Mike Rice's days at Rutgers might be numbered after a shocking video of his conduct at Scarlet Knights practices went public on Tuesday. The video, a compilation of clips from practices, shows Rice using homophobic slurs and profanity while berating his players and pushing, kicking and throwing basketballs at them as well.  The video, which aired on ESPN and was shown to some media members by the Rutgers administration, has touched off a firestorm around the state university’s program that reaches as high as Gov. Chris Christie’s office.  “Governor Christie saw the video today for the first time and he is obviously deeply disturbed by the conduct displayed and strongly condemns this behavior,” spokesman Michael Drewniak said. “It’s not the type of leadership we should be showing our young people, and clearly there are questions about this behavior that need to be answered by the leaders at Rutgers University.”  Miami Heat star LeBron James said on Twitter: “If my son played for Rutgers or a coach like that he would have some real explaining to do and I’m still gone whoop on him afterwards! C’mon.”  There could be ramifications for more than just Rice because the Rutgers administration was satisfied that it had addressed his practice conduct in December with what appeared to be some harsh penalties after seeing the video. Rutgers AD Tim Pernetti said that university president Robert L. Barchi had seen the video and was involved in the decision to punish Rice with a three-week suspension without pay or involvement with the program, a $50,000 fine and required anger management counseling.  “You have to be always cautious about public reaction, because the reaction the public is having is the same I had when I saw it (the video),” Pernetti told WFAN. “I am factoring everything into what we do going forward. The most important thing I am factoring in is trying to make sure that we don’t do harm to Rutgers University, because we are a small slice of the pie here at this great place. I don’t want to put any negatively on the university when we have a lot of real good things going on.”  Pernetti said he considered firing Rice when he first saw the video, compiled by former Rutgers basketball staffer Eric Murdock, who is pursuing a legal action for being terminated. Murdock said that he brought the issue to Pernetti in July. Pernetti said he spoke with the basketball staff and former and current players, but had no tangible evidence until he was given the video in November. That’s when the school began deliberations on what to do with Rice.  RELATED: WEISS: RUTGERS' RICE A KNIGHT-MARE FOR PROGRAM  Pernetti said Murdock was not fired, insisting that his contract was not renewed when he decided to work another summer basketball camp instead of Rutgers’.  “I spent more time with that option on whether we should fire Mike or not than any other option,” Pernetti said. “At the same the results of the investigation where we ended up, the determination was made to suspend him. My biggest concern as the AD is that I am always trying to protect the interests and reputation of the university and that’s what makes this one so difficult. There is a lot of hindsight, 20-20... that there will be no other option than to terminate Mike.  “I made that decision. I am accountable for it. I have to live with it.”  Rice was hired away from Robert Morris by Pernetti three years ago and is due $700,000 this coming season. He is 44-51 as Rutgers’ head coach.  Rice had a reputation as being “a fiery guy with an edge,” Pernetti said. “He convinced me he understood his reputation, but he also understood where the line was,” Pernetti said. “I made clear to him if he crossed the line he would be held accountable. In this case he did, and we held him accountable for it.”  Based on the reaction by Gov. Christie and the outrage on social media after the video aired on ESPN, the Rutgers administration didn’t do enough.  ON A MOBILE DEVICE? CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO.
When Rutgers disciplined basketball coach Mike Rice in December, the scope of his punishment for conduct toward players at practice was considered severe. Now that shocking video of his actions has gone public, it's unclear if Rutgers did enough.