Rashaan Gaulden offered an apology for a gesture that happened as a result of getting caught up in the moment during Tennessee’s game against Alabama.
In the third quarter of Saturday’s game, Daniel Bituli intercepted a pass from Tua Tagovailoa and took it 97 yards the other way for the Volunteer’s first (and only) score of the game. Afterwards, Bituli’s teammate Rashaan Gaulden gave Crimson Tide fans seated near the end zone a double middle finger salute, as seen above.
During the post game press conference, Gaulden apologized, saying it was “very out of character.”
“I want to make an apology to the University of Tennessee and the University of Alabama for my gesture after the pick-six by Daniel Bituli,” Gaulden said, via ESPN. “That remark that I showed was very out of character. That’s not how my parents raised me. That’s not how a leader of the team should show their emotions on the field.”
Gaulden is in his fourth year as a member of the Volunteers football team and has played in all seven games this season. He has 42 tackles and one interception to go along with one forced fumble.
