Kyle Flood, Rutgers players find closure in emotional meeting

PISCATAWAY – The stunned looks on the faces of Rutgers football players Sunday after being informed their head coach had been fired suggested a lack of closure.

They got a measure of that feeling Monday morning when Kyle Flood briefly met with his former team, less than 24 hours after he was fired by phone.

"It was important because it showed that he really cared about the team and everybody in the program," left tackle Keith Lumpkin told Gannett New Jersey said. "He thanked everybody for the great memories and the great times that we had. That's something that shows class and that he really was there for the players."

Rutgers president Robert Barchi met with the football players for about 20 minutes Sunday to discuss the situation. He declined to provide specifics of the conversation to the media and indications are that he didn't have many answers for the players outside of his message of university support.

Around the time that the meeting broke up, Flood, who was out recruiting in Long Island when told of his fate, was a passenger in a helicopter that landed on the practice football field. He left in his car without meeting with his team.

"We worked hard for the team and we worked hard under his control," said Lumpkin, who started the final 38 games of his career after being recruited when Flood was the offensive line coach. "We never stopped believing in coach.

"I personally needed (the meeting). That was my guy. He recruited me out of high school, we developed a relationship. He was with me for five years."

With about 18 hours to digest the news, Flood did some final coaching in the meeting room.

"It was emotional, but at the same time we already knew it was done," Lumpkin said. "It's a sad time for the program, but he told us to stay positive and stay with a clear mind and be ready to accept change. That's a powerful message coming from Coach Flood."

For Lumpkin, it wasn't goodbye.

"He said anything that we need he's always there for us, just a phone call away," Lumpkin said. "He told us to keep in contact with him because he wants to help us any way he can."

In his only public farewell thus far, Flood posted to his Instagram account.

"I want to thank the entire Rutgers community for the opportunity to be a part of their F.A.M.I.L.Y. for the last 11 seasons," he wrote. "I am proud of our accomplishments here both as an AC (assistant coach) & HFC (head football coach). ... I wish the Rutgers team, community and alumni nothing but great success in the future. This program has been built on a strong foundation. I have no doubt the best is yet to come."

Staff Writer Ryan Dunleavy: rdunleavy@gannettnj.com