‘Nick Saban Would Pull Scholarships’: Kalen DeBoer Minimizes Effort Issues In Refusal To Absolve Ty Simpson

The Alabama football team was shocked by Florida State in its 2025 season opener. Many believe a complete lack of effort is to blame.

Video of Crimson Tide players jogging during crucial moments in the game are now circulating. They appeared checked out in the 31-17 loss.

Alabama entered the matchup in a bit of a transition. Ty Simpson was set to take over at quarterback in Year 2 of the Kalen DeBoer era.

Despite the unknown under center, the Tide were a two-touchdown road favorite over a Florida State bunch that won two games last season. The team was expected to take care of business to back its Top 10 preseason ranking.

It failed.

Alabama football’s effort was lacking.

College football analyst Emmanuel Acho pointed out the lack of effort on social media. He said Nick Saban would be “pulling scholarships” if still on the sidelines.

He pinpointed one instance in which it seemed Alabama’s defenders were jogging while watching a Florida State player run for a touchdown.

Former Crimson Tide signal caller Greg McElroy piggybacked on that topic. He, too, said the team’s motivation was non-existent.

“The biggest and most challenging thing for me to watch from our vantage point was the lack of effort by certain players,” he said on his McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning show.

“That was really disappointing. There were a couple routes run by wide receivers where they didn’t run full speed. They were just going through the motions.

“There was a couple of players in the back end defensively going through the motions… There were a lot of loafs in the game.”

Kalen DeBoer ignored the concerns.

He was asked about the lack of effort in a press conference on Monday. He shrugged off the issue at the podium.

Here’s what Kalen DeBoer said two days after Alabama’s upset loss to FSU: pic.twitter.com/aZo9SzqLo2

— Alabama Crimson Tide | AL.com (@aldotcomTide) September 1, 2025

“We’re certainly disappointed in some effort situations that happened,” he said. “I think they came in different ways. Some of it’s just flat out, you gotta pursue… It surprises you sometimes when it happens with certain guys because of the effort that they put in… But I think there were some other things that come across as (lack of effort).

“Hesitancy is a way to kind of put it… There was a couple of times where we just need to be quicker to get to a spot.”

The head coach blamed many of the issues on uncertainty. Players were slow to get to a spot over concerns of making a mistake, not effort.

Analysts clearly saw it a different way.

The coach would not absolve Ty Simpson.

Greg McElroy spoke on Simpson’s role in the loss. He believes some of the blame being placed on the quarterback is undeserved.

“I thought (Simpson) battled,” he said. “He was one of just a handful of guys that really played his heart out… I’m amazed at how many people are trying to make it about him.”

Simpson was average on Saturday. He completed just 53.5% of his throws but did total 254 yards and two scores. He also avoided costly turnovers.

DeBoer wanted more from his signal caller. He opened up on the performance after the fact.

“He has to trust his reads and cut it loose sometimes,” the coach said. “Just let it fly. He can make the throws. Let it fly.”

It was a concern coming into the matchup. Simpson, himself, turned to Nick Saban to help him overcome his overthinking which plagued him in previous performances.

Saban told him to play within himself and avoid negative plays. Don’t make the moment bigger than it is. Simpson largely succeeded in that goal during the loss. It wasn’t enough for DeBoer.

Similar to his outlook on the defensive loafing, the coach wants players to be quick to action. Don’t worry about making mistakes. Trust your instincts and results will follow.

For one reason or another, players were hesitant against Florida State, Simpson included. Kalen DeBoer hopes to clean up the issues as the season continues.