Daniel Burnett, editor in chief of The Red & Black, has submitted a letter of resignation stemming from an incident in which he was asked to leave the University President’s Box during Saturday’s football game against Georgia Tech.

Burnett was invited to attend the event in Sanford Stadium on behalf of The Red & Black, and was joined by Red & Black News Editor Mimi Ensley. Also in attendance were several administrators as well as public figures such as Georgia Governor-elect Nathan Deal.

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Burnett said he had been drinking alcohol at a tailgate before the event.

Once in the box, he said he spoke to University President Michael Adams, Deal and Gov. Sonny Perdue.

Burnett said he was later approached by a University employee who asked to escort him out because it appeared Burnett had been drinking.

“It’s my understanding his behavior was disruptive enough to the point he was asked to leave,” said Meg Amstutz, executive assistant to the president.

Burnett told The Red & Black he responded, “Yeah, that’s fine,” before walking out of the box without further confrontation.

“I think someone smelled the vodka,” Burnett said Monday. “I was talking to people, I don’t believe I was being disruptive. But they have the right to escort anybody out. I don’t have a problem with that.”

Red & Black Publisher Harry Montevideo apologized to Adams in a letter sent on behalf of the organization.

“It is disappointing enough when young adults make bad choices, but when those actions then impact the integrity of the institution they represent, it makes an already bad decision that much worse,” he wrote. “I can only hope Daniel and the rest of our staff take away a valuable learning experience from this unfortunate incident, one that will surely haunt Daniel and The Red and Black for many years to come.”

Burnett said he regrets how the situation played out.

“I apologized. I made a mistake,” Burnett added. “But I never would have thought it would blow up to this.”