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In a podcast interview with Bleacher Report, "Gronk" talked about his friendship with Austin Capobianco, the New Haven County man who gained infamy after he yanked the ball from Mookie Betts' glove during Game 4 on Tuesday, Oct. 29.
Gronkowski and Capobianco attended the University of Arizona. Gronk played for the football team from 2007 through 2009 while Capobianco played for the school's club hockey team.
"Let me tell you, the whole hockey team — they were absolute maniacs," Gronkowski said. "They were undescribable just how wild these guys ..."
"Animals?" the host interrupted.
"Animals, yes — how wild these guys were," he finished. "Him doing that (pulling the ball out of Betts' glove) represents him very well."
A call to Capobianco for comment was not returned.
Capobianco, of Branford, told ESPN after being ejected in the bottom of the first inning that he had planned for a moment like that.
"We always joke about the ball in our area," Capobianco told the outlet. "We're not going to go out of our way to attack. If it's in our area, we're going to 'D' up. Someone defends, someone knocks the ball. We talk about it. We're willing to do this."
Capobianco has season tickets to the Yankees, but the team banned him from attending Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday, Oct. 30.
The Dodgers went on to win that game and capture the team's eighth World Series title.
The Yankees have not said if they will revoke Capobianco's season tickets.
Assistant Managing Editor Zak Failla contributed to this report
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