. >>> and the new athletic department mess at rutgers university. the woman brought in to clean up the old one is at the center of another embarrassing controversy. >>> and an unlucky end for one indy racer. what he saw as his bid for history at the brook yard ended with a ride straight into the wall. >>> good morning, everyone. it is memorial day. but you can expect to see more raincoats and parkas than shorts and flip-flops in much of the country. >> the long, cold winter isn't showing any signs of letting up just yet, even though the official start of summer is just weeks away. here's abc's preeti arla. >> reporter: on this memorial day, wild weather looks to threaten traditions. severe weather threatens the midwest today, from iowa to texas. it's already created massive problems. in south texas, three people are dead after flash floods. >> this is insane. >> it's nothing i've experienced before. i have never done this. >> reporter: rescue workers found the body of a 17-year-old boy swept away by the rapidly rising waters. the city was also swamp

what could be a scandal involving an athletic director at rutgers university. e claims from athletes. who may be facing serious trouble. >>> freak accident. an overhead cable snaps at a nascar race, injuring fans in the stands. what went wrong? what is being done to stop it from happening again? >>> and amanda bynes' allegations the former nickelodeon star's accusations aimed at new york police and what she says and may do next. we'll have it in "the skinny." on this memorial day, monday, may 27th. >> announcer: from abc news, this is "world news now" with john muller and diana perez. >>> happy memorial day, everyone. >> happy memorial day, everyone. >> hope you had a good weekend. we're beginning this half-hour with the solemn ceremonies planned for this memorial day. after meeting with families, president obama lays a wreath at the tomb of the unknowns at arlington. >> a somber time yesterday as president obama met with those who lost loved ones in the oklahoma tornado. here is abc's larry jacobs. ♪ >> reporter: moore, oklahoma came together for a praise and w

. >>> rutgers athletic director is under fire, julie herman is her name.cing abuse allegations relating to her former job at the head coach of the tennessee women's volleyball team 16 years ago. herman was hired in may to replace tim pernetti who resigned after video surfaced of the former head coach physically and verbally abusing players during practice. several new jersey officials including two state senators have already called for her firing in the wake of this report. >>> notre dame quarterback has been suspended by the university for poor academic judgment. golson started 11 games for the fighting irish last season. senior tomny reese is expected to run the offense for the irish in 2013. >>> in nascar, ten fans were injured and several cars were damaged during the coca-cola 600 when a rope cable from a television sky cam fell over the track and the grandstands. >>> robby rogers became the first openly gay male athlete to take the field in major u.s. sport when he took the soccer field for the l.a. galaxy last night. this accomplishment comes less t

rutgers. you'll remember the coach and the athletic director ousted after that bad behavior caught on tape. well, now comes new questions about the woman brought in to help fix it all. allegations of mistreatment coming to light following a newspaper report. even governor chris christie tonight demanding answers. abc's gio benitez is on the case. >> i'm incredibly happy to formally announce her as the new director of intercollegiate athletics at rutgers university. julie? >> reporter: rutgers hired former tennessee volleyball coach julie hermann to clean up the tattered image of the university's athletic department, after that video surfaced showing basketball coach mike rice berating his players during practice. now, a scathing report in "the new jersey star ledger" says hermann has a troubled past of her own. 15 women who say they were mistreated by hermann at the university of tennessee 16 years ago, are now speaking out to reporter craig wolff. >> they described a coach who was mean-spirited, in their view, who was demeaning, who called them names. >> reporter: 16 years ago, hermann rep

. >>> new rutgers athletic director justly hermann is coming under fire.buse allegations related to her former job at the head of the women's volleyball team 16 years ago. hermann was hired in may to replace nick (gianetti after the former basketball coach mike rice physically and verbally abused players during practice. two state senators have called for her firing in the wake of this report. >>> notre dame quarterback evan goldston has been suspended by the university for poor academicgium. goldst goldston. >>> now, take it to nascar, at least ten fans were actually injured and several cars were damaged during the coca-cola 600 when a rogue cable from a television skycam fell over the track and grand stands, that's frightening. >>> robbie rodgers became the first openly gay soccer player for the l.a. galaxy. this comes less than two months after nba player jason collins came out. a brewer's sideline reporter, check this out, should thank her lucky stars. she came zo oh so close to being hit by an errant foul ball. but she played like a camp, she kept on

