Rutgers basketball coach Mike Rice must pay the price for abuse of players

It’s one thing to hear about Mike Rice’s expletive-laced explosions and tantrums in which he kicks, berates and throws basketballs at his players at practice. It’s quite another to see it on tape.

After viewing the clips, there’s only one conclusion to draw: The coach must go. Immediately.

What’s more, Rutgers AD Tim Pernetti needs to be put on notice and, pending an investigation into his role and the specific steps he took after learning of the matter, he might have to follow Rice out the door.

The shocking revelations were made public on Tuesday. But it was months ago when former Rutgers assistant Eric Murdock showed Pernetti hours of clips of Rice in action. The coach humiliated, belittled and bullied those he was paid to educate.

Pernetti conducted his own internal investigation and decided a three-game suspension and fine, combined with anger management training, was the way to go. Then, it was back to business on the Banks of the Ol’ Raritan.

No, that wasn’t nearly good enough, Rutgers allowing Rice to return to the bench and enabling his disgusting style of coaching.

Even after another losing season, Pernetti continues to endorse Rice’s ability to lead these men into the Big Ten in 2014.

The Scarlet Knights are joining a big-time conference, and now they have a big-time scandal on their hands, with even Governor Christie and LeBron James checking in.

Pernetti hit the radio air waves on Tuesday trying to explain to the governor why tax dollars are being used to support a coach whose homophobic slurs directed at his players are simply unacceptable.

What’s the delay here?

RELATED: VIDEO: RUTGERS COACH PHYSICALLY, VERBALLY ABUSES PLAYERS

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Rutgers coach Mike Rice is under fire for his abuse of players during practice

Rice should have been gone yesterday. Or actually months ago.

The semantics the AD used to define the matter are almost as insulting as the coach’s behavior itself.

Rice was hired as a cheap solution to the Scarlet Knights basketball problems after they failed to lure big names. What went ignored were the whispers that Rice had a pattern of bad behavior before he showed up at the RAC.

The loyal alums of this school deserve better. Forget the awful records, they at least deserve someone who won’t embarrass a university that has a fine academic reputation.

They deserve a coach and administrator who display pride and passion and integrity.

They don’t deserve a lowlife and how else could you describe Rice after seeing those clips.

As much as Rice may have benefited from the sensitivity training he received after Pernetti was presented with evidence of behavior that had been taking place over two years, Rice obviously is unable to control his behavior.

And somehow he was allowed to subject his players to it.

If his actions are acceptable, it’s natural to wonder if Pernetti would allow his own children to play for Rice.

Mike Rice’s behavior cannot be excused. Yet Rutgers continues to enable him.

The coach must go. The AD must be put on notice.