TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama coach Nick Saban said he had reason not to suspend receiver Jermaine Burton from Saturday’s game against Mississippi State after video surfaced that appeared to show Burton hitting a woman who stormed the field when Tennessee beat the Crimson Tide last week held at Neyland Stadium.
But what the reason was, Saban wouldn’t say.
“I didn’t think it was necessary to suspend the guy,” Saban said. “If you knew the whole story, you probably wouldn’t either. But I won’t reveal that.”
Burton had two catches for 40 yards as No. 6 Alabama defeated No. Mississippi’s 24 30-6.
Saban was then asked what went into his decision not to attend the former Georgia transfer.
“Look,” Saban told reporters. “I don’t know how many of you have ever been in a situation like that, but I talked to him [Burton]. He was scared. I was scared. Some of our other players were scared.”
But, he added, “I think you learn to respect other people because we have a responsibility to do that, regardless of the circumstances we’re in.”
Earlier in the week, Saban said the team was gathering information after a video on social media appeared to show Burton hitting a female fan who rushed the field in Tennessee.
Emily Isaacs posted the video on TikTok with the caption: “Jermaine Burton hits me in the head as I was walking past him after their loss on Saturday,” with a thumbs-up emoji and the hashtag #ouch.
Tennessee, which won 52-49 and snapped a 15-game losing streak to Alabama, was fined $100,000 by the SEC for its second violation of the league’s on-field entry policy.
Saban said Burton is in a counseling program.
“It’s not an anger management program like people say today. Nobody ever said that,” Saban said. “That’s not the problem. That’s not the problem. It’s about having the proper respect for other people.”
Burton was targeted four times by Alabama quarterback Bryce Young on Saturday.
Young, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, completed 21 of 35 passes for 249 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Alabama, which committed a Saban-era record 17 penalties against Tennessee, had just three penalties against Mississippi State.
The Crimson Tide defense, which gave up more than 500 yards of offense to Tennessee, held Mississippi State to 293 yards and a touchdown.
Alabama has next Saturday off before traveling to LSU on Nov. 5.
