Rutgers Fires Coach For Homophobic And Physical Abuse Of Basketball Players

Rutgers University today fired head basketball coach Mike Rice after ESPN published videos showing Rice screaming homophobic slurs at players while kicking and pushing them.

"Based upon recently revealed information and a review of previously discovered issues, Rutgers has terminated the contract of Mike Rice," the school statement read. The footage, revealed by former director of player development Eric Murdock, featured Rice throwing basketballs at a player's head, kicking a player and using a homophobic slur directed at a player. Rice was suspended for three games in December and fined $50,000 after athletic department officials saw video footage of abuse. Pernetti said he spent "hundreds of hours" talking to those involved in the program to determine what happened.

Earlier today both the Human Rights Campaign and the National College Players Association had issued demands for Rice's termination. This morning New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie also denounced Rice. From ESPN:

In several dozen hours of video of Rutgers men's basketball practices obtained by "Outside the Lines," coach Mike Rice is seen hurling basketballs from close range at his players' heads, legs and feet; shoving and grabbing his players; feigning punching them; kicking them; and screaming obscenities and homophobic slurs. In addition to Rice's physical actions seen in the practices, Rice calls Rutgers players "f----ts," "m-----f-----s," "p-----s," "sissy b-----s," and "c---s," among other epithets.

ESPN adds that several players have already left the Rutgers over Rice's abuses. Below is the video posted by ESPN.