University mascot sends recovering official back to hospital

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) Arizona State University's Sun Devils mascot doesn't always know when he's being devilish. KNXV-TV reported Wednesday (http://bit.ly/1YCD4VY

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) Arizona State University's Sun Devils mascot doesn't always know when he's being devilish.

KNXV-TV reported Wednesday (http://bit.ly/1YCD4VY ) that Sparky the mascot playfully jumped on a suburban Phoenix official recovering from back surgery at a football game. Tempe City Councilman David Schapira says he laughed until he felt a pop, which he later learned was a back muscle tearing.

The university apologized for its mascot's ''excessive exuberance'' and offered to help pay medical expenses related to his delayed recovery.

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Schapira says his wife was holding his cane while he took a photo on the sidelines Friday, and that's when the mascot spotted him and pounced. The run-in sent him back to the hospital.

The lifelong ASU fan says he's not mad at Sparky but may wear a warning sign next time.

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Information from: KNXV-TV, http://www.abc15.com