Auburn football fans needed to step in and be the moral compass after a Crimson Tide fan defended Jermaine Burton’s infamous strike of a female Tennessee fan after the Volunteers upset Alabama during 2022’s Third Saturday in October matchup.
The fan, advertising as a Bammer in Memphis, claimed that any punishment of Burton — for, again, striking a female fan during Neyland Stadium’s post-game field-storming — should be met with equal punishment for the fan.
According to ‘Memphy,’ Burton was ‘lone and defenseless in a mob and she startled him by running right up to him,’ and thus needed to react in ‘protection mode.’ Whether or not this was satire is unclear, but such stupidity is dangerous regardless.
Here were Auburn football fans condemning the unneeded defense of a male collegiate athlete that striking a female fan of the rival team offered by someone trying to play pretend defense attorney on Burton’s behalf:
He is a football player and there is a woman running around him. I’m sure he was scared for his life with the woman’s ginormous frame… https://t.co/pqVyN1HW2a
— Aubie’s son🦅 (@AubieSon) October 20, 2022
Enabling like this is why he acted like he did. https://t.co/2bXa4wZyI1
— An Auburn Man (@GridironTiger) October 20, 2022
"...lone and defenseless..." https://t.co/a3yDQFXshC
— ED KING FOREVER (@LonelyTalegater) October 20, 2022
Tennessee fans also chimed in as well…
I’ve navigated many big crowds in my life. And not once have I thrown a punch at anyone. It’s not that difficult. https://t.co/1Vz5AAYvx6
— zach ragan (@zachtnt) October 20, 2022
They are still unhinged https://t.co/rswwXY0xkP
— Vincenzo (@HeHateV) October 20, 2022
https://t.co/yt6JsdT8uE pic.twitter.com/E2fsnyxGq7
— FlameVol (@Flame_Volunteer) October 20, 2022
Even AL.com’s Joseph Goodman, who ‘Memphy’ was responding to, had something to say about the comment:
My man is bringing expertise to this conversation. Be brave and never delete this, sir. https://t.co/vrW8MDrc4E
— Joseph Goodman, Sports Enthusiast 🎟🍺 (@JoeGoodmanJr) October 20, 2022
Auburn football is the flip side of Tennessee’s success
Focusing on football for a second, it was spectacular seeing Tennessee finally beat Alabama for the first time since 2006, but the win also puts things in perspective in a sad way for Tiger fans on the Plains and elsewhere.
Like the Volunteers program, Auburn football has a second-year head coach. But instead of building on a six-win regular season, the Tigers may take a step back in 2022 with rumors of a second coaching firing in the last three years running rampant.
Credit Josh Heupel and condemn whoever you feel is necessary — assuming to most of you, that’s Bryan Harsin — for Auburn not being in Tennessee’s shoes. But it’s a damn shame that’s the case in Fly War Eagle’s eyes.