ESPN’s “College GameDay” gave Alabama fans a rare look at the Crimson Tide’s past and present on Saturday as current head coach Kalen DeBoer joined the set with former coach Nick Saban.

Saban, 72, asked DeBoer, the former Washington coach, what was the most important thing he learned from his team early in the season that will impact the rest of the season.

“I am confident that our consistent preparation – the preparation throughout the week, and not just what happens on Saturday – is leading us to a confidence that is real, and I believe that,” DeBoer said.

“I learned that our upperclassmen, who are spread throughout the team, have done a great job of bringing the youth along, knowing how important they are and helping them prepare for Saturday and game day.

Shortly after DeBoer took the job, it was pointed out that there would be a transition for the players, but DeBoer explained how he bridged that gap.

“I knew it would be dead quiet when I walked in that Friday night with those guys,” DeBoer said of his first days on the job. “They have a lot of questions. There were a lot of emotions and things that they were going through, and it was trying to meet them where they were at that moment. We use the word ’embrace’ a lot, but that’s really what it was about.”

Saban, who won six of his seven national championships at Alabama, pointed out that DeBoer had the upper hand from the start.

“The real advantage you had was that they were really sick of my ass,” Saban joked.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard daily on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile app from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.