Rutgers A.D. Fired Amid Coaching Scandal
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (CBSMiami) – A scandal at Rutgers that has drawn the ire of many athletes, including Miami Heat stars LeBron James and Ray Allen, has resulted in the second firing this week of a high-ranking athletic department employee.
Rutgers University athletic director Tim Pernetti was fired Friday morning after he failed to immediately fire the team's head basketball coach when video first surfaced showing coach Mike Rice throwing basketballs at players' heads, physically and verbally abusing the players, and other problems.
The video drew an immediate response across the sports world.
Miami Heat star Ray Allen told ESPN.com, "It was despicable. Throwing the ball at them. It made me want to fight him."
Allen's teammate LeBron James tweeted out after seeing the video, "If my son played for Rutgers or a coach like that he would have some real explaining to do and I'm still gone whoop on him afterwards! C'mon."
Pernetti saw the video in December and working in conjunction with the school president determined that Rice's penalty should be a three-game suspension, a $50,000 fine, and anger management classes. No one questioned the penalties until ESPN aired the video that showed just how out of control Rice was in practices.
The immediate call to oust Rice was overwhelming and happened quickly. Pernetti's fall until Friday and now the only question left is will the school president also be ousted for failing to act in a proper manner when the video first came to light.
