New Arizona State Linebackers Coach Raises Eyebrows Over Sportsbook Promo Tweet
Newly hired Arizona State University linebackers coach Antonio Pierce has come under fire for tweeting a promotion to a sports betting site this past weekend.
Here is the tweet in question:
Yahoo Sports notes that Pierce teamed with a sports betting site in September for “weekly picks and expert analysis.”
That’s no big deal. But Dec. 22, he was announced as Arizona State’s new linebackers coach. Gambling is a big deal to the NCAA.
In case you were wondering, this is the NCAA's official stance as it pertains to gambling among its personnel and players:
The NCAA opposes all forms of legal and illegal sports wagering, which has the potential to undermine the integrity of sports contests and jeopardizes the welfare of student-athletes and the intercollegiate athletics community.
Pierce is a former American football linebacker who played in the National Football League for nine seasons with both the Redskins and Giants. In 2007, as a captain of the defense, Pierce played a vital role in the Giants' path to their third Super Bowl title.
It was not yet known what, if any, disciplinary action would be taken against Pierce for his tweet.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com