Alabama football WR Bernard apologizes to DeBoer, team over Wisconsin 'jump around' remark
Germie Bernard didn't wait for the call to Kalen DeBoer's office.
Instead, the Alabama football wide receiver approached his coach with an apology on Sunday for a remark he made in a postgame interview following the Crimson Tide's 42-10 win over Wisconsin. The comment referenced the Badgers' "jump around" tradition, in which fans and players jump repeatedly between the third and fourth quarters of home games at Camp Randall Stadium. The 1992 House of Pain song "Jump Around" accompanies the frenzied activity, which is powerful enough to shake the Camp Randall press box.
"We was ready to shut that weak-ass jump song down," Bernard said on Saturday.
DeBoer said Bernard not only apologized to him, but to the team as well.
"I didn't realize it until (Sunday). Actually, Germ did come in and he owned it. I didn't even bring it up to him, I didn't even know what happened until (Sunday). He's a first-class guy and with the emotions and excitement of the game and all that, unfortunately he sometimes says (wrong) things he's asked to comment on," DeBoer said. "He actually wanted to say something to the team. We want to be first class and we slipped up a little bit there, and he addressed the team in our team meeting (Sunday). And everyone knows who he is, and respect the heck out of him."
Bernard came to Alabama as a transfer from Washington, where DeBoer coached last season. He pulled in a 26-yard touchdown pass for UA's final score of the first half on Saturday, which gave Alabama a 21-3 halftime lead and largely put the game away.
With Alabama leading 35-10 entering the fourth quarter, Crimson Tide players naturally participated in the jump around tradition as well.
"The Wisconsin environment was great. I think our guys enjoyed the transition there from the third to fourth quarter just as much as anyone," DeBoer said. "Nothing but respect for what the environment was, and who they are as a program."
Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23. Reach him at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X.com @chasegoodbread.
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This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football's Bernard sorry for Wisconsin 'jump around' remark