Nick Saban getting dragged by college football fans for starting Jermaine Burton
Alabama head coach Nick Saban is facing criticism from college football fans after starting Jermaine Burton despite his actions toward a Tennessee fan
Jermaine Burton made headlines last week when videos emerged of him appearing to strike out at a female Tennessee fan who was rushing the field after the Volunteers’ victory.
Alabama head coach Nick Saban told reporters that the program was looking into the incident but said that punishment would be handled internally.
That punishment didn’t extend to the football field apparently. Burton started against Mississippi State on Saturday as though nothing had happened.
Saban did say that Burton is in an anger management program.
ESPN’s Chris Fowler says Alabama has Jermaine Burton working with anger-management counselors and Nick Saban hopes Burton will learn to control his emotions better. Fowler cited Burton’s retaliation penalty against Texas A&M in addition to the post-Tennessee incident.
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) October 23, 2022
However, college football Twitter was completely unimpressed that Saban didn’t suspend Burton for the incident.
College football Twitter slammed Nick Saban over Jermain Burton starting
Little Nick STARTED Jermaine Burton
— Brent (@ChristinaTippen) October 22, 2022
Little Nick is sending the wrong message
Pretty pathetic that Coach Saban allowing Jermaine Burton to play today. Truly a disappointing situation.
— Timothy Bailey (@RealTimBailey) October 22, 2022
Jermaine Burton would not be in uniform, on the field, if he still played for UGA, after hitting a girl.
— William Hurley (@dakinehurley) October 22, 2022
Just sayin.
The fact that Jermaine Burton is playing this week… pic.twitter.com/W00VBB1xj6
— Lauren Nielsen (@laurenn_nielsen) October 23, 2022
Damn is Chris Fowler trying to date Jermaine Burton or someone in his family? He just sugar coated the entire episode where Burton pulled his crap on the field last week. You’re a joke @cbfowler. We’ve all seen the video.
— LawCoVol (@js_hannah) October 23, 2022
Really surprised Jermaine Burton is playing in this game.
— Creg Stephenson the First (@CregStephenson) October 23, 2022
I'm sure Saban will say he was disciplined in some way, but the only punishment that really hurts is taking games away. Sure, running stadium steps at 5:30 am sucks, but that's a minor inconvenience for an elite athlete.
You can't excuse Jermaine Burton's actions after the Tennessee game as something that happened because fans rushed the field.
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) October 23, 2022
We've seen the video, guys. It was a woman who was not threatening him at all, and he went out of his way to do it.
Not saying jail him. But come on.
Jermaine Burton gets to hit women, and still play the next game for Alabama. Unreal.
— Tyler (@Tylerr_Bennett) October 23, 2022
Noticed that Jermaine Burton started for #Bama tonight. Must have been an exhaustive review of the punch he threw against that female fan in Knoxville. #SEC
— Bill Donald (@CoachBillDonald) October 22, 2022
The video of Burton striking the Tennessee fan is clear enough that he should have faced significant punishment. Yes, fans aren’t permitted to rush the field but there is no justification for a player to attack a bystander like that.
It wouldn’t have cost Alabama all that much to sit Burton for a quarter, a half or a full game. They are loaded with talent at wide receiver.
Saban didn’t just fail to send a message. He sent the completely wrong message by giving Burton a start. Even just downgrading him to coming off the bench would have been a more appropriate reaction.
Burton had one catch for 23 yards in the first half against Mississippi State. He added another 17-yard catch in the third quarter. Alabama enjoyed a 24-0 after two quarters.
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