When they reported this on our local (Bammer) sports talk show, the first caller said that he grew up in a family with an abusive father that used to get violent and physical with his mother. He watched that and has had to restrain himself at times with his own wife when he got mad. So, there's no telling what environment this guy grew up in. Violence against women may have been instilled in him by his own father.
The host and former Bama beat writer, took that and ran. The narrative then became "It's not the kids fault because of what his dad did to his mother. Lord Saybinz laid hands on and reformed him"