The new head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, Kalen DeBoer, has made a few changes to the program. Most of these changes surround the coaching staff, but DeBoer has also changed one of the most iconic parts of his predecessors' time with the program.
Nick Saban's office has become a recognizable site during the 18 seasons that he was in charge of Alabama. However, DeBoer has made many changes to this room, as he is allowed to do.
But while DeBoer has made these changes, there is one element of Nick Saban's office that he has kept.
The door.
Why did Kalen DeBoer keep the door from Nick Saban?
DeBoer requested that the button located on Saban's desk that opens and closes the door to the office should be kept. The reason for this relates to the room itself and the location of the desk.
On his decision to keep the door and its button, Kalen DeBoer said
That’s actually hard, because the desk is on the other side of the room.
Keeping the button allows the coach to remain at his desk, which is far from the door, and still be able to invite people in.
The impact of the door on recruits
But there may be another reason why the door button was kept. It has had an effect on potential recruits to the Alabama program in the past, who are both enthralled by what could be seen as a "magic button" that opens a door, and intimidated by the notion that a powerful head coach has this ability.
One former college football player who has spoken about his experience with Nick Saban's door was Joey Bosa.
They’re pretty serious, intimidating guys, especially when you’re 15 years old sitting in Saban’s office. Then he pushes this button that automatically closes his door... I heard about the door, he just clicked [the button] and it shut. I was pretty scared. It was a super nice door
In the end, the door was not enough to win Joey Bosa over to Nick Saban's program.
Bosa ended up with another historic head coach, Urban Meyer, and the Ohio State Buckeyes. He had a successful three years with the Buckeyes and was involved in the team's 2014 national championship win.
But while Joey Bosa did not commit to Alabama, there have been many players who have. Did the door of Nick Saban's office play a role in bringing the likes of Tua Tagovailoa, Kool-Aid McKinstry, and Jalen Milroe to Tuscaloosa?
Kalen DeBoer hopes the answer to this question is yes, and by keeping the button, he will hope to impress recruits with it.
Do you think that Kalen DeBoer will have a successful first season with the Alabama Crimson Tide?
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