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This is an opinion column.

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Readers didn’t hold back after Alabama’s 27-25 victory against South Carolina. Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer remains proud of his team. Let’s just say that fans have mixed feelings.

Debbie in Young Harris, Ga., writes …

This guy is not NEAR ready to coach SEC … I have NEVER seen BAMA play this bad … it’s like these kids have NO idea what to do!!!! And this is on the coach!!!! These kids need strong leadership and discipline!!! I am not seeing any respect … This coach can’t even dress himself for a game!!!! We need Saban back … God, I miss seeing Nick on the sidelines and I miss the respect my Crimson Tide used to have. How long is the University going to put up with this coach? This was a very BAD decision!!!!!

The more I think about it, the madder I get…This is the University of Alabama!!!!! This is not some po-dump football team … This is the University of Alabama!!!!!!!! I need to see that this man understands this!!!! Show some frickin’ RESPECT and do your [EXPLETIVE] job!!!!! Stop trying to make excuses and when you are interviewed…Say something that makes sense!!!!!!!!!!!!

ANSWER: I counted 50 exclamation points. That’s a new record for the mailbag. I’m also going to need some examples of po-dump football just so I can have a baseline to gauge teams.

Let’s break down the descriptor po-dump before we get to the Tide. I’ve described football teams in countless ways throughout my 25 years as a sports writer, but I can write with authority that I’ve never had the literary courage to go for po-dump in a sentence. That’s my fault and I apologize.

I’m assuming that po’ is short for poor. As for dump, well, there are plenty of connotations with that word and none of them pass the smell test.

I’m not ready to cast Alabama upon the breakers of irredeemable shame just yet. They’ve played like garbage at times, and the coach might occasionally dress like trash, but it’s not time to throw the Tide in with those other po-dump teams of ill repute and misdealing. I feel like there’s no coming back from po-dump. Alabama has Tennessee on Saturday, and if DeBoer comes back from Knoxville with a victory then perhaps all will be forgiven.

I can only hope.

But, as another emailer pointed out to me, Alabama is in a real puckersnatch with this new coach.

What’s a puckersnatch? I had to look that one up. According to lovers of forgotten things, puckersnatch traces its roots back to Southern Vermont. A long time ago, apparently people up that way had a word for complicated situations with no easy solutions. The word was puckersnatch.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that puckersnatch is kinda like a po-dump quandary.

Saban would know how to get Alabama out of his puckersnatch, right? Then again, Saban didn’t fair too well in his last game at Neyland Stadium. DeBoer might not be Saban, but I’m still under the impression that he’s a good coach. Here’s my theory. Players on the team are having a tough time with the transition from Saban’s in-season coaching style to DeBoer’s demeanor.

DeBoer projects an even-keeled disposition at all times. That wasn’t Saban’s way, and my opinion based on the evidence is that players on this team are used to being pushed differently.

How was Saban going to react on the Monday before Vanderbilt or South Carolina? More than likely, Saban was going to begin that week with a fiery rant during his news conference. Saban’s rants would keep everyone on edge. They were like warnings to everyone in the building. Beware: A letdown is possible this week.

The rants became predictable, but they were never boring. With enough screaming and fear, Saban’s teams could avoid a backslide against an unranked team.

DeBoer presents himself to the team in the same way measured whether it’s a monumental victory against Georgia, a loss to Vanderbilt or a struggle-win against South Carolina. I’m not saying DeBoer’s way is wrong. For a team in transition, however, it might be a little confusing.

Charles in Chatsworth, Ga., writes …

As I read your [column], I was having horrific flashbacks to the Mike Shula era in which the same issues that you raised permeated through Shula’s time at Alabama.

In DeBoer’s defense, this is his first season at Alabama. Saban, after all, didn’t exactly have a shining moment during his first season at Alabama and the players are those that Saban coached so this might be a transition period. Only time will tell.

I hope that DeBoer can find and fix what is wrong with Alabama and I hope that he can do so quickly. Otherwise, fans may not be so forgiving if this keeps up.

