It's not often a college coach looks sullen following a conference victory, but University of Dayton men's basketball coach Anthony Grant was visibly upset when he spoke after his team's Jan. 17 win over Davidson.'
Grant wasn't upset about his team's play, but rather because angry sports bettors had harassed his players on social media the game prior. The online harassment came just days after legal sports betting platforms went live in Ohio.'
“There's some laws that have recently been enacted that, to me, it could really change the landscape of what college sports is all about,” Grant said. “And when we have people that make it about themselves and attack kids because of their own agenda, it sickens me.”
Grant's comments shed light on athlete harassment, something that has existed for decades but often goes overlooked. The Dayton incident sparked conversations about the topic, and with the 2023 college sports season beginning this month, conferences and outside stakeholders are working to protect athletes from frustrated bettors.'