Alabama's handling of Pettway is nothing compared to what they did for another defensive lineman named Johnathan Taylor who had been kicked out of Georgia in 2014 for beating up his girlfriend. Saban welcomed him to Alabama with open arms even though Georgia's AD McGarrity had sent him photos of the victim and a copy of the police report. Alabama AD (our very own) Bill Battle tried to claim that he had investigated the domestic assault incident and vetted Taylor but the victim later told ESPN's Outside The Lines that she was never contacted by anyone at Alabama. Johnathan Taylor was later kicked out of Alabama after he committed yet another domestic assault BUT only after Alabama's handling of him and the details of his previous assault charge had received national media scrutiny.
Saban is a great coach - maybe the best ever but make no mistake about where his priorities are. He will take anyone who can get in, regardless of their past or their grades, as long as they are what he is looking for in a football player. He epitomizes the win at any cost approach.
Fwiw, SEC schools are now not permitted to accept players as transfers who have been dismissed from other SEC schools over domestic assault charges... aka "The Nick Saban Rule".