You know, I'm cool with the verbal stuff to a degree, but when you start throwing stuff at me, pushing me, and kicking me, you've just taken it to a level that I'll gladly go to. I've always stood my ground and went head to head with ignorant authority figures - I've done it most of my adult life, I've only recently lost that edge as I realize I can't change stupid and no reason for me to put my job at risk for their stupidity. I know what tough love is, I served in the military - this isn't tough love this is just pure bullying.
The tough part, you have kids on scholarship who probably don't feel like they have an option to speak up so this crap continued and only one coach had the courage to step up and say something, in which the AD said he didn't have proof...and was eventually let go (as the AD said, his contract wasn't renewed).
I watched the interview on Outside the Lines last night and quite frankly I'm not sure what the hell their AD is thinking - he's honestly trying to defend letting one guy go and suspending another guy for 3 games (aka 1st offense). As far as I'm concerned, the AD's employment should be questioned at the least. They (AD and school President) have put a state University in jeopardy of lawsuits...that alone will be their demise, I can't see the Board or the government standing behind this.
At the end of this, I can see Rice being fired and their AD being reprimanded at least.