Kalen DeBoer, Alabama football players respond to Dijon Lee Jr. foul

Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer didn't mince words with defensive back Dijon Lee Jr. after a late personal foul with the game on the line against Georgia .

The Crimson Tide was down 20-17 with 2:19 to play when a flag was called on Lee, who got in a shoving match with Bulldogs senior defensive tackle Josh Horton on second down. Lee, a sophomore, was seen getting an earful from DeBoer on the sideline. The ABC broadcast reported that they believed they saw DeBoer tell Lee, "You cost us the game."

Lee was embraced by defensive back Red Morgan as DeBoer to express his displeasure, which Lee appeared receptive to.

"We preach emotional maturity, and I really feel strong across the board we had that with our team, and didn't," DeBoer said on the matter after the game.

"We never expected that to happen," DeBoer continued. "If you're out there giving everything you've got, you've got to give yourself a chance. Emotional maturity is what it comes down to and, you know, we've been pretty good at that the last two years. Obviously, when a moment comes up like we had just now, we didn't respond the right way."

Team captain and defensive back Bray Hubbard said that the team has to "stay locked in" when emotions run high late.

"We talk about having no foolish penalties," Hubbard said. "That's kind of a crucial penalty. It was third down. We hold 'em there, they have to punt the ball and give the ball back to our offense. Instead, chains move and as soon as the ref blows the whistle, time starts ticking. ... We basically gave them that."

Fellow defensive back Keon Sabb called Lee his "brother 'til I die." He said he tries to "uplift" Lee, but he is firm that there is a "standard" at Alabama .

"He wasn't up to that standard, and it will be addressed," Sabb said.

Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@usatodayco.com.