Alabama Squashes Skepticism with Dominating 63-0 Victory Over Western Kentucky

Alabama's concerns about its performance in the post-Nick Saban era were dispelled after a masterful 63-0 victory over Western Kentucky, powered by an emphatic response to condescending remarks made by opposing quarterback TJ Finley.

Questions surrounding Alabama's capabilities without its legendary head coach, Nick Saban, were quickly dispelled on Saturday as the Crimson Tide annihilated Western Kentucky by a commanding score of 63-0 under the guidance of new coach Kalen DeBoer.

The Crimson Tide had faced skepticism heading into Week 1, but Western Kentucky's quarterback, TJ Finley, added fuel to the fire by questioning their authenticity. Finley, who has played for LSU, Auburn, and Texas State before joining WKU, audaciously stated before the game that Alabama "might not be who they think they are."

Alabama Squashes Skepticism with Dominating 63-0 Victory Over Western Kentucky

Alabama linebacker Tyler Booker admitted that Finley's remarks served as motivation for the team's devastating performance. "It was a little disrespectful, we definitely saw what he said," Booker said, as reported by SI.com. "That wasn't the main motivation for going out there and hanging 63 points on them, obviously, we're going to play to our standard but that just added a little fuel to the fire."

Booker emphasized that Alabama's goal was to showcase their true identity after Finley's comments. "When one of their players says something along the lines of, '[They] might not be who [they] think [they] are,' our whole purpose of the game is to just show 'em who we are and who we say we are. I feel like we accomplished that and I think he'd say the same."

Alabama Squashes Skepticism with Dominating 63-0 Victory Over Western Kentucky

Alabama's performance solidified their dominance as the fourth-ranked team in the country. Veteran quarterback Jalen Milroe, despite not joining the exodus of players who entered the transfer portal following the retirement announcement of Saban, demonstrated his prowess, throwing for 200 yards and three touchdowns on just seven completions. Milroe further showcased his versatility by rushing for two touchdowns on 10 attempts, accumulating 79 yards on the ground.

In stark contrast, Finley struggled throughout the game, completing 18 of 31 passes for a mere 92 yards while throwing two interceptions and failing to secure any touchdowns. Western Kentucky's leading rusher, Elijah Young, mustered only 18 yards on 10 carries.

Alabama Squashes Skepticism with Dominating 63-0 Victory Over Western Kentucky

Alabama's offensive dominance was evident in the team statistics, amassing 600 yards of total offense compared to Western Kentucky's meager 145 yards. The Crimson Tide averaged an impressive 9.2 yards per play, highlighting their offensive firepower.

DeBoer's debut as Alabama's head coach was an emphatic one, answering some of the lingering questions about the team's post-Saban era. The Crimson Tide face an upcoming challenging schedule, including a matchup against the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs in three weeks.

However, for teams like South Florida and Wisconsin, who Alabama will face in the coming weeks, it would be prudent to refrain from making any disparaging remarks. The Crimson Tide have already demonstrated their burning desire to silence detractors and prove their unwavering status as a college football powerhouse.