Rutgers University’s decision to fire basketball coach Mike Rice today for anti-gay slurs and physical abuse of players is too late. University President Dr. Robert Barchi and Athletic Director Tim Pernetti should have fired Rice on the spot in November when they learned of his actions, especially since both actually viewed them at that time in a series of video clips.
Instead, they suspended him for three games, fined him $50,000 and sent him to anger-management classes. They only fired him after ESPN aired the video, which went viral and prompted demands for Rice’s firing from everyone from New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin to basketball star LeBron James.
