Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer announced that fifth-year defensive back Malachi Moore will not face suspension for his on-field outburst at the end of the Crimson Tide's 40-35 loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday.
After a game-clinching first down, an animated Moore received an unsportsmanlike penalty for kicking the ball. He also ignored coaches when they tried to sub him off the field.
During his press conference Monday, DeBoer told the media that Moore would not be suspended and that it would be handled internally.
"No, we have handled it," DeBoer stated. "And I'm just gonna say this about Malachi – what he did, he has gone above and beyond in owning, taking ownership in it. And this is pretty much immediately after the game to this morning, things that are all prompted by him but also part of just our conversations.”
DeBoer continued to defend Moore’s passion and praised him for being a rock during the coaching transition in January.
“The thing I want to make sure Bama fans know is that this guy has been rock solid and been a critical, critical piece – along with others; there are some others as well – of keeping this thing together since January,” DeBoer said. “When a lot of guys chose to leave, this guy stood firm. This guy loves Alabama football. He works relentlessly out there every single day on the football field. It’s the passion that I hope – I mean, the question was asked about me and the passion and frustration. I mean, that’s what you saw from him. And so yeah, there were some things that he regrets and wishes he probably didn’t do, yeah. But he’s owned up to it, and we’ve handled it internally and still handling it internally.”
Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack was one of the coaches trying to sub Moore off the field at the end of the game this weekend. When he was asked about Moore's tantrum, Wommack minimized the outburst and decided to defend the defensive captain instead.
“I’m not sure anybody cares more about Alabama football than Malachi,” Wommack said. “In that moment, when emotions are running high — certainly he has been held accountable for some of the actions and the penalty he incurred there at the end of the game. I think Malachi handled it really well with his teammates. We are continuing to work to make sure we address it the right way across the board.”
Earlier in the morning, Moore released a statement on his Instagram and on X apologizing for his actions.
DeBoer closed his comments about Moore by letting the media know that he had Moore’s back just like Moore had his back from the start of his Alabama coaching career.
"But I just want people to understand also that he's had my and our back since Day 1, and there comes a point, too, where sometimes, as things play out, you've gotta have your guy's back, as well, and understand that we all make mistakes and we all just gotta own up to it. And we're doing that, and we will continue to move on," he outlined.
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