Finebaum: Alabama’s loss to Michigan will ‘haunt’ Kalen DeBoer, season a failure

Paul Finebaum isn’t done with Alabama and Kalen DeBoer.

A week after the SEC Network analyst said the Crimson Tide coach is on “scorching hot seat” and called performance in the ReliaQuest Bowl loss to Michigan “horrifying,” Finebaum is doubling down.

“I don’t think Kalen DeBoer could have dialed up a more inopportune way to finish the season,” Finebaum shared during his weekly appearance for “McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning” on Monday. “Had Alabama won, there wouldn’t have been a lot of credit given for the win because of the opponent, but you can’t fight 10 wins. You can live off that. It takes you into the offseason. It gives you some momentum as you’re building your roster to the upcoming season.”

Michigan’s defense sacked Jalen Milroe five times and forced three turnovers by the Alabama quarterback in the Wolverines’ 19-13 win.

“A loss, especially one that looked so inept, I believe is going to haunt Kalen DeBoer,” Finebaum said. “And I understand that he isn’t going to get fired, and I think it’s absurd to even have that kind of conversation. But to say he’s on some sort of a hot seat I think is accurate.

“That doesn’t mean very much but all it means is people are watching him very closely, and this season in Year 1 in my mind was a failure because he didn’t make the Playoff.”

Finebaum said the loss made moving forward more difficult, he added.