Big Ten Media Days: Chris Ash says Rutgers credit card discipline has been 'handled'

Josh Newman | Asbury Park Press

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CHICAGO - There is an ongoing credit card probe involving as many as eight Rutgers University players. Details have been scarce, but Chris Ash offered a little transparency Monday morning.

Speaking to reporters at Big Ten Media Days, the Scarlet Knights' third-year head coach indicated his team will look different when training camp begins Aug. 3.

"Based on the information and facts that we have been given, and again, no charges have been filed yet, but based on the information we have been given, we have handled discipline, whether it be suspensions and/or dismissals, currently, right now.

"From what we know, we will finalize everything once potential charges come."

The probe has been conducted by the Rutgers University Police Department. Names are being withheld because no one has been charged as of yet.

Ash said the situation occurred in the spring, and he was made aware of it in May. Details began coming out earlier this month after defensive back K.J. Gray and linebacker Brendan DeVera were dismissed for an unspecified violation of team rules. Ash declined to say whether those two dismissals resulted from the credit card probe.

This situation has brought back visions of Kyle Flood's last season in 2015. That campaign was marred by suspensions, dismissals and criminal charges, all of which helped lead to Flood's firing after a 4-8 season. Ash has worked diligently to clean up the program's image since arriving in 2016.

"I’m very proud of the individuals we bring in to this program," Ash said. "I’m very proud of the type of education we do with these players about decision-making, the tools we give them to try and make good decisions and hold them accountable, and do the right thing, but we’re not perfect.

"Our football team is very focused. It’s not adversity, it’s not a speed bump. It’s an event that happened, that happened a long time ago that we’ll deal with and get through."

Whether or not the credit card probe and final discipline decisions will be made before the Scarlet Knights report for Ash's third training camp next week is unknown.

The return of Kiy Hester

Remember that time Kiy Hester was transferring to Florida International University for his final year of eligibility?

Hester, a former DePaul High School standout, rejoined the program late last week. Hester, who played his first three seasons at Rutgers before opting to transfer, had not graduated from Rutgers, which means he was never technically with FIU, let alone on its football team.

"Kiy is a guy who’s been in this program for many years," Ash said. "He understands our culture, he understands our expectations, he’s played football here. When he made the decision to look at other options, he had a lot of things going on. At the end of the day, we had some mutual interest, sat down, had a conversation, where he was at, where we were at.

“It just worked out to be the right fit for both of us.”

Hester's return should give the secondary an immediate veteran boost in the wake of Gray's dismissal.

"Just to have him back and have a little bit more experience to add on to our defense, it was a big deal," redshirt junior cornerback Blessuan Austin said.

Pat Hobbs' defense of Ash

Rutgers athletic director Pat Hobbs made waves Saturday when he took to Twitter in defense of Ash. The reason was an article released by CBS Sports in which it lists five Power Five coaches on the hot seat.

Hey CBS Sports! You can take my guy off your list. Program building takes time and Chris Ash is doing a great job! https://t.co/eg09sDpsD3 — Pat Hobbs (@PatHobbsRU) July 21, 2018

“It’s a lot better than him tweeting out he doesn’t like what I’m doing," Ash joked. "I love Pat, and hopefully Pat loves what we’re doing. Pat and I talk constantly. I’d rather have our AD put out there he likes what we’re doing than not. That’s really the way I look at it.

"I’m more concerned with our players and our football team and camp coming up. Don’t look, don’t care, waste of time, it’s a distraction. It is what it is."

Ash is 6-18 overall and 3-15 in the Big Ten in two seasons. Rutgers went from two wins to four overall in 2017, and zero Big Ten wins to three. On Nov. 27, Ash signed a new five-year deal that keeps him in Piscataway through 2022.

Staff Writer Josh Newman: jnewman@app.com