Rutgers football Coach Kyle Flood suspended three games for contacting professor

Rutgers suspended football Coach Kyle Flood for three games and fined him $50,000 for contacting a faculty member over a player’s grade — an issue separate from a string of recent player arrests.

Rutgers President Robert Barchi announced the punishment Wednesday, a day after he said he received an internal investigative report that found a professor felt pressured by Flood into allowing a player to complete an additional assignment in an attempt to improve his grade.

The report found that Flood emailed and met in person with a faculty member even though he knew or should have known of the university’s policies prohibiting coach-initiated contact with faculty members regarding students’ academic standing.

“I believe that the discipline is severe and justified for his failure to follow policy,” Barchi said in a letter to the Rutgers community, adding he met with Flood and that the coach accepted responsibility for his actions and the discipline.

In a statement Wednesday, Flood accepted responsibility but defended looking out for the academic interest of players. “I care deeply about my student-athlete’s academic performance,” he said. “As the head coach, when I recruit players, my responsibility to them and their families is to do all I can to make sure they leave Rutgers with a degree and are prepared for a successful life off the football field.”

The report also found that Flood provided grammatical and minor editorial suggestions for a player’s paper after talking with the student and professor to come up with the plan for him to improve his grade. The report said that assistance was in line with standard student support and did not constitute academic misconduct.

Athletic Director Julie Hermann said in a statement that running backs coach Norries Wilson will run the team for the next three weeks, including the team’s game Saturday against Penn State. He is the only staff member with previous head coaching experience. He was the first African American head football coach in the Ivy League with Columbia (2006-11).

Barchi said the university needs to protect academic integrity and ensure that faculty members are free of intimidation and interference by outside parties. Barchi said the investigation started on Aug. 12 and focused on whether Flood intervened on behalf of junior cornerback Nadir Barnwell.

The penalty to Flood comes with Rutgers (1-1) reeling from a series of player arrests and suspensions over the last month. Six players have been dismissed from the program — including Barnwell — following arrests. Three former players also were arrested.

Adams confirms injury

Oregon quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. confirmed that he has a broken finger and said it’s a game-time decision whether he’ll start Saturday against Georgia State.

Vernon told reporters that he broke his right index finger in the season opener. It was bothering him in the Ducks’ 31-28 loss at now-No. 4 Michigan State last weekend.

Jeff Lockie, Marcus Mariota’s backup last season for the Ducks, will start against the Panthers if Adams cannot go.

“I can definitely play with it throughout the season. I played with it this past game, you know,” Adams said. “I just gotta keep rehabbing it, keep icing it, make sure the swelling’s going down and hopefully it gets to 100% as soon as possible.”

Adams’ comments ended speculation that had been swirling since before the game against the Spartans. Oregon’s coaches do not discuss injuries as a policy.

Adams finished with 309 yards passing against Michigan State, but wore gloves and was seen examining the finger on the sideline during the game. Afterward, the finger was wrapped in a splint.

Etc.

Florida Coach Jim McElwain said he hasn’t settled on a starter at quarterback for the Gators’ game Saturday at Kentucky. Sophomore Treon Harris and redshirt freshman Will Grier split snaps during the first two games, with each getting a start. ... Tennessee Coach Butch Jones said defensive end/linebacker Curt Maggitt is out several weeks after he chipped a bone in his hip last week against Oklahoma.