Reporters gathered around Malachi Moore on Tuesday as it is the first time the Alabama defensive back has spoken since his incident in the fourth quarter last week versus Vanderbilt.
Moore, a fifth-year senior, had a moment at FirstBank Stadium where his emotions got the better of him.
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He shoved Diego Pavia into ground, threw his mouthpiece out his mouth, kicked the football after the official set it on the field, and had a disrespectful moment to Alabama’s coaching staff. Vandy earned a 40-35 upset victory, but many Crimson Tide fans had opinions about what the coaches should do about Moore’s actions. Some called for the staff to suspend the veteran safety, while others did not feel that way. Kalen DeBoer choose to have Moore’s back and not suspend him. He has done the necessary internal things, but DeBoer looks at Moore as a rock for this program. DeBoer said Moore has had his back from the moment he and his staff came into the University of Alabama. Moore, an Alabama native, is very thankful for DeBoer having his back.
“It meant a lot,” Moore said about DeBoer having his back. “I did not mean for the situation to blow up how it did, but to have my head coach come to me and tell me he had my back without us having a conversation about it first … some coaches don’t stick up for their players, but it says a lot about Coach DeBoer and it meant the world to me.”
In the Nick Saban era, he gave players multiple chances when they made mistakes.
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Whether it was on or off the field, Saban never just threw a player away unless it truly called for it. DeBoer sees Moore as a significant asset to the team and that last week’s incident was not his true character. He does not see suspending Moore as the answer. DeBoer knows that Moore is one of the passionate players when it comes to Alabama football, but he understands the mindset will be channeled more in a positive way. We will see how Moore and the Tide bounces back versus South Carolina.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
