Rutgers Needs to Fire Rice Immeadiately For His Actions

Video evidence shows Rutgers men's basketball head coach Mike Rice verbally and physically abusing his players. (Debby Wong)

As a fan of Rutgers University, I had hoped Mike Rice would be the man to rescue the men's basketball program from the cellar of the Big East and restore it to national prominence. Rice had shown promise at Robert Morris, leading them to the NCAA tournament. I saw glimpses of it translate to the court in big upset wins. I knew that Rice was a fiery coach and often yelled at officials and his players. What I did not know about was the verbal and physical abuse of his players that permeated his practices. ESPN released portions of video (which you can watch below) of Rice shoving, grabbing and throwing balls at players in practice and using gay slurs.

What is tragic about this is that Rutgers officials knew about this. The video isn't new. In fact, a former assistant coach presented it to athletic director Tim Pernetti in the fall. After viewing the video, Pernetti suspended Rice, fined him $50,000 and ordered him to attend anger management courses.

During ESPN's interview with Pernetti, he explained that university president Robert Barchi also viewed the tape this past fall and agreed with the punishment.How could both of them not fire Rice as a result of this? I understand that in certain instances someone may deserve a second chance. With clear physical and verbal abuse taking place here, this cannot be one of those instances.

Think about it this way. I am about to graduate from college and become an elementary teacher. If I yelled at and threw objects at my students, I would not only be fired, but I would be headed to jail as well. Rice should be fired and convicted of verbal and physical abuse as well. Just as this not acceptable behavior for a teacher or parent, it is not acceptable behavior for a coach either. Coaches and athletes cannot be above the law in their actions.

As much as I feel Rice should be fired for his actions, I feel just as strongly that Pernetti and Barchi should be relieved of their respective duties at Rutgers as well. Pernetti repeated referred to the video as Rice's "first offense." So the question becomes, how many chances do you get to assault an athlete? Coaches and universities preach that they do what's best for the student-athlete. Here's an example of what is not best for them. Their coach verbal attacking and physical abusing them personally.

How is this any different than what took place in State College? This case brings about some of the same troubling questions raised about Joe Paterno's time at Penn State, where the program and the coach were protected at all costs. That lead to a scandal that shocked the world. This video of Rice should do the same.

As one who considers myself a fan of Rutgers athletics, I am embarrassed of the university and their pathetic excuse of a slap on the wrist of Rice in December. As a college sports fan I am embarrassed by the actions of coaches such as Rice and school officials such as Pernetti and Barchi. They disgrace and demean students who are trying so diligently to shine. Now, it is time for Rice, Pernetti and Barchi to be publicly humiliated for their actions.