According to the New Jersey Star Ledger, more details are unraveling in the firing of former Rutgers Men’s Basketball head coach Mike Rice.
According to a source, Rutgers University President Robert Barchi, never asked to see the video of Rice throwing balls at players and hurling gay slurs in during practice. Brachi found out about the video in November of last year—the same time Athletic Director Tim Pernetti found out.
Reportedly Barchi decided to trust what Pernetti saw when he watched the tape. After an investigation it was decided that Rice deserved a 3-game suspension and a $50,000 fine.
However, after the tape was shown on ESPN’s "Outside the Lines", a media storm and outcry emerged that was too much for the University to handle. Rice was subsequently fired Wednesday. The decision to fire Rice came only after Barchi finally looked at the tapes late Tuesday. During the day when the report came out on "Outside the Lines", Barchi still had not seen them, according to interviews with Rutgers officials.
“(Rice acted was) a chronic and pervasive pattern of disturbing behavior," Barchi said. “He cannot continue to coach at Rutgers University.”
It's a complicated story as to how Barchi endorsed a policy of rehabilitation for Rice in November and decided to change his mind Tuesday. Besides the obvious media storm and public outcry, the prospect of lawsuits also went into Barchi’s decision.
The Rutgers University president, does not have much experience presiding over a NCAA Division 1 school. The factors were provided my sources who wished to remain anonymous.
In addition to these factors, a statement from New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, only added fuel to the fire. After Rice’s firing, Christie acknowledge the move as the correct one to make.
"It was the right and necessary action to take in light of the conduct displayed on the videotape," the governor said. "Parents entrust their sons to the Rutgers Athletic Department and the men’s basketball program at an incredibly formative period of their lives. The way these young men were treated by the head coach was completely unacceptable and violates the trust those parents put in Rutgers University."
There have been requests for both Barchi and Pernetti to step down, but there is no word if that will happen.
