Alabama football head coach Kalen DeBoer made a successful debut on Saturday. He and the Crimson Tide blew out Western Kentucky, winning 63-0.

Ahead of the matchup, DeBoer and company heard from his predecessor, Nick Saban, who retired in January. Speaking to reporters Monday, DeBoer revealed what Saban told him and the team.

“He gave me a call on Thursday and that was really cool for the guys,” DeBoer said. “He wanted me to pass along that he’s thinking about them and wishing them the best and was gonna be rooting for them. You can just tell how much he cares, not just about the program but the individuals within it. Wanted to make sure I passed that along because I think that was important for them to hear, important for both ends.”

Saban was in attendance for the season-opener, sitting in a luxury box at Bryant-Denny Stadium with his family. He flew into Tuscaloosa on Saturday after beginning the day appearing on ESPN’s College Gameday show, located at Texas A&M for the Aggies’ matchup with Notre Dame.

The man who won six national titles in Tuscaloosa will be back on Saturday for Alabama’s game against South Florida. Before the game, the gridiron at Bryant-Denny Stadium will be renamed Saban Field in his honor.

“It’s gonna be an awesome night,” DeBoer said of the upcoming dedication. “Having the field named in honor of coach, that’s really, really something special. It’s one of those things where you’re gonna play in it, you know what’s happening, but being a part of the ceremly is something the team really can’t do.

“We’re in the middle of probably pregame meal and some of that type of prep work, but just to have the whole honor for coach Saban, everything he’s done here, I know much that would mean to him and it’s something that I know we have a lot of respect for. Gonna make sure that we continue to do everything we can to make it our house and protect our field from here on out, just like it’s been in the 17 years that he was here.”

Alabama and South Florida are scheduled to kick off at 6 p.m. on Saturday. The game will be aired on ESPN.