Alabama Player Tells Kalen DeBoer To 'Be Himself,' Says One Nick Saban Tradition Will Stay

Alabama veteran offensive lineman Devin Booker spoke with reporters last week after the Crimson Tide opened up spring practice and talked about new head coach Kalen DeBoer.

Booker said his message to DeBoer was to be himself, not Nick Saban. He also said that Saban's "fourth quarter" conditioning plan will continue under DeBoer. Per Tuscaloosa News:

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"The thing we all told coach DeBoer is, 'Don't come in here and try to be Nick Saban. Be you.' Because (DeBoer has) been successful everywhere he's been," Booker said, "and it's up to us to come together and adapt to his culture, and him (to) adapt to our culture as well, so we can become one."

In other words, walk in your own shoes and don't bother trying to walk in Saban's. It's good advice for anyone in such a position, and Booker said while DeBoer has brought in some changes to the program that are his own, he's also maintained some things that were important to players.

Such as?

"Such as the fourth quarter (offseason workout program)," Booker said. "The fourth quarter is a staple of this program and it's a rite of passage for all the older guys. I met Najee Harris at the Super Bowl. He said 'Are y'all still doing fourth quarter?' I said 'Of course.' So being able to have that in common with former Bama players is huge."

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