Alabama football coach Nick Saban released a statement Wednesday, addressing a video of wide receiver Jermaine Burton’s exit from the field against Tennessee in which a fan said Burton smacked her.
“We are aware of the situation with Jermaine Burton as he was exiting the field Saturday,” Saban’s statement read. “We are currently working to gather more information.”
A video filmed from the Neyland Stadium crowd Saturday was posted to TikTok on Tuesday, showing Tennessee fans storming the field and Burton is seen walking back toward the locker room through Vols fans who were celebrating a 52-49 over Alabama football.
Emily Isaacs, who posted the video to her TikTok account, wrote in the caption “Jermaine Burton smacking me in the head while walking past him after their loss Saturday.”
The woman in the video crosses in front of Burton. Shortly after, Burton appears to raise his right arm and make contact with her. She stops her run onto the field, grabs the right side of her head and she turns around to look back at Burton who continues toward the locker room.
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Burton transferred to the Crimson Tide this offseason after winning a national championship with Georgia over Alabama in January. The junior became an immediate starter, filling one starting receiver spot in each of the first six games. Burton didn’t start against Tennessee but he had his second-highest snap total of the season with 51.
Saban was asked Wednesday on the SEC coaches teleconference about field storming in general. He was asked if there’s anything he would change on that front.
“It’s a difficult situation,” Saban said. “It’s a difficult situation for the league, it’s a difficult situation for all of us that are in this situation. We certainly don’t condone any mistreatment of anybody, whether they should or shouldn’t be there. I think you’ve got to have respect for other people. At the same time, it’s a difficult situation for all of us.”
Burton has caught 18 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns this season.
