Part of the reason Greg Byrne liked Kalen DeBoer enough to hire him as Alabama’s new football coach was his attitude toward replacing Nick Saban. Where the thought of replacing a legend could drive off some candidates, DeBoer saw it as a positive, and a challenge.

In the process of taking the job, DeBoer and Saban got on the phone. The Crimson Tide’s new leader described his first conversation with the man who won six national titles in Tuscaloosa during a Friday appearance on the Paul Finebaum Show.

“It was just really cool hearing how humble he was,” DeBoer said. “Taking about even coach Bryant, and how he was trying to build on top of that. You could certainly tell that he just wants this program to continue to take the steps forward and that’s what the great opportunity for us is, is to build on the foundation he’s left.”

Saban will continue to be around the Alabama program in an advisory role after his retirement. He’s been given an office in Bryant-Denny Stadium, and Byrne has said that he’s been talking with players he recruited, continuing to sell them on the benefits of Alabama’s program.

During his Finebaum appearance, DeBoer emphasized Saban’s continued place with the Crimson Tide.

“I always want to make sure he knows he’s welcome here,” DeBoer said. “He’s always going to be a critical, critical piece of this program’s history and tradition. I’m gonna force him to make he gives me one or two tips and pointers every time he walks on the practice field to come watch us. I’d be pretty foolish not to have a legendary coach like coach Saban here helping us with whatever he’s got.”