Was Flood's Punishment Enough? Readers Weigh In

Patch readers from around New Jersey have weighed in on three-game suspension of the Rutgers football coach, Kyle Flood since it was announced on Wednesday.

In the announcement of the suspension, along with the $50,000 fine levied against Flood, University President Robert Barchi said Flood’s actions “crossed a line that all faculty hold dear.”

An investigation by the school found that Flood had inappropriate communication with an instructor about the academic standing of one of his players.

The report released Wednesday did not name the player, but NJ.com has said it was Nadir Barnwell, who has since been dismissed from the team in connection with an unrelated matter - his arrest on assault and riot charges.

In his own statement, Flood said he took full responsibility and accepted the consequences of his actions.

Here’s what some readers are saying on the Patch Facebook pages:

• Catherine Higgins Selvagn: Who is left on the Rutgers Football Team? The Cheerleaders?????
• Stuart Sneath: College is not about education. The athletic programs are only about money. If someone gets caught being shady, they are told to stop and pay up. How many are not caught? How many criminals are on their locker rooms? Time for minor league football and basketball. The Greatest American Pastime remains baseball.
• Greg Burns: He should be fired for this and for what’s going on in the football program the best AD Rutgers ever had Tim (Pernetti) was fired for less and Tim (Pernetti) was fired for doing what the the President of the university told him to do flood needs to go he’s done nothing but bring the program down and bring shame to the University
• Bob Herbst: This + the rogue football players, how much longer can he & Julie last
• Chelsea DuChemin: Rutgers football is a hot mess!!!
• Gene Osso This is the state of NJ’s highest paid employee - his salary this year is $1.25M. We pay this guy’s salary so that he can draft and coach criminals to play for the Rutger’s football program. Pure embarrassment for the state of NJ.