Coach Mac in Talladega writes …

This is no different than when Coach Saban came to Alabama and lost to ULM. As a Bama fan, I expect more from the players and the coaches, however, I don’t think coaches have to be on the sideline in slacks and belts with their shirts tucked in.

This is not the Bear Bryant era anymore. I think Alabama football will be just fine. Coach DeBoer has been successful everywhere he has been, and Alabama won’t be any different. It may take this year to work out the kinks, but his record speaks for itself. I don’t care if Bama wins by one point as long as we win. If we lose by one point it’s a loss, correct? Everyone needs to calm down. Bama is 5-1!

ANSWER: Wise words all around. I followed up with Coach Mac, and he’s also a retired Marine. Thanks for the service and for the invite to Talladega.

Alabama athletics director Greg Sankey hired DeBoer based in part on his recent success at Washington. Let’s go back to my new metric for college football coaches. According to the GOAT metric, DeBoer is 5-1 in Big Money Games for his career. Saban was 51-26. Georgia’s Kirby Smart is currently 20-9. Here’s the criteria for Big Money Games: contests against Top 10 opponents, conference championship games, College Football Playoffs or national championships.

DeBoer knocked off then No.2-Georgia in his first conference game as the coach of Alabama. That’s impressive. Tennessee is ranked No.10 in the Coaches Poll this week, so it’s a Big Money Game. Based on his history as a good coach, DeBoer should have the Crimson Tide ready.

Darrell in Nashville writes …

If DeBoer is an offensive guru, then why with 10 minutes left in the game did he go for two?

One: Isn’t that like telling your offense, I don’t think you’re going to score again!?

AND

Two: Is that like telling your defense, I think you can stop South Carolina from scoring again. Seriously, the defense has struggled trying to stop anybody in the last 10 quarters. Even South Florida put up some pretty good numbers against Bama. The Tide has been out-played and out-coached in that same 10 quarters!

ANSWER: Darrell pointed out in his email that he’s an Auburn fan with thoughts on the Tide. All emails are valid here among our community of thinkers who have thoughts, so if Alabama fans want to chime in on Auburn, I say shoot from the hip. I’m assuming DeBoer called for a two-point conversion in the hopes of putting Alabama up by a field goal. The two-point pass by Jalen Milroe failed, leaving Alabama with a 20-19 lead. In football, like in life, it’s best to never assume anything. Going for two in that situation was a good decision. Is going for two a slap in the face to the integrity of a football team? I wonder what former Auburn coach Bryan Harsin would have to say about that?

Doesn’t it take courage to go for two? If Harsin had gone for two in overtime of the 2022 Iron Bowl, then he still might have a job. If Florida coach Billy Napier had gone for two at the end of regulation on Saturday against Tennessee, then maybe Lane Kiffin stays put at Ole Miss after this season. Perhaps we’ll never know.

Eaton in Fairhope writes …

Stevie Wonder can see what is happening! The answers are clear: This Bama team is poorly coached, undisciplined and uninspired. They are failing at the basics of blocking and tackling.

Kyle Kennard for the defense of South Carolina spent more in the Bama backfield than our running backs. Yet, there was no attempt until the second half to do anything about him (poor coaching). Several times defensive linemen were just standing up and watching the South Carolina quarterback, then tossing their purses at him when he ran past them (out of shape, uninspired, poor discipline). Inability to get off the field on third downs is a combination of extremely poor coaching and poor tackling. The stupid (undisciplined) penalties and inability to down an onside kick are clear signs of poor coaching.

In this time of the transfer portal and NIL, it appears our coaches are afraid to discipline these young men (example: Malachi Moore). The immediate answer is put it on the team leaders to discipline themselves. Then, if someone wants to quit, their stock and rep in the portal will go way down. The defense should spend an entire practice on tackling drills.

Coach DeBoer better grow some [strength] and start getting on some [butts], starting with Wommack! Otherwise, we are in for a “nice”, LONG, season of torture, starting in Tennessee.

ANSWER: Sources tell me that Stevie Wonder might see a little better than Alabama’s defense on third-and-long.

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.”

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