Mike Rice during the Big East tournament.(Photo Debby Wong USA TODAY Sports USA TODAY Sports)
Rutgers University has fired coach Mike Rice less than 24 hours after ESPN's Outside the Lines aired video footage of Rice physically abusing players the school announced on Wednesday morning.
Based upon recently revealed information and a review of previously discovered issues Rutgers has terminated the contract of Mike Rice the school statement read.
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Rice met with athletic director Tim Pernetti on Wednesday.
I am responsible for the decision to attempt a rehabilitation of Coach Rice Pernetti said in a statement. Dismissal and corrective action were debated in December and I thought it was in the best interest of everyone to rehabilitate but I was wrong. Moving forward I will work to regain the trust of the Rutgers community.
The footage revealed by former director of player development Eric Murdock featured Rice throwing basketballs at a player's head kicking a player and using a homophobic slur directed at a player.
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Rice in a WABC broadcast aired on ESPN called his actions deeply regrettable and reiterated what he said he told people when he was suspended.
I can't say anything right now except I'm sorry Rice said on an ESPN broadcast. There is never going to be a time when I use any of that as an excuse. ...I've let so many people down my players administration Rutgers University the fans my family sitting huddled around just because their father was an embarrassment to them. It's troubling. At some time maybe I'll try to explain it. But right now there is no excuse for it. I was wrong. I'm going to tell everybody who believed in me that I'm deeply sorry for the pain and sorrow that I've caused.
Rice had been suspended for three games in December and fined $50 000 after athletic department officials saw video footage of abuse. Pernetti said he spent hundreds of hours talking to those involved in the program to determine what happened.
Rutgers President Robert Barchi in his comments aired on ESPN seemed to indicate he first saw the video in recent days not when Pernetti was making his decision in December to suspend and fine Rice.
John Barr the reporter on the story for ESPN's Outside the Lines found the university president's comments curious It runs counter to what the athletic director said yesterday that Barchi saw the video when the suspension and fine came down.
Rutgers is a state school and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie before the firing said he was deeply disturbed by the video and what he had heard. After the firing he released this statement
Rutgers has done the right thing by firing Mr. Rice but that still doesn't resolve questions about how he was allowed to continue overseeing college students after this behavior first came to the attention of Rutgers administration last year.
I'm puzzled as to how anyone could think Mr. Rice was someone who should be representing our state university on a national level.
I expect a full and detailed explanation from the Rutgers administration as to why Mr. Rice was not dismissed sooner and how exactly that decision was made. If answers aren't forthcoming we are prepared to do what's needed to get them for the people of New Jersey.
The backlash on Tuesday was widespread. The National College Players Association (NCPA) released a public statement calling for Rice's termination. LeBron James and his Miami Heat teammates were angered by the footage as well.
The timing of the abuse footage and Rice's firing could not have come at a worse time with the NCAA celebrating its 75th anniversary of the NCAA tournament.
HIGHLIGHTS MIKE RICE ON THE COURT
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