Rutgers AD Pernetti steps down

Tim Pernetti has resigned as Rutgers athletic director, two days after the basketball coach he hired was dismissed for abusive behavior during practices – actions that prompted nationwide outrage once a video went public. In a letter of resignation sent to university president Robert Barchi on Friday, Pernetti said he hoped that his tenure at Rutgers “will not be judged by this one incident.” Pernetti said after seeing video of coach Mike Rice abusing players his “first instincts … was to fire him immediately.” However, he said the consensus at the time was “university policy would not justify dismissal.” The video was broadcast Tuesday on ESPN, showing clips of Rice at practice firing basketballs at players, grabbing them and yelling obscenities in addition to gay slurs. – Associated Press