1. Schedule a press conference for no later than 11:00 a.m. tomorrow. The arrest report will be out later tonight or early tomorrow. Don't hide in your office and let the media vultures swirl overhead, especially with a matter as potentially serious as this.
2. Empathize with the alleged victims and emphasize how this is an unexpected and out of character act for LC. And don't just SAY that - every coach and AD does after a player arrest - but provide concrete examples to the media. State how RU had absolutely no qualms about LC being Captain and representing RU at B1G media day. (If that is indeed the case. No indications of prior bad acts here, though.)
3. Don't state that RU Football has a culture problem, because it doesn't. But admit up-front that RU has an arrest problem, and that the administration and alumni are upset about RU's name being mentioned for arrests rather than on field and off field achievement.
4. Put the blame for conduct requiring law enforcement involvement squarely on the players, not the staff. But state that RU will evaluate if there is an institutional reason why a small element of players are playing fast and loose with RU's standards with no regard to potential consequences.
5. Don't simply state that Flood's performance going forward will be evaluated like every other coach at RU is evaluated. Every other coach doesn't have 7 player arrests in less than two weeks. State that KF has done a fantastic job representing the University, but that Rutgers needs to look closely at the situation to determine if there are needs in the program that need to be more adequately addressed - and that includes an examination of current leadership. It's purposely wishy-washy and gives the media enough to chew on without providing a quote for a sensationalist headline.
6. IF KF goes, allow him to finish out the season and give the players an opportunity to rally around him. Most importantly, permitting KF to stay on the job does not allow for the impression/media spin that KF himself has done something so egregious, and the football program is SO toxic, that Rutgers must totally distance himself from him ASAP. Lays a much better foundation and impression for potential candidates.
7. IF KF goes, don't allow speculation that only an "affordable" coach would be hired.
8. Give everyone at the press conference free chicken fingers.
2. Empathize with the alleged victims and emphasize how this is an unexpected and out of character act for LC. And don't just SAY that - every coach and AD does after a player arrest - but provide concrete examples to the media. State how RU had absolutely no qualms about LC being Captain and representing RU at B1G media day. (If that is indeed the case. No indications of prior bad acts here, though.)
3. Don't state that RU Football has a culture problem, because it doesn't. But admit up-front that RU has an arrest problem, and that the administration and alumni are upset about RU's name being mentioned for arrests rather than on field and off field achievement.
4. Put the blame for conduct requiring law enforcement involvement squarely on the players, not the staff. But state that RU will evaluate if there is an institutional reason why a small element of players are playing fast and loose with RU's standards with no regard to potential consequences.
5. Don't simply state that Flood's performance going forward will be evaluated like every other coach at RU is evaluated. Every other coach doesn't have 7 player arrests in less than two weeks. State that KF has done a fantastic job representing the University, but that Rutgers needs to look closely at the situation to determine if there are needs in the program that need to be more adequately addressed - and that includes an examination of current leadership. It's purposely wishy-washy and gives the media enough to chew on without providing a quote for a sensationalist headline.
6. IF KF goes, allow him to finish out the season and give the players an opportunity to rally around him. Most importantly, permitting KF to stay on the job does not allow for the impression/media spin that KF himself has done something so egregious, and the football program is SO toxic, that Rutgers must totally distance himself from him ASAP. Lays a much better foundation and impression for potential candidates.
7. IF KF goes, don't allow speculation that only an "affordable" coach would be hired.
8. Give everyone at the press conference free chicken fingers.
