Kalen DeBoer backs Malachi Moore after outburst on-field against Vanderbilt

Alabama safety Malachi Moore grabbed some negative attention during Alabama’s shocking 40-35 upset loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday. Drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after kicking the football immediately after it was downed by the referee, throwing his mouthpiece while lashing out before a play, and afterward waving off a player who was instructed to sub into the game for him.

Moore’s apparent meltdown in the closing moments of the game was surely a moment he was not proud of and one that came with plenty of criticism following the loss. But his head coach Kalen DeBoer had Moore’s back when he took to the podium on Monday.

“We’ve have handled it, and I’m just going to say this about Malachi. What he did, he has gone above and in taking ownership in it. 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 said.

Moore issued a public apology for his actions on Saturday. Apologizing to his teammates, our coaches, the fans, our alumni, and my family for letting his emotions get the best of him. An uncharacteristic moment for the two-time Crimson Tide captain and a fifth-year senior.

“I think 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 added. “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.”

Saturday’s loss came with a lot of criticism of the Crimson Tide and their new head coach. Who was tasked with following in the footsteps of Nick Saban this offseason and was now at the helm for the program’s first loss to Vanderbilt since 1984. A result that Alabama fans are not accustomed too and a personality they aren’t used to as well at the top of the program.

“The questions asked about me, the passion, frustration, I mean that’s what you saw from him. Was there some things that he regrets and wishes he probably didn’t do?” DeBoer asked. “Yeah, but he’s owned up to it and we’ve handled it internally and still handling it internally. He’s a first class guy, he’s out in the community weekly. That’s just part of who he is, doing things to give back, understanding the platform he has.”

Moore has played in 57 games in his career with the Crimson Tide and will not miss Alabama’s next matchup due to a suspension following Saturday’s incident, according to DeBoer. Who won’t let negative moment from his stay player outweigh the many positives he’s brought to the program.

“A lot of eyes are on our program, a lot of eyes are on him. And this guy plays plays hard for himself, his teammates, but this program means so much to him. So doesn’t it make it right, doesn’t make it right by any means, what some of the actions were,” DeBoer said. “But I want people understand also that he’s had my and our back since day one. And there comes a point too where sometimes as things play out, you gotta your guys 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.”