Alabama's Malachi Moore Apologizes for Actions in Vanderbilt Upset After Viral Videos

Alabama defensive back Malachi Moore apologized for his behavior toward the end of the Crimson Tide's 40-35 upset at the hands of Vanderbilt.

"I was completely out of line," he said in a statement posted to social media. "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 that we are expected to live up to at Alabama, and I failed to do so by acting in a selfish and unacceptable manner."

AL.com's Nick Kelly listed off the graduate student's transgressions from the game: "He gave Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia a shove late, Moore chucked his mouthguard, Moore kicked the football (drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty) and Moore looked like he refused to come off the field when the coaching staff tried to substitute Bray Hubbard for him."

Former Alabama running back Damien Harris was withering with his comments toward Moore in The Athletic's Until Saturday podcast. He called Moore's actions "complete and utter bulls--t."

Harris, a two-time national champion, also took issue with how Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer addressed the situation after the game.

DeBoer adopted a diplomatic tone and limited his criticism of Moore.

"The guy pours everything into what he does," he told reporters. "Doesn't make it OK. We want to be first class in everything we do. There's a lot of guys that are very frustrated. The key is we turn that frustration into positive moving forward and make sure that we remember what we feel here tonight and remember that when we show up tomorrow and Tuesday and Wednesday, all season long. Malachi, I'm 100 percent confident he will do that."

DeBoer told reporters on Monday that Moore would not be suspended.

Saturday was a day for all of Alabama's players to forget.

Vanderbilt pushed the Tide around from start to finish, finishing with 418 total yards and possessing the ball for 42:08. The Commodores never trailed and remained unflappable as Alabama mounted its second-half comeback attempt.

Moore's frustration probably built steadily as he and his fellow defenders couldn't get Vandy off the field. Things may have reached a breaking point with Junior Sherrill's 36-yard touchdown grab. He beat Moore deep on a 4th-and-1, a moment that could've swung the momentum in Bama's direction if it forced a turnover on downs.

Considering what lies ahead on the schedule, Alabama can ill afford for Moore to lose his composure like that again. The Tide host South Carolina on Saturday and then play No. 8 Tennessee, No. 21 Missouri and No. 13 LSU over the next month.