After informing his head coach Nick Saban of his intent to transfer on June 16, Maurice Smith recalled memories of feeling ostracized and of having his personal belongings thrown into the trash at Alabama.
This was all described in an open letter to the university’s appeal committee, published by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“On Friday, June 17, I arrived at the athletic facility locker room to find my locker cleaned out and all of my personal belongings in the trash (photo attached) underneath trash,” Maurice Smith wrote. “These personal items included my family photos, written goals, inspirational and sentimental items memorializing my deceased former friend, roommate and teammate, Altee Tenpenny, and items of personal value from my former teammates.”
Smith’s family also provided images of a text message between the senior cornerback and someone pertinent to the team, whose name the family blacked out. The text message read, “Bro I can’t have u at facility. Not for workout, lunch, anything. All in or out policy. Sorry bro.”
Maurice Smith claimed he was barred from working out at the gym in addition to eating at the team’s facilities. Maurice Smith is a reserve for the Crimson Tide who wants to transfer to the University of Georgia. Smith’s mother, Samyra, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Saban is blocking her son from transferring to play for his former defensive coordinator, Kirby Smart.
Hopefully Maurice Smith will be able to find his way to the place he wants to be, and that is unquestionably, after the way he’s been treated, the University of Georgia.
Can’t get enough of Campus Sports? Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to stay updated with the latest news and exclusive giveaways!
