Alabama WR Jermaine Burton offers unacceptable answer to on-field incident at Tennessee
By Scott Rogust
Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Jermaine Burton addressed the on-field incident at Tennessee where he struck a woman in the head.
Earlier in the year, the Alabama Crimson Tide lost to the Tennessee Volunteers. While the football world watched Tennessee fans run on the field and eventually take away the goal posts at Neyland Stadium, Alabama wide receiver Jermaine Burton received plenty of criticism for his actions. As he left the football field, he hit a woman, who was getting out of his way, in the head.
Months later, after Alabama’s 45-20 Sugar Bowl win over the Kansas State Wildcats on New Year’s Eve, Burton publicly addressed the on-field incident.
“That whole situation, it was a mistake. I can’t hold that against myself forever,” said Burton, h/t the Knoxville News Sentinel. “… But a mistake is a mistake. You move past it. I’m not going to let situation frame me as a person or shape me as a person because I know who I am, and my team knows who I am.”
Jermaine Burton addresses on-field incident at Tennessee
Burton addressed the fans storming the field, which he said “it can be hostile in a lot of situations. The (SEC) can do whatever they can, but it’s not safe for a lot of people.”
There were no criminal charges filed against Burton.
Head coach Nick Saban did say following the video going viral that the program was going to look into the incident. Burton played in the Crimson Tide’s next game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs, and their remaining games on the schedule.
On Oct. 22, ESPN’s Chris Fowler revealed that Burton was working with anger management counselors for not just the on-field incident at Tennessee, but also for a retaliation penalty against the Texas A&M Aggies.
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
The junior wide receiver recorded 40 receptions for 677 yards and seven touchdowns for the Crimson Tide this season. In the Sugar Bowl, Burton caught three passes for 87 yards and one touchdown.
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