Rutgers Football Program Needs a Change In Culture After Five Suspended

The Rutgers University football program was recently reminded just how far things have fallen since Kyle Flood replaced Greg Schiano. Just two days before their 2015 season opener the program announced it has suspended five players for their roles in off-field incidents including assault and burglary.

Safety Delon Stephenson, cornerback Ruhann Peele, fullback Razohnn Gross and defensive back Nadir Barnwell have been charged with assaulting four people, one of whom suffered a broken jaw. The men were also charged with riot and conspiracy to commit a riot from an incident in April in New Brunswick. Also charged was former Scarlet Knight Daryl Stephenson.

Barnwell was already the subject of controversy after it was reported that coach Kyle Flood tried to convince a professor to change Barnwell’s grades which might have affected his eligibility. Flood is still under investigation by the school and might face an NCAA investigation as well.

In a separate incident, cornerback Dre Boggs was charged with robbery, burglary while armed and conspiracy to commit an armed robbery after he and former Rutgers player Tejay Johnson broke into three homes looking for money and marijuana. Boggs, a sophomore, was expected to be a starting cornerback this season but now is looking at serious jail time.

Five players in two incidents with two former players also involved is a pretty damning reflection on the football program and the university. There is a very good chance that all five players will be dismissed from the school if they are found guilty which would leave the Scarlet Knights short-handed as they try and climb back into respectability in their second year in the Big Ten. It might be time for a change in the culture at Rutgers.

This kind of behavior is something that shouldn’t be tolerated by any university, regardless of who is committing these acts. Obviously, the players are innocent until proven guilty but right now it is not looking good. Rutgers was obviously waiting until facts came out in both cases and must have seen the justification for suspending those players. Five players and two former players engaged in unwanted behavior off the field; it might just be that the Rutgers football program is rotten.