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Oregon WR Traeshon Holden ejected for spitting on Ohio State player

Traeshon Holden apologized in a statement on Sunday, one day after Oregon's wild win over the Buckeyes

nick bromberg
Senior writer
·2-min read

Oregon wide receiver Traeshon Holden was ejected in the second quarter of the No. 3 Ducks’ 32-31 win over No. 2 Ohio State for spitting at Buckeyes cornerback Davison Igbinosun.

After the two were engaged near the goal line at Autzen Stadium on Saturday night, Holden clearly spit at Igbinosun in front of an official. It was an obvious flag and automatic ejection by rule as Igbinosun wiped slobber from the visor on his facemask.

Following the penalty, Holden was distraught as he walked up the tunnel to the locker room. He threw his helmet and NBC’s cameras caught him on his knees in frustration at himself for the penalty.

Holden apologized to Igbinosun and others in a lengthy letter posted to social media on Sunday afternoon.

"I want to sincerely apologize for my actions during our recent game," he wrote, in part. "My actions were not only disrespectful but also a betrayal of the values of sportsmanship, integrity and respect that I strive to embody as a student-athlete ... To Ohio State, I offer my sincerest apologies for my behavior. It was completely unacceptable and a momentary lapse in judgement."

Holden entered the game as one of Oregon’s top receivers. He was second on the team with 19 catches for 274 yards in the Ducks’ first five games of the season and had a 32-yard catch before his ejection on Saturday.

The former Alabama receiver is in his second season with the Ducks and had 37 catches for 452 yards and six scores a season ago. Holden's penalty came in the midst of a wild first half that had already included a clear Oregon interception that was called a catch for Ohio State, a hilariously failed extra point for Oregon and a Ducks kickoff that bounced off an Ohio State blocker and was recovered by Oregon.