Rob Gronkowski says he was friends with a Yankees fan in college who grabbed Mookie Betts’ glove

The sports world is still buzzing about the Yankees fans who tried to take the glove off of Mookie Betts in Game 4 of the World Series, and it turns out there’s an unusual connection. In a classic pairing of like meets like, one of those troublesome Yankees fans is apparently college friends with none other than former NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski.

On an episode of “Up & Adams” with Kay Adams on Wednesday, Gronkowski said he knew one of the fans from his time at the University of Arizona. Gronkowski spent three years as a Wildcat before entering the 2010 NFL Draft.

“This is actually the first time I’ve seen this live, and here’s a fun little fact: that guy that grabbed Mookie Betts’ glove was my friend in college,” Gronkowski said as he watched the clip in Adams ‘ Watched the show.

Gronkowski confirmed in a post on social media that his college friend is the fan in the gray jersey, Austin Capobianco. Along with John Peter, the two fans were kicked out of Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night and were not allowed to attend Game 5 in New York on Wednesday.

According to Gronkowski, Capobianco was a member of the Arizona club hockey team, which Gronkowski described as a group of “crazy people.” He also described him as an avid sports fan.

“He’s all for his teams. He’s all for the Yankees,” Gronkowski said, adding that he remembered Capobianco talking about the Yankees “all the time.”

Initially, the Pro Bowl tight end didn’t admonish Capobianco’s wild decision, but praised him.

“He is a beauty. “I just want to congratulate him on shining in your moment,” Gronkowski said, much to Adams’ amazement.

But then Gronkowski took a more serious stance on the behavior of Capobianco, whom he admitted he hadn’t seen in years.

“That’s definitely unacceptable in the world of sports, but when you’re that big of a fan, that’s what fans do, I mean, whenever they get the chance,” Gronkowski said.

Gronkowski later reiterated his memory of Capobianco as an exceptionally passionate and loyal fan in a social media post.

“Also a menacing, wild boy, he is the person who would undoubtedly say he would do that and then actually do it. Insanity status since college has been confirmed,” Gronkowski wrote.

Capobianco and Peter were reportedly informed by the Yankees on Wednesday that they would be arrested if they attempted to enter the stadium for Game 5. They don’t know how long the ban will last.