What Kalen DeBoer said about playing first Iron Bowl at Auburn

This Saturday night, the Alabama Crimson Tide will make their first trip to Jordan-Hare Stadium since Kalen DeBoer took over as head coach of the program following the retirement of Nick Saban.

In his first edition of the storied rivalry last season, DeBoer got his first career win over the Tigers in Tuscaloosa, as the Crimson Tide defeated Auburn, 28-14. This victory extended Alabama's current winning streak over the Tigers to five-straight, which dates back to 2020.

DeBoer however now prepares to lead Alabama into what will certainly be a hostile environment inside Jordan-Hare Stadium, a place where Saban owned a combined record of 5-4 during his time in Tuscaloosa.

The Alabama head coach also took to the podium Monday afternoon to discuss the Iron Bowl as part of his weekly press conference, as well as the opportunity and challenges of playing in Jordan-Hare.

“Onto the Iron Bowl, I know what that means to the state here," DeBoer said. "A huge deal for us as well. It’s a big game for a lot of reasons, but we just focus on what it is, and it’s a big rivalry game, it’s an SEC game on the road. It’ll be an awesome environment. Just blessed to be a part of it, especially here on this Thanksgiving week, that’s what you think about it. There’s so much we have, and these guys getting this opportunity to go and to play in a special place like that in front of so many fans and people watching on TV, just a really cool moment and we’ve got to seize it and take advantage of it.”

“Rivalry game, amazing environment," DeBoer added. "We’ve played in amazing environments throughout the year on the road at night. I get it. We understand it’s going to be a great experience there, and it’ll be one where we’re facing a team that wants to knock us off of our goals and our hopes and all that, but you’ve really got to simplify it down. You’ve got to prepare. Prepare for the noise, prepare for the emotions that come, and that’s what our season’s done for us. We’ve been through a lot of that, and again, there’ll be new challenges that present themselves in the game, and a lot of it will be a new matchup. Guys that have different people in front of them, strengths and weaknesses of the opponent, every single week changes. We’re just going to prepare our best, focus on what we do because that’s what we’ve done all season long to go out there and be our best on Saturday.”

A high stakes contest for both teams, Alabama can clinch a spot in the SEC title game Saturday with a win against Auburn, while also keeping their CFP hopes alive simultaneously. As for Auburn, the Tigers need a win over Alabama to become bowl-eligible.

The Iron Bowl will kickoff at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Nov. 29, live on ABC.

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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama football's Kalen DeBoer comments on Iron Bowl vs. Auburn