Ohio State fans were rocked when Noah Spence was suspended three games due to a failed drug test back in January 2014. A week later, his father explained Spence's failed test was caused by somebody slipping Ecstasy into his drink at a party.
In September 2014, Spence again failed a drug test and was suspended for Ecstasy use. After a glimmer of hope at an appeal to the ruling in November 2014, his Ohio State career was officially pronounced dead.
Spence has since landed at Eastern Kentucky, a spot he put in jeopardy with a May 2015 arrest for public intoxication.
Brian Bennett of ESPN caught up with Spence, and needless to say, the former five-star recruit is just looking forward to playing again. But it looks like his drug use at Ohio State was worse than most would have imagined, even with the suspensions:
Spence was partying hard every weekend, regularly using the drug Ecstasy -- even on Saturday nights after games. He would come to Sunday practices dehydrated, his head pounding and his body screaming for mercy.
"I would tell myself, ‘I don't feel that, I don't feel any pain,'" Spence said. "But it was pretty bad. I had to make myself go even when I was hurting, thinking to myself, ‘I can't let anybody see that I'm dying out here.'"
Given the effects Ecstasy has on the brain, it's hard to understand just how insane that is.
"I got real caught up in the college lifestyle," he said. "Every weekend, I was doing too much. I was young and stupid and I thought I could go out and party all the time."
Ecstasy became his drug of choice, and though it is most popular in night clubs and raves, Spence preferred to use it at parties with friends. He'd take it every Friday and Saturday during the offseason. During the season, he limited himself to Saturday nights.
Spence, the article reveals, has passed 12 drug tests in 11 months. While drug addiction is a life-long battle, it's good to see youthful mistakes didn't cost him every opportunity at playing the game he's physically built to dominate.
Eastern Kentucky opens its season Sept. 3 against Valparaiso.
[ESPN]
