Kalen DeBoer talks Jalen Milroe, mistakes after Alabama loss to Michigan

Alabama football ends its season for the second consecutive year with a loss to Michigan.

The Wolverines turned Alabama’s disaster-filled first quarter into a 19-13 victory over the Crimson Tide on Tuesday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

That means Alabama finishes with a 9-4 record, the first non-10 win season since 2007, which was Nick Saban’s first year as coach of the Crimson Tide.

After the loss, Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer held his postgame press conference. Here’s a recap of some of what he said.

Kalen DeBoer press conference live updates

• “We dug ourselves a hole in the first quarter. The turnovers gave them great field position.”
• “Loved the fight from the team” late in the first half.
• “Just got to finish some drives there at the end of the fourth quarter.”
• DeBoer said he wants the guys coming back to remember this feeling.
• DeBoer said “no I didn’t” when asked if he considered a change at quarterback with Jalen Milroe struggling early. “I saw a fighter. The fight in his eyes. As long as I see that, I want to hang in there with the guys this program means a lot to.”
• DeBoer asked if this season was successful. “I think there’s a lot of things you take from it.” “People see what happens on Saturday, but it’s guys choosing to stay here. Guys choosing to go from one week to the next when you’re on a little bit of a rollercoaster in the middle of the season.”
• DeBoer said Alabama needs to learn from the mistakes in this game going into next year. “We’re going to learn from those lessons, move forward and be better next year because of it.”
• DeBoer on inability to keep momentum going in second half: “The losses were the ones that hurt us. A sack, being behind the chains. That’s what they thrive on.”
• DeBoer on his time with Jalen Milroe: “I think everyone would probably feel the same feeling I have. The guy always speaks about the team. He always speaks about his teammates. It’s not about him. He leads that way every day in our program.” … “The fight in him, the ability to move forward … I thought that’s one area he’s really improved, especially the last half of the season. I think our guys appreciate that in him.”