ONE DOWN, ONE TO GO? Rutgers coach Mike Rice (left) was fired Wednesday for his abusive action tward his players. Athletic director Tim Pernetti, who originally decided only to suspend Rice, could be the next person to be fired. (
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The maelstrom surrounding Rutgers has moved from the abusive actions of ousted basketball coach Mike Rice to athletic director Tim Pernetti and school president Robert L. Barchi. The questions have moved on to why didn’t his bosses know earlier and act more forcefully when they knew — and should they be fired as well.
The hue and cry from politicians and Rutgers staff got louder Thursday, with more than 50 faculty members signing a letter demanding Pernetti follow his first major hire out the door and 28 more calling for Barchi’s firing. Others at least wanted an explanation why Rice wasn’t fired when a video surfaced late last year of him shoving and kicking players, and using homophobic language.
The university — not its athletic department — had tentative plans to hold a press conference on College Avenue Thursday to discuss the Rice scandal, but scrapped those plans. While a source said it was unclear if Pernetti had the backing of the Board of Governors and the larger Board of Trustees, he added the athletic director has the support of both Barchi and the well-heeled boosters.
“I can’t say if the Board has his back,’’ the source said. “But Barchi doesn’t want to fire him; I know that for a fact. And [Pernetti] definitely has the support of the money [men].’’
That’s largely because of his effectiveness in steering the cash-strapped school from the disintegrating Big East into the lucrative Big Ten. William Montanaro — the director of Athletic Development for Rutgers, the athletic department’s fundraising arm — sent emails to a wide distribution list requesting letters be sent to Barchi and the head of the Board of Governors supporting Pernetti.
He will need it with the school drowning in bad publicity, made worse by the news Rice will receive a $100,000 bonus for making it through the season.
“It’s becoming abundantly clear that Tim Pernetti cannot remain in his position as athletic director at Rutgers,” said Steve Sweeney, president of the N.J. state senate. “For the good of the school, its students and its faculty, he should either resign or be removed from his position immediately. This incident will continue to hang over Rutgers like a dark cloud for weeks, months and perhaps years to come.
“It seems pretty clear that things were not handled well from the start. … The response after watching the video should have been immediate, clear and final. Mr. Pernetti deserves recognition for getting Rutgers into the Big Ten. But we have to ask if that effort clouded his judgment on this matter. Either way, it is clear that he must go.”
Rice’s actions came to light when former assistant Eric Murdock compiled a 40-minute tape that showed Rice firing balls at players’ heads and below the belt, as well as using gay slurs. Part of the tape that didn’t air on ESPN showed assistant Jimmy Martelli shoving an unidentified player, and he resigned from the program.
Murdock made the tape after he was relieved of his duties as director of player development. While Pernetti claims Murdock’s contract just wasn’t renewed, Murdock insists he was fired and, after Rutgers rebuffed his request of a $950,000 settlement (LETTER BELOW), confirmed to The Post he will file a wrongful termination suit today.
Murdock Letter by New York Post
Two Rutgers players, Wally Judge and graduating Austin Johnson, have come out in support of Rice. But that ship has sailed. Now the question is does Pernetti lose his job.
Murdock said he brought Rice’s behavior to Pernetti’s attention in June and was fired the next month. News of Rutgers being invited to the Big Ten broke on Nov. 20, and Murdock gave Pernetti the damning practice video on Nov. 26. Pernetti commissioned an outside investigation of Rice’s behavior the next day, and the coach was suspended on Dec. 13.
If Pernetti has the backing of Rutgers’ money boosters, it’s clear why. According to 2011-12 data from the U.S. Department of Education, Rutgers made just $57.5 million in athletic revenues in the Big East, but its budget was $60 million. For perspective, the average Big Ten school raked in about $91.7 million.
The Big East — now renamed the American Athletic Conference — just signed a TV deal making just $1.8 million per team annually. The Big Ten paid out almost $25 million per team this year, mostly from TV money; and Sports Illustrated reported it expects to pay out $32 million in 2014-15 — Rutgers’ first year in the league — and $43 million in 2017 when it negotiates its new television contract.