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Alabama captain Malachi Moore apologized Monday for his outburst at the end of Saturday’s 40-35 loss to Vanderbilt, and Alabama coach Calen DeBoer said Moore will not be suspended for his actions.
Moore issued a statement on X and said he was “completely out of line.”
He added in his statement: “I let the emotions of the game get the best of me and put myself out there for the team. As a two-time captain and a fifth-season player, I understand the level we are expected to live up to.” “Alabama, and failed to do so by acting in a selfish and unacceptable manner… I will do what is best to maintain the Alabama standard moving forward.”
Moore, a multi-year starter at safety, shoved Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia’s head toward the ground at the end of the play. Moore also threw his mouthpiece and was hit with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for kicking the football. Alabama tried to replace Moore at the end of the game, but he seemed to refuse to come off the field.
De Boer said Moore “went so far as to take ownership” over his on-field tirade that went viral on social media and sparked a sharp rebuke from many throughout the college football world, including former Alabama linebacker Damien Harris, Who was part of two national championship teams at Alabama.
“I can tell you what would have happened in the days I was there,” Harris said on a podcast with The Athletic. “We were going to try to rip the ‘C’ off his jersey. We were going to light it up, from every coach, every player. … Everybody was going to be on this guy’s head, like we’re not doing that.”
DeBoer defended Moore for what he meant to the program, adding that doesn’t make his actions right.
“He’s had my back since day one,” DeBoer said. “There’s also a point where sometimes when things are going, you’ve got to have your man’s back as well and understand that we all make mistakes and we all have to own up to that.”
“I think the thing I want to make sure Bama fans know is that this guy was very strong and was a critical, critical component, along with others — there were others, too — in keeping this thing together,” DeBoer added. Since January, okay? When a lot of players chose to leave, this guy stuck around. This guy loves Alabama football.
Moore was one of the most vocal Alabama players in January about players buying out DeBoer and the new staff and not rushing for other opportunities just because Nick Saban retired.
“We did our homework as players. The guy won everywhere,” Moore told ESPN in January when DeBoer was hired. “His standard is the same as ours, to lift this trophy at the end of the year. He was one win away last year, so that puts a chip on his shoulder. We definitely have one on our shoulders with the way we’re going this season.” I finish.
“We are working towards the same goal, this time with his vision.”
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