"This Is Becoming Comedy Central": NJ Senators Want Rutgers AD Fired

Two State senators, Governor Chris Christie and other New Jersey officials want to put an immediate end to the Rutgers/Julie Hermann circus. Senators Ray J. Lesniak and Richard Codey have gone on record as wanting to see newly-hired athletic director gone and university president Robert Barchi following her out the door. What's more, they want the school to re-hire Tim Pernetti as athletic director.

“(Pernetti) is a decent guy,’’ Lesniak told the Post. “Look, would I have done things differently? Yes; but I’m a maverick. He was in a situation and followed legal procedures laid out before him. And because (Barchi) didn’t have the courage to stand up, he was made a scapegoat.

“Often when you make a mistake the next action is another mistake and that’s what happened. What they need is to get credibility back. Looking at this now, the best person we have for athletic director was here in the first place. Lets put him back.’’

Codey himself agreed, telling the Newark Star-Ledger: “This is becoming Comedy Central. It’s an embarrassment to the students and alumni of a great university and it’s time Mr. Barchi takes his show on the road.”

Governor Christie is taking a slightly more measured approach and will speak to Rutgers administrators before commenting publicly. Sheila Oliver, Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly said "[t]he questionable decision-making at this program so heavily funded by taxpayers continues to astound me."

Things quickly spiraled out of control for Rice and Pernetti once news broke of the former coach's abusive behavior—and it's never bad business for public figures to pile on after a scandal breaks—so it's not outrageous to think Hermann and Barchi could meet a similar fate.

Photo Credit: Getty

New Jersey officials want Rutgers to fire president, new athletic director [New York Post]

Governor Chris Christie Plans To Speak With Rutgers Officials Over Hermann [CBS]