Nebraska player’s attempt at raccoon selfie goes bad, PETA wants justice

Nebraska defensive end Jack Gangwish was bitten by a raccoon while trying to take a selfie with the mammal after spotting it on the side of the road last week while driving in Lincoln, Neb.

The 6-foot-2, 260-pound junior then took a wrench from his truck and killed the animal.

Now, PETA wants him punished.

In a letter to Nebraska Athletic Director Shawn Eichort, PETA requested that Gangwish be disciplined for his actions and require that all other student-athletes undergo an empathy training course.

“It’s time for acts of cruelty to animals committed by players to be taken extremely seriously, and with violence in football culture now under the microscope, this is the time to address the issue,” PETA President Ingrid Newkirk wrote, according to the Associated Press.

Gangwish initially tweeted a picture of himself with the raccoon and of the bite left on his leg, but later deleted them.

“I’m sure y’all be excited to hear that the results came back and i do not have Rabies!” he wrote the following day.

Good news for Gangwish, who recorded 18 tackles and 1.5 sacks for the Cornhuskers this season.

Nebraska’s next game is against USC in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego on Dec. 27.

The Cornhuskers will be led by interim coach Barney Cotton after the firing of Coach Bo Pelini, who was replaced by former Oregon State Coach Mike Riley.

Twitter: @mattwilhalme