BREAKING: Nick Saban Confirms Major Decision On Malachi Moore Captaincy After Humiliating Vanderbilt Loss
The Alabama Crimson Tide’s stunning upset loss to the unranked Vanderbilt Commodores last week sent shockwaves through the college football world. The 40-35 defeat was made even more controversial by the actions of Alabama defensive back and team captain, Malachi Moore, during Vanderbilt’s game-winning drive.
Moore, a fifth-year senior, lost his composure, kicking the football after officials marked the spot and shoving Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia on the final play. Though the loss was already sealed at that point, Moore’s behavior added further frustration to an already difficult day for head coach Kalen DeBoer and Alabama.
Following the game, Moore issued a public apology, expressing regret for his actions and pledging to “do better.” In a statement, he said, “I want to apologize to my teammates, our coaches, the fans, our alumni, and my family for the way I acted on Saturday. I was completely out of line. I let the emotions of the game get the best of me and put myself before the team. As a two-time captain and a fifth-year player, I understand the standard we are expected to live up to at Alabama, and I failed to do so by acting in a selfish and unacceptable manner.”
Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban, who recruited Moore in 2020, discussed the incident during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.” Saban praised Moore’s character but acknowledged the emotional lapse. “Malachi Moore is a great young man,” Saban said. “He’s going to be very successful in life. This was totally uncharacteristic for him. But when you get frustrated and emotional, you make bad decisions that don’t reflect your true character. I know he’s very sorry for how he represented himself, his family, his team, and the university. The thing is, you can’t take those things back.”
Alabama DB Malachi Moore…
Draft stock down bad 📉🤯 pic.twitter.com/gkyTl9aQfX— Thomas Martinez (@BoltsDraftTalk) October 6, 2024
For Moore, the focus now is on redeeming himself in the coming weeks. Despite the loss, Alabama still has its sights set on the SEC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff. With the Crimson Tide dropping from No. 1 to No. 7 in the AP Poll, Moore must also prove to NFL scouts that this outburst doesn’t define him as a player. DeBoer reinforced that sentiment, stating, “The guy pours everything into what he does. Doesn’t make it OK. We want to be first-class in everything we do.”
Alabama (4-1) faces South Carolina (3-2) this Saturday in Tuscaloosa, with kickoff set for noon ET on ABC. It remains unclear whether DeBoer and the Alabama staff will suspend Moore for the game.