A New York Yankees fan who went viral after he was removed from Tuesday night’s Game 4 for disturbing Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts was once friends with a notable athlete.

Rob Gronkowski, a four-time Super Bowl winner and former New England Patriots star, shared on the “Up & Adams Show” Wednesday that he was acquainted with Austin Capobianco, who grabbed the ball from Betts’ glove during the first inning. Gronkowski mentioned they were friends while he attended the University of Arizona.

“Here’s a fun fact: The guy pulling Mookie Betts’ glove was my college buddy,” Gronkowski said. “He played for the Arizona Wildcats ice hockey club. Let me tell you, the entire hockey team was full of wild characters.”

Gronkowski remarked that his friend’s actions “absolutely capture his personality.”

“He’s passionate about his teams. He’s a huge Yankees fan. I recall him talking about the Yankees all the time, expressing his love for the team, and this behavior reflects that perfectly – he’s all about supporting his team,” he added.

While Gronkowski congratulated Capobianco for “stepping up when it mattered,” he also stated that what he did was “completely unacceptable.” He noted that he hadn’t been in touch with him lately but described Capobianco as a “fun guy.” More observations about him were shared on social media.

The Yankees announced before Game 5 on Wednesday that Capobianco and his friend John Peter would be barred from returning to the stadium despite assertions that he would be permitted. The Yankees termed their behavior as “grossly inappropriate and unacceptable.” After the game, Capobianco acknowledged he was aware of his mistake but didn’t seem remorseful.

“I patrol that wall and they know that,” said Capobianco.