Progress at Alabama is measurable. Acceptance is not. Through two seasons under Kalen DeBoer, the trajectory points upward. The Crimson Tide moved from nine wins in his first season to 11 wins and a return to the College Football Playoff in Year 2. At most programs, that would signal stability and growing confidence. At Alabama, it invites scrutiny. That difference is rooted in history. Nick Saban did not just win at Alabama. He redefined the ceiling. Six national championships in 17 seasons created an expectation of dominance that still shapes how the program is judged. Improvement alone does not meet that standard. Sustained control of the sport does. That is the tension DeBoer is navigating. He is building a program while being compared to one of the greatest runs in the history of college football. Every step forward is measured against a past that is nearly impossible to replicate. That reality is most visible on one side of the ball. Defense. Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Dijon Lee Jr.…