Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer Responds to Oklahoma’s Midfield Moment: ‘Now I Am Aware’
After Alabama’s narrow 24-21 loss to Oklahoma last month, a postgame moment at midfield drew plenty of attention - just not from Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer.
While fans still lingering inside Bryant-Denny Stadium saw it in real time - a group of Oklahoma players gathering on the iconic Alabama script “A” at midfield - the moment truly went viral when video surfaced online. In that clip, Oklahoma defensive backs can be seen posing on the logo, with Alabama staffer Tara Fuhrman stepping in and telling them to “Be respectful.”
But despite the buzz, DeBoer said he hadn’t seen the video - or even heard about the incident - until it came up during Monday’s press conferences ahead of Alabama’s upcoming playoff matchup in Norman.
“Guess I wasn’t aware of that,” DeBoer told reporters. “Now I am, so I’m going to talk to our team about it.”
DeBoer said he didn’t recall the logo being roped off or seeing any Sooners intentionally step over barriers to reach midfield. One player, sophomore Jaydan Hardy, even sat down directly on the Alabama logo - a moment that didn’t sit well with some Tide players.
Earlier in the week, Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams called the move “disrespectful,” and it’s clear the players took note. But DeBoer kept the focus on the bigger picture - and on the scoreboard.
“They’ve obviously gotten the better side of things the last two times we’ve played,” DeBoer said. “So that’s really where our focus is at.”
In other words, Alabama isn’t looking to get caught up in the theatrics. DeBoer made it clear that the midfield moment hasn’t been a point of emphasis in team meetings. There’s no bulletin board material here - at least not officially.
“This has been solely about we’re in the playoffs,” DeBoer said. “It’s win or go home, and we need to be giving everything we have to be our best.”
That’s the mindset Alabama is taking into a high-stakes first-round playoff showdown in Norman. The Tide and the Sooners are set to kick off at 7 p.m. CT on Friday, Nov. 19, with the game airing on both ABC and ESPN.
So while the viral video may have sparked some noise outside the locker room, inside, DeBoer is keeping it simple: stay focused, stay prepared, and let the play do the talking.