Memo to Twitter users: Be careful what you retweet. When Lehigh’s Ryan Spadola sent a message out to his followers that referred to Towson football players by using a racial epithet, he was suspended by the NCAA. Without its All-American wideout on Saturday, Lehigh lost at North Dakota State 24-0 in the FCS quarterfinals.
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It didn’t matter that Spadola didn’t write the original message, which was penned by a former high school teammate. Justice wasn’t exactly swift, coming six days after the fact. Spadola sent out the retweet on Dec. 2, the day before he played a significant role in Lehigh’s 40-38 playoff win at Towson, catching 13 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown.
It was interesting that Spadola’s suspension came from the NCAA, not his own team.
“I did not think that it warranted him not playing,” coach Andy Coen said when asked about the tweet.
Spadola, who ranks second in the FCS in receiving yards per game (134.5) and is a Patriot League All-Academic choice, has apologized.
– Kevin Dunleavy
