The Mike Rice scandal at Rutgers continues to claim jobs.
Friday, Scarlett Knights athletic director Tim Pernetti handed in his resignation letter for what’s assumed is his handling of head basketball coach Mike Rice’s physical abuse of players during practice. In his letter, Pernetti claims that his first instincts were to fire Rice immediately however the school’s legal process prevented him from doing so.
As you know, my first instincts when I saw the videotape of Coach Rice’s behavior was to fire him immediately. However, Rutgers decided to follow a process involving university lawyers, human resources professionals, and outside counsel. Following review of the independent investigative report, the consensus was that university policy would not justify dismissal. I have admitted my role in, and regret for, that decision, and wish that I had the opportunity to go back and override it for the sake of everyone involved.
In addition to Rice’s firing and Pernetti’s resignation, assistant coach Jimmy Martelli also handed in his resignation after he was also seen on the infamous video shoving and berating players as well.
Of course all this stems from a tape received by ESPN’s Outside the Lines in which Rice and Martelli could be seen shoving, hitting and throwing basketball’s at Rutgers players during practice. In addition Rice can also be heard screaming obscenities and homophobic slurs.
At the time in December Rice was suspended for only three games and fined $50,000. Not to mention it’s hard to believe that his firing wouldn’t of happened if these tapes didn’t go public. This is especially considering that suspected whistle blower Eric Murdock, a ex-NBA player and former director of player development at Rutgers was fired by Rutgers and Pernetti.
Furthermore, with everything that didn’t happen you have to suspect that President Robert Barchi is next on the chopping block.
h/t: The Big Lead