The change to Alabama football practice was obvious the moment media members walked through the door for the first observation period at Mal Moore Athletic Facility since 2021. As players ran through drills, a cluster of speakers on the concrete near the field blasted out British DJ Endor’s remix of Danzel’s “Pump It Up!”

That’s a big change under new Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer. Under Nick Saban, who retired in January, players were listening to either piped-in crowd noise, or the ambient sounds of Tuscaloosa.

“A lot of people liked when he mentioned about playing music during practice,” running back Jam Miller said. “It’s a good thing.”

The playlist ranged from early 2000s hip-hop, to more recent rap from the likes of Drake and Kodak Black, to Morgan Wallen’s manufactured pop country. Miller said he wasn’t given input into the soundtrack, noting that it fades into the background as practice goes on.

Alabama wideout Kendrick Law said having music playing helped keep focus on the practice, as counterintuitive as that sounds.

“I think the music, it kind of takes you mind away from when you do mess up,” Law said. “It’s kind of like, ‘OK, next play, let’s go.’”

The music isn’t the only thing new under DeBoer. Players have to figure out the logistics of practice in a way they never had to under Saban.

There’s new drills, and new locations for them. Alabama is also down a practice field, with one of them currently under construction, separated from the rest of the facility by a green fence.

According to DeBoer after the first day, players were handling the transition well.

“We talked through the last week a few different times, just where these locations are for each session, and it was actually pretty smooth,” DeBoer said. “The guys had a pretty good feel of where to go. What that allows you to do is then have the expectation of hustling and having a bounce in your step. The energy never fell off the entire length of practice.”

Players said the new practices have been high-energy. Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack has been incorporating his “accountability circles” for his unit, tracking “loafs” and having players watch their teammates do up-downs to keep them moving fast.

Quarterback Jalen Milroe said the new staff has been packing more into each practice session.

“There’s more periods that go on,” Milroe said. “Whether it’s competitive reps, whether it’s indie periods, whether it’s special teams. We have a lot of things going on, we’re always on the move. So for us as players, trying to be as in-shape as possible and also just lock in, as far as, whatever drill you’re at, do it 100% and learn in that drill. It is a little different but we’re all adjusting really well.”

Alabama picks spring practice back up after UA’s spring break. Spring ball will finish up on April 13, with the annual A-Day game at Bryant-Denny Stadium.