Rutgers suspends football coach 3 games for contacting faculty member about student's academic standing

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (WABC) -- Here we are just days away from a huge Big Ten clash with Penn State, and the Rutgers football team has drawn yet another off the field penalty. They'll now be without their leader Head Coach Kyle Flood, and this is just the latest in a string of controversial headlines that have no doubt affected team morale.

Just three weeks into the season Rutgers' football program is imploding with head coach Kyle Flood now suspended for the next three games for violating university policy and reaching out to a professor to discuss a potential grade change for one of his players.

Flood reportedly sent a letter from his personal email to arrange an off campus meeting with the professor saying, "I am sending it from my personal email to your personal email to ensure there will be no public vetting of the correspondence."

"I mean it's the talk of the campus today, we're waiting to see what comes of this," said Jacob Persily, a student.

In a release issued by the University Wednesday, administrators say they first learned of the allegations in August and immediately hired an outside investigator and counsel to look into the matter.

Although no grade change occurred, the investigation revealed the contact between Flood and the faculty member was inappropriate and administrators say there's no excuse for Flood not knowing the rules.

"For him to go out of his way to cover his athletes, I guess is not fair to everybody in the university because they're not the only students," said Liandy Gonzalez, a student. "I've heard students who wanted him fired I've heard students who think this is way too harsh a punishment I think it's a good start."

Flood's suspension is just the latest in what's been a hailstorm of controversy surrounding the Rutgers football program. A series of recent arrests have led to six players being kicked off the team in just the past two weeks.

Not to mention just days ago, star wide receiver Leonte Carroo was suspended indefinitely after he was arrested and charged with simple assault in a domestic violence case.

"Right now it's not looking too good for the season as a whole. It's sad because I wanted a successful football season," said Noah Hoffman, a student. "It's a big blow and sadly it's not the first big blow this season and we're only in the third week and it just keeps bringing our guys down and hopefully we'll win this weekend out at Penn State but we'll see what happens."

In addition to the three game suspension, Flood was also tackled with a $50,000 fine.

It not immediately known who would coach Rutgers (1-1) on Saturday at Penn State.

Flood is entering his fourth season as coach. He has a 23-16 record, taking the Scarlet Knights to a bowl game in each of his first three seasons.