Alabama HC Kalen DeBoer reacts to key penalty in loss against Tennessee that was caused by Vols DB Boo Carter's trash talk
Late in fourth quarter of the Tennessee Vols' 24-17 win against the Alabama Crimson Tide, UT true freshman defensive back Boo Carter drew a key penalty when he was shoved in the head by Bama wide receiver Kendrick Law. The personal penalty occurred after Carter was in Law's ear talking trash. The 15-yard penalty resulted […]
Late in fourth quarter of the Tennessee Vols' 24-17 win against the Alabama Crimson Tide, UT true freshman defensive back Boo Carter drew a key penalty when he was shoved in the head by Bama wide receiver Kendrick Law.
The personal penalty occurred after Carter was in Law's ear talking trash.
The 15-yard penalty resulted in Alabama facing a fourth-and-22 from their own 18-yard line.
Alabama turned the ball over on downs after a screen pass came up short.
Tennessee added a field goal after taking over on downs before ending the game on Alabama's next possession via an interception by defensive back Will Brooks.
On Monday, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer was asked about the personal foul penalty on Law and about his message to the junior wide receiver.
"The message continues to be with the team, it's not just one — we have to learn from those moments because those moments are big," said DeBoer. "Our choices, our decisions, our words, our actions, all of those things, they have to be focused on what's best for our team."
"Obviously, in that moment, we're fighting to try find a way to win," continued DeBoer. "It's a big moment. We have to make sure we address it, but we can't continue to have the mistakes. Those are things that we can control. Some things, you just can't control, things that happen to you, the way the ball bounces, those things. Just with everything in general, it starts with our thoughts. We have to make sure other people's thoughts don't become ours. We have to make sure if someone's talking to us, we have to learn to walk the other way. Being more emotionally disciplined in every facet — not just the high-aggression type things. But also when the momentum swings, and things like that happen in a game, just to trust in your preparation and trust in what you're doing. But we have to be better there."
It's easy to see why Law was frustrated in the moment. Alabama was facing a fourth down while on their way to a second loss before November. And Carter was clearly talking some major trash. But players in that situation, as DeBoer noted, have to walk back to the huddle and understand that what an opponent is saying is out of their control. And reacting to whatever is being said is never going to lead to anything positive for the team. It's a moment that Law can (and should) learn from.
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