Rutgers head coach Kyle Flood said he will be coaching the game this Saturday, according to Keith Sargeant of NJ.com. Flood said he will coach even though he is currently being investigated for an allegation that he violated the school's policy by making contact with faculty.
The allegation is regarding contacting faculty in terms of grades. Nadir Barnwell was the student at the center of Flood's investigation, and he has just been suspended indefinitely for assaulting a group in connection with four other Rutgers players arrests. Barnwell was a junior cornerback who had been claimed academically ineligible according to two school officials.
Barnwell had 29 tackles last season and broke up four passes, but the removal of him and other players from the team might be the best thing moving forward. Flood has been with Rutgers since 2005 when he started as an offensive line coach. Since then he has moved up the later and became the head coach in 2012.
Last season the Scarlet Knights were 8-5, but only 3-5 in the Big Ten. Rutgers lost to Penn State, Ohio State, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Michigan State last year, and will have to face them all again this season.
Flood also has a decision to make at quarterback, as he has said Hayden Rettig will be the starter for their first game against Norfolk State, but only because Chris Laviano is being disciplined for a curfew violation, according Sargeant. "Rettig is the starting quarterback," Flood said. "We're going to evaluate the first half and we'll make a decision at halftime as to how we're going to proceed." All this implies is that Rettig is the starter for the first half and that he better play well or is likely to get pulled.
Rutgers season is starting in chaos between players being arrested, a coach being investigated, and a quarterback controversy, it will definitely be an interesting season to watch.
