conferences in favor of the House vs. NCAA settlement marks a new chapter in college athletics. University presidents, athletic directors and coaches will gather in Miramar Beach, Florida, to navigate the implications of the $2.8 billion settlement.

The settlement includes a historic payment of back damages to former athletes and the introduction of revenue sharing with current athletes starting in 2025.

According to DeBoer, it's important to gather all the information and separate fact from speculation.

“I think it's just getting all the information," he said. “We hear things. You read things. I know that it's still in the process right now. So trying to understand where it's really at and having that communication where we're all in a room together and really hearing the facts.”

“So trying to separate what is real and what isn't real. I think that's really where it starts,” he added.

With at least $20 million earmarked for distribution among athletes each year, the meetings will focus on equitable allocation strategies that comply with Title IX, the transition from scholarship to roster limits and the enforcement of pay-for-play regulations in the evolving landscape of name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities.

Kalen DeBoer attributes his team's intense drive to the "LANK" mindset

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer gives directions during practice.

Alabama's football head coach, Kalen DeBoer, has observed a remarkable level of determination and drive in his players. He attributes this to their "LANK" mentality, which stands for "Let All Naysayers Know." This mindset serves as a response to both the excitement and doubt coming from external sources, motivating the team to prove themselves.

"Whether it's to prove people right or prove people wrong, I don't know," DeBoer said on Tuesday at the SEC spring meetings. "Some people are excited about what it looks like. Others are casting some doubt."

Although there is some uncertainty about whether the players are primarily driven by a desire to prove their supporters right or the skeptics wrong, DeBoer views their hunger and commitment as a positive force.

"I'm excited about the hunger these guys have," he added.

The coach eagerly anticipates seeing how this mindset will propel the team's progress over the summer and build on their efforts during the spring. The LANK mentality, championed by key players such as Terrion Arnold and Jalen Milroe, continues to be a source of inspiration for the team.