Attempting to expose his lighter side during a December 1997, practice, Rutgers coach Kevin Bannon orchestrated a free throw shooting competition in which his players stripped articles of clothing after missing a shot, The Post has uncovered.
While Bannon referred to the contest as “fun,” his boss wasn’t so amused. Upon learning of the competition a few months later when he started at the school, Rutgers athletic director Bob Mulcahy called Bannon on the carpet to reprimand him.
When first reached at his office yesterday, Mulcahy was asked for a comment about the story. He was silent for about five seconds, before finally saying, “It’s interesting you have this information.”
Later he said, “This matter occurred some 20 months ago prior to my appointment as athletic director [in February ’98]. When I heard about this shortly after coming aboard I discussed it with Kevin. I told him that it was inappropriate and I would not condone that type of behavior.
“I wanted to make sure that we were on the same page and Kevin agreed. Kevin is a proven mentor and coach whose record speaks for itself. Nothing like this has transpired since and I consider the matter closed.”
The foul shooting contest took place at the Rutgers Athletic Center, though media, fans and women were not present.
By the end of the contest, at least two players and two managers were naked, having missed enough shots. Considered the losers of the competition, they were instructed to run sprints on the court without clothes.
The 42-year old Bannon, who was in his first season at Rutgers, said he realized organizing the contest was “inappropriate.”
“It was a lighthearted contest at the conclusion of a practice during the holiday break nearly two years ago,” Bannon said yesterday. “It was well-intentioned to provide some levity and fun for the guys during a difficult period. Absolutely no one was forced to remove their clothes or to run.
“The only people in the gym were my team, coaches, the trainer and the managers. I discussed it with my boss that spring and we agreed that it was inappropriate and it would never happen again.”
Geoff Billet, who was Rutgers’ captain that season, said the players seemed to enjoy stripping during the contest.
“It was fun,” said Billet, who finished his standout career after last season and is now an assistant coach at Monmouth University. “The point of the thing was to have some fun. That’s how the guys took it. As it kept going on, guys were laughing. The losers would have to do a suicide naked. We were going to play until the very end.
“For it to come out two years later is very odd. People obviously have something against Rutgers and against Coach Bannon and they’re trying to hurt the program.”
Bannon, who came to Rutgers from Rider, will be entering his third season with the Scarlet Knights. After a 14-15 record in his first year, Bannon guided Rutgers to a 19-13 mark and an NIT berth last season. He has three more years left on his contract.
As for this story coming out 20 months after the fact, Eric Clark, a former Rutgers player who participated in the free throw shooting contest, said he was disappointed that someone would attempt to damage Bannon’s reputation.
“It’s kind of a shame that someone would bring this up to try and make him look bad,” Clark said. “[The contest] was out of fun.”