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This is an opinion column.

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College football’s biggest question in the state of Alabama after the Crimson Tide’s shocking loss to Vanderbilt hasn’t been about the defense or if the brothers of Vandy quarterback Diego Pavia still have collegiate eligibility.

No, in Alabama, we’re eager to understand why football coach Kalen DeBoer dresses like he shops at Walmart.

Not that there’s anything wrong with Walmart. That’s where I get all my undershirts and ankle socks. It’s just that, shouldn’t the head coach of Alabama football wear something a little nicer during games than an oddly fitting, untucked workout T-shirt he found on the clearance rack next to the Little Debbies?

I mean, have you seen this guy on the sidelines? First it was hoodies and on Saturday it was a bargain-shoppers blue-light special. They say that clothes make the man, and I’m not sure that’s true, but the clothes DeBoer has been wearing during games kinda reflects the style of football at Alabama recently … sloppy.

Not only did Alabama lose to Vanderbilt 40-35 over the weekend, but DeBoer looked like Cousin Eddie had won tickets to the Bama game at the last minute.

Pack up the RV, hun. We’re going to the Music City.

What do you want to wear, babe?

No time! We’ll stop at Walmart on the way.

My reporter instincts lead me to suspect that DeBoer can afford nice shirts. Cousin Eddie wore a blue leisure suit to Christmas Eve dinner. Cousin Kalen wears pajamas on national TV.

“Vanderbilt’s got a good team?” Cousin Kalen said after the game. “You seriously, Clark?”

What’s next, cut off jeans and a Keystone Lite tank from 1983? This is the Capstone we’re talking about here. Does DeBoer think he’s still coaching football out west?

This is the Deep South, not South Dakota. At Alabama, the football coaches are expected to dress up and never, ever, ever, ever lose to Team Anchor Down.

DeBoer beat Georgia and thought it was a big deal. In the SEC, it’s every week. If he doesn’t start coaching, then DeBoer might end up losing his shirt, too.

Vandy coach Clark Lea pretty much looks good in anything. Why does Alabama’s coach dress like the most used card in his wallet is a platinum membership at Goodwill?

I know the guy is laid back, but is nothing sacred anymore at the University of Alabama?

At Alabama, there are standards. At Alabama, there’s a code … and for the head coaches of the football team, that means a dress code.

Paul Bryant was a great dresser and fashion trendsetter. Ever hear of houndstooth, DeBoer?

But a coach doesn’t even have to be a Hall of Famer to look good on Saturday.

Ray Perkins was handsome in a sweater.

Gene Stallings had style and gravitas.

Dennis Franchione dressed like a mob boss.

Mike Shula always looked sharp.

Nick Saban was the Frank Sinatra of college football. In Nashville, Cousin Kalen looked like an unseasoned chicken breast stuffed inside an old shoe.

Look, DeBoer is a nice guy and good coach, but I understand why Alabama fans are concerned with his appearance. He represents the state’s most successful cultural treasure. All jokes aside, that actually means something to people in the state. At Auburn, even Bryan Harsin dressed the part.

I have a solution to this problem, but DeBoer might not like it.

The University System Board of Trustees is paying Alabama coach Nick Saban $500,000 a year to essentially wear Alabama shirts in public. But Saban doesn’t pick out his clothes. That’s always been the job of Miss Terry, who actually is more focused on the details than even her GOAT for a husband.

What I’m saying is that Miss Terry is the real MVP. If anyone can straighten out Cousin Kalen, then it’s Queen of the Crimson Tide.

Someone put Miss Terry on payroll, too. Cousin Kalen needs a fashion consultant and Alabama is quickly losing its shine.

MAILBAG

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Joseph Goodman is the lead sports columnist for the Alabama Media Group, and author of the book “We Want Bama: A Season of Hope and the Making of Nick Saban’s Ultimate Team.”