Alabama vs. Tennessee is one of the richest rivalries in the South Eastern Conference and today those two face off in one of the most important matchups these two schools have been a part of for some time. Tennessee and Alabama both hold losses on their records but both still have expectations of making college football’s first 12-team playoff. Most of the players we will see on the field today came from Florida, Georgia, Texas and Alabama. But they will be led by two men who got their starts way up here in South Dakota, the football coaching capital of the world.
On the Tennessee sideline, Josh Heupel hails from Aberdeen, South Dakota where he was born and played his high school football. Heupel was a fantastic high school quarterback and was named South Dakota’s Player of the Year when he was a senior, and I believe the people in Aberdeen knew he would be successful, but probably didn’t think they would find themselves rooting for Tennessee because of it. Heupel became Tennessee’s 27th head coach in 2021, and Vols fans immediately had one request/demand. Beat Alabama. Heupel did just that and snapped Alabama’s 14-game win streak against the Vols in 2022, one of college footballs greatest games ever played.
But if Josh is to keep the Vols playoff hopes in good standing, he will have to beat the guy on the other sideline who also knows a thing or two about winning.
Alabama hired Kalen DeBoer to replace arguably the greatest college football coach of all-time, Nick Saban. A tall-task to say the least. But there was a reason the Crimson Tide felt DeBoer was the right man for the job, he has won everywhere he’s been. Including where he started as an assistant coach at Washington High School in Sioux Falls. Kalen would go on to coach at University of Sioux Falls where his coaching ability would become apparent. As head coach from 2005 to 2009, DeBoer had a record of 67–3 and won three NAIA national championships in 2006, 2008, and 2009 and a runner-up appearance in 2007. Teams came calling. After a couple more stops around the country, DeBoer has landed in Tuscaloosa taking over the greatest college dynasty ever built.
So, on the biggest stage, two of the biggest schools in the south rely on South Dakota natives to try and essentially save their seasons. Kickoff is set for 2:30 CT on ABC.
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