Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti was smart in suspending men’s basketball coach Mike Rice three games for boorish behavior the school felt violated athletic department policy, but he would be foolish to let the fiery and animated third-year coach go, Scarlet Knights fans told The Post during yesterday’s 88-79 victory over Alabama-Birmingham at the RAC.
“He’s the man — he’s doing great things for the program,” junior Kyle Jose, a 21-year-old economics major, said while sitting in the student section. “Ever since he got here, there’s been a buzz. The recruiting classes have been getting better. It’s only a matter of time until they really start winning.”
Among the alleged charges against Rice, are throwing basketballs at players’ heads, using vulgar language and inappropriate behavior during games and practices. He is suspended without pay and won’t be back with the team until Dec. 29. The Post reported Rice is under a zero-tolerance policy and is said to be taking anger-management classes.
Another student, 22-year-old political science major Kyle Griffith, said if Rice did indeed throw basketballs at players’ heads during practice, “it’s unnecessary. It’s not a way to coach basketball. [Guys] aren’t going to play better if they’re scared to go out on the court.”
Griffith did add he wasn’t overly surprised, considering “our history of basketball coaches.” He was referring to the Kevin Bannon era, when he made players run around nude during practice after missing free throws.
Sophomore Rob Gray, 20, didn’t have a problem with the alleged incident. He’s had basketballs thrown at him by coaches, though not at his head.
“It’s just enthusiasm,” he said. “That’s not right, but he probably just lost his temper. A coach will grab you, they get fired up. They just want you to get better.”
Though Rutgers prevailed, Gray said the atmosphere was different without Rice.
“The crowd’s not as into it,” Gray said. “They go nuts when [Rice] rips off his jacket. The fans love him as a coach. He gets the crowd fired up and he gets his team fired up.”