A catering employee said former Red & Black Editor in Chief Daniel Burnett was “stumbling around” and acting “very intoxicated” in the presence of top University and state officials during Saturday’s football game against Georgia Tech.

Feeney Armistead said he overheard “sloppy rambling” as Burnett, who was wearing a name tag, spoke to Gov. Sonny Perdue in the presidential box at Sanford Stadium.

He also said Burnett’s appearance was sloppy, with a loose tie and “half tucked-in” shirt.

Burnett said a bottle of Mr. Boston Vodka was taken off of him as he was escorted out of the President’s box. Photo courtesy University Police

Burnett had been invited into the President’s box on behalf of The Red & Black.

Also in attendance were Red & Black news editor Mimi Ensley, University President Michael Adams, Governor-elect Nathan Deal and several other distinguished University employees.

“As far as being in the situation he was in, I would say he was very intoxicated,” Armistead said. “It’s usually a pretty professional atmosphere.”

Tom Jackson, vice president for public affairs, confirmed Monday that Burnett was asked to leave the box sometime before the end of the game because he had violated Sanford Stadium’s alcohol policy.

Burnett later told The Red & Black that the official escorting him out of the stadium confiscated a bottle of Mr. Boston Vodka from him as he was leaving the box.

“After he asked me to leave, we were walking towards the door and that’s when he found it,” he said.

The stadium alcohol policy states, “No alcoholic beverages may be brought into Sanford Stadium,” according to the Athletic Association website. Anyone found in possession of alcohol “will be subject to ejection.”

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

Burnett told The Red & Black that prior to entering the stadium, he had been taking shots of “Mr. Boston” vodka at a tailgate in Myers Quad. Burnett also speculated to The Red & Black he was ejected because vodka could be smelled on his breath.

Through an open records request, The Red & Black obtained a photograph of a 1.75-liter bottle of 80 proof Mr. Boston Vodka which was recovered by University Police during the game after Burnett’s ejection.

The photograph was taken on the cell phone of University police Sgt. Allan Hatcher.

Since the incident, Burnett has maintained he was not very drunk inside the box.

According to Burnett, he was approached by a stadium official while in the bathroom and asked to leave before the bottle of vodka was discovered on the way out.

After he was asked to step down as editor, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Tuesday Burnett said, “I believe I made the wrong choice, but on the same token, I believe it was blown up into something much larger.”

In a Tuesday e-mail to The Red & Black, Burnett wrote, “It was a mistake to enter President Adams’ box after drinking, one that I take full responsibility for. I regret that I made that decision, and sincerely regret that my actions have reflected negatively on the University, The Red & Black and myself. I can only hope to learn from this mistake and move on.”