Rutgers coach Kyle Flood says he "will be coaching the game Saturday'' even as the university investigates an allegation over whether he violated the school's policy against contacting faculty regarding grades.
PISCATAWAY -- Rutgers coach Kyle Flood says he "will be coaching the game Saturday'' even as the university investigates an allegation over whether he violated the school's policy against contacting faculty regarding grades.
"I have no reason to believe I will not be coaching on Saturday,'' Flood said following practice Thursday.
Addressing a pack of media two days before his Scarlet Knights open the season with a 12 noon kickoff Saturday at home versus Norfolk State, Flood was asked if he has a contingency plan in place in case he is suspended.
"It's not something we do as a coaching staff,'' Flood said. "I've got a very talented football coaching staff, guys on my staff that have been head coaches. But, again, I will be coaching the game on Saturday.''
The university's office of ethics and compliance, with help from outside counsel, is investigating an email Flood allegedly sent from a private account to a Mason Gross faculty member regarding the status of Nadir Barnwell.
Asked whether he anticipates being disciplined, Flood said: "Those are all questions for the university. I'm just going to be respectful to the process as I've been all along and when there's a conclusion I'm sure they'll make me aware of it.''
Flood could be in violation of university policy that prohibits verbal or written contact with a faculty member, based on a NJ Advance Media review of the document labeled "Contacting Faculty and Academic Officials'' on the school's athletics website.
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The policy regarding contact between athletics staff and academic staff/faculty members states: "Coach-initiated contact of any type (e.g., oral, written, etc.) is not permitted between any member of the coaching staff and any Rutgers faculty member or associated instructional staff (teaching assistant, co-adjutant, part-time lecturer, etc.) with respect to any student-athlete.''
The policy charges members of the Academic Support staff with the responsibility of communicating with faculty staff, and dictates that coaches "must strictly abide'' by the policy and "must make prudent judgments regarding their level of involvement in a student-athlete's academic life so as to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.''
NJ Advance Media reported Wednesday that Flood was told by the university's academic support staff not to contact a university professor regarding the academic status of junior cornerback Nadir Barnwell and did so anyway, according to two university officials familiar with the process leading to the investigation.
Flood declined comment on that report, saying he would "continue to respect the process and I won't have any further comment until the end of the process.''
In his final media-availability session before Saturday's opener, Flood appeared at ease with five questions related to an inquiry.
"I said earlier in the week that I think these situations can go either way,'' Flood said, dismissing a question of whether it's been a distraction. "I feel, right now, that this has brought the team closer together. I feel good about where the team is at mentally. Ultimately, we're going to find out Saturday at 12 noon.''
With the investigation believed to be in its third week, the media was on high alert that news of Flood's punishment, if any, would be made known. Police blocked off the entrance leading to the football practice field.
Rutgers athletics director Julie Hermann attended practice, but walked past the media just as the horn blew signaling Rutgers' closed practice session had ended. Hermann hasn't addressed the situation since NJ Advance Media first reported details of the university-led investigation, deferring all questions to the office of school President Robert Barchi.
Through a school spokesman, Hermann declined to take questions from the media Thursday.
"It's always great to have the support of your administration,'' Flood said, when asked whether his boss addressed the situation with him during practice. "When the players come out to practice and see that their athletics director is here, I think that speaks to it.''
That was the final question of a three-minute media session. Stepping away from the cameras and microphones, Flood said: "I'll see you on Saturday.''
Across campus, Barchi was pressed on the investigation during a tour of the school's new facilities with state Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester) and state Sen. Bob Smith (D-Middlesex). It marked his first public appearance since the investigation came to light.
Barchi repeatedly said he couldn't comment on Flood's status because it is an ongoing investigation.
"We are going to do a thorough investigation,'' Barchi said. "We are going to do it as quickly as we can and as efficiently as we can, but it has to be a thorough investigation."
When asked about the timing of this happening before the first game, Barchi said: "I hate to see this sort of thing happen any time, whatever the outcome of an investigation.''
NJ Advance Media reporter Adam Clark contributed to this report.
Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KSargeantNJ. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.