Alabama Shows Better PR Sense As Kalen DeBoer Comments On Ex-Player's Rape Charges

It was a day or two late, but new Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer apparently knows Damage Control 101 better than some at the University of Alabama. Or Alabama is learning from past mistakes.

READ: Washington's Tybo Rogers Arrested On Rape Charges

Washington running back Tybo Rogers, who played for DeBoer last season when DeBoer was the Washington Huskies' head coach, was arrested in Seattle on Tuesday on one count of second-degree rape and another count of third-degree rape that allegedly happened last October and November in Seattle. Washington immediately suspended Rogers indefinitely from all team activities on Tuesday.

Kalen DeBoer Kept Tybo Rogers On Team

At the time of the accusations last November, though, DeBoer kept Rogers, 18, on the team, other than a suspension for the Pac-12 championship game on Dec. 1. It is not clear why DeBoer suspended Rogers for that game. He played in 12 other games before and after the accusations surfaced. That included the Huskies' victory over Texas in the College Football Playoff semifinal in New Orleans and in the CFP national championship game loss to Michigan in Houston.

Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer fires up the crowd at an Alabama basketball game at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa shortly after being introduced as coach. (Getty Images)

"While I am not able to comment specifically on the situation involving an individual at my former institution because of federal privacy laws and the ongoing criminal matters, I do want to make it clear that I take any allegation of sexual misconduct very seriously," DeBoer said in a statement released by Alabama's football communications department on Thursday afternoon.

"I always have and always will follow established institutional policies and procedures to ensure prompt reporting and proper handling of allegations by the appropriate authorities," DeBoer said.

Washington running back Tybo Rogers (right) attempts to block for wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk in the first quarter of the national championship game against Michigan on January 8 at NRG Stadium in Houston. (Getty Images)

Associated Press writer John Zenor asked DeBoer a follow-up question at his regularly scheduled press conference Thursday night ahead of the Crimson Tide's spring game on Saturday.

"What was the decision-making process at Washington when you had a guy who was charged with some serious crimes (this week) play in the playoffs?," Zenor asked.

"Oh yeah, I released a statement," DeBoer said matter of factly. "I understand there's more to it down the road. But I can't really comment on that right now or don't have anything to add."

The key is how much did DeBoer know about the accusations against Rogers last November. On the surface, DeBoer possibly looked at the situation as a "He Said, She Said" scenario as charges were not filed and the arrest not made until this week. He surely did not need to play Rogers much last season in order to win.

A freshman last season from Bakersfield High in Bakersfield, California, Rogers rushed five times for 19 yards and caught a pass for zero yards in Washington's 37-31 over Texas on Jan. 1 to reach the national championship game. In the 34-13 loss to Michigan in the title game on Jan. 8, Rogers rushed once for two yards and caught an 11-yard pass. On the season, he played in 12 games, rushing 44 times for 184 yards and catching six passes for 72 yards.

Was DeBoer trying to avoid any negative publicity late in the 2023 season as his team rolled to a banner season that included the Pac-12 championship, Washington's first national championship game since 1991 and a 14-1 finish?

Was he keeping his own image polished? Last season did make DeBoer one of the most sought after coaches in the country. He replaced the retiring legend Nick Saban after the season and was introduced as Alabama's coach on Jan. 14.

Then-Washington coach Kalen DeBoer arrives for the national championship game last Jan. 8 in Houston against Michigan. (Getty Images)

Or did DeBoer not have enough information to discipline Rogers without an arrest? There is virtually no way he didn't know anything about the accusations. Surely, the university did. So he should have as well. Was he biding his time and hoping for the best?

DeBoer had already disciplined Rogers in August for violating team rules. Perhaps he should have suspended him for the rest of the season after the accusations came out. Were the accusations believable? Or did he just not want to believe them? A major college football coach in any town can find out more information about such accusations than the average person. He likely could have found out what he needed to know to made a decision on Rogers before any arrest.

Opinion: Alabama Failed Media Relations 101 With Murder Case

At least, DeBoer said something now. That is smarter public relations than how Alabama handled most of the murder investigation last year that involved its basketball team.

Opinion: Just Because A Lawyer Or An AD Says It Doesn't Mean It's True

Reading DeBoer's comment makes it clear Alabama and DeBoer are taking these charges very seriously and staying on pace with the story. Alabama did not hide with a weak comment like, "That's in the past." Or, "That was before Coach DeBoer got here."

DeBoer's successes, failures, his good, and his bad while at Washington came with him to Alabama and will remain with him.

Thankfully, we also didn't hear, "Coach DeBoer is busy with spring practice."

Alabama does conclude spring practice with the spring game at 4 p.m. on Saturday, and the fact that DeBoer came out with his statement ahead of that was also public relations smart. He will likely field no questions about it Saturday after fielding one on Friday. 

Kalen DeBoer's Reputation Spotless On Arrival

It should be noted that while at Washington and in previous head coaching jobs at Fresno State and Sioux Falls, DeBoer has had a virtually spotless image. He has been basically a Mr. Clean, which had a lot to do with why Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne hired him.

Kalen DeBoer deserves the benefit of the doubt at this point with this story. When more is learned, perhaps not. As he said, "There's more to it down the road." He is not trying to sweep it away, which is refreshing.

And if his statement is any indication of how he will handle future controversies at Alabama, he at least has made a step in the right direction.

(Have an opinion on this column? Please email me at glenn.guilbeau@outkick.com or comment on X @SportBeatTweet.)