Nick Saban explains DeVonta Smith's ejection
Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith was ejected during Saturday’s 47-28 win over Texas A&M.
Smith was ejected following a scuffle on the field where Smith threw a punch on Aggies’ defensive back Leon O’Neal.
Below is a replay:
They both throw a punch but the Bama player gets ejected. 🤔 pic.twitter.com/uiujXtDGc5
— Belle Es You (@SouthernbeLLSU) October 12, 2019
Following the game, Nick Saban said Alabama didn’t finish with class, assuming he meant Smith’s ejection. He commented further on the ejection and explained what happened.
“Basically, he got hit — punched and he retaliated,” Saban said, via AL.com. “We’ll have to wait for the conference office to see what his status is. It was offsetting fouls. Obviously their player shouldn’t have punched him but (Smith) should have had the discipline not to hit him back because that’s a foul. We would have got a 15-yard penalty and that would have basically ended the game.”
Interestingly, unlike targeting, Smith’s status for next week’s game against Tennessee will be up to the SEC.