Fourth-Quarter Gag Spells
Trouble For Former Student
One Great Season
A former Marshall University student helping ESPN in its broadcast of the Thundering Herd's recent heartbreaker against West Virginia was expelled from school after he ran onto the field in the fourth quarter of the overtime thriller on Sept. 9, according to a source.
David Levenson even wondered aloud on the sideline what would happen if he ran onto the field during the game, the ESPN source told OGS Saturday.
A short time later, Levenson grabbed the hat off the head of one of the officials, then sprinted onto the field before being tackled by stadium security guards.
Levenson, 22, was charged with battery on a police officer, trespassing, obstructing and petit larceny, all misdemeanors, according to Huntington, W. Va., television station WSAZ. His fines have totaled $17,000, according to the ESPN source. Ouch.
He was credentialed to be on the field at Joan C. Edwards Stadium because he was assisting ESPN in its broadcast. Typically, the Worldwide Leader will hire local students from host schools to pull cable and perform other duties.
The Mountaineers stormed back from a 21-6 fourth-quarter deficit to beat the home team, 24-21, in overtime.
There was a report that Levenson was a current student who was expelled after the gag, but that has not been confirmed.