kevin harvick won the race, his second victory of the year. >>> rutgers university's embattled athleticsling with a new controversy this morning. the school's incoming athletic director hired to clean up the program is being accused of mistreating student athletes when she was a volleyball coach at the university of tennessee, and this latest black eye for the school has governor chris christie promising to get answers. >> it is a new day, it is already fixed, and there's no one that doesn't agree about how we treat young people with respect. >> julie hermann was introduced as rutgers's new athletic director earlier this month. she was hired away from the university of louisville to fix a troubled athletic department. in april men's basketball coach mike rice was fired after video surfaced showing him miss trooeting pltrooet ing players after practice. soon after director tim pernetti also stepped down. >> we will no longer have any practice anywhere any time that anybody couldn't walk into and be pleased about what's going on in that environment. >> reporter: but now there are allegatio

rutgers new athletic director is also facing character questions after allegations of verbal abuse comes she's not even considering resigning. hey, wake up, it's "way too early." that's about as much verbal abuse as i can muster here on a tuesday. it's may 28th. it's always tough to get back to work after a weekend. i can't even talk. we're an optimistic group or at least slightly sarcastic. we want to know the best part about return iing to the job. post your answers using #backtowork.

and current state senator richard codey says hermann and the rutgers president need to go. >> clearly needs a new president and a new athletic director and not today, not tomorrow, now. >> reporter: for now rutgers is standing by their new hire saying she was thoroughly vetted. but also at issue, whether hermann lied about a video showing her 20 years ago at an assistant coach's wedding. >> i don't want you to come back in february with any surprises you know because the office and all and it would be hard to have a baby in there. >> there's no video. trust me. >> reporter: hermann now says she misspoke and forgot that the video existed. and that former assistant coach says hermann fired her for becoming pregnant. meanwhile, hermann told our sister network espn that the allegations are absolutely not true and she intends to keep her job as athletic director. george, robin. >> okay, gio. thanks very much. she'll fight hard. >> yes, she will. >>> ginger is back with the latest on that severe storm threat across the country now. >> not only just what happened this weekend but ramps up through the midweek and beyond. i'm telling

rutgers university says it is standing by its incoming athletic director despite new allegations shed and verbally abused players during her player days. she admits she was an intense coach and may have made a few mistakes handling her team. she says she has matured and believes she is qualified to lead the rutgers program. on sunday, a newspaper revealed the tennessee volleyball team sent a letter to the school in 1996 saying herman called them alcoholics and learning disabled among other insults. rutgers lost its previous athletic director after the men's basketball coach was caught on tape abusing players. >>> still ahead, deception out of a southern california nuclear power plant. the strong accusations from senator barbara boxer next. >>> plus, a horse wedged inside a deep well. we have video of the dramatic rescue and new details about the decision that saved that horses life. >>> a newborn baby boy stuck inside a sewage pipe. the shocking rescue caught on camera. coming up. taking a live look outside. a cloudy start over much of the bay area today. will things clear up? we wil

suddenly, faraway places don't seem so...far away. ♪ >>> rutgers university is standing by it's newly appointed athletications she humiliated and verbally abused players at the university of tennessee. rutgers said looking at her entire record of accomplishment we remain confident that we selected an individual that will work in the best interest of all of our student athletes, our teams and the university. hermann herself issued a statement saying i'm truly sorry that some were disappointed during my tenure as coach. for sure i was an intense coach but there is a vast difference between high intensity and abusive behavior. >> this latest controversy comes months after mike rice was fired after video showed him physically and verbally abusing players. the allegations against hermann were uncovered by craig wolf who appeared today on morning joe. >> rutgers did not make the phone calls that i did and when i say that, i'm not trying to suggest that what i did was an act of genius by any any stretch. i picked up the phone and doing basic reporting 101 i called former players and that's how i discovered it.

athletic director tim pernetti resigned. rutgerslaced him with julie herman. >> she must be squeaky clean. >> louisville is the most profitable athletic department in the country. now she's facing her own allegations of abuse. >> no. >> a group of female volleyball players from the university of tennessee allege that herman verbally abused them while she coached the team calling them alcohols and learning disabled. >> that's not possible, right? i'm sure rutgers must have done their homework. >> the president has a lot to answer for. the university of tennessee also lost $150,000 discrimination lawsuit to one of herman's assistant coaches who alleged herman discouraged her from getting pregnant and eventually fired her. she says she fired her for performance issues. however, a wedding video appears to show herman teasing her about having a child. >> i'm very excited about today. i'm hoping it's good tonight because i know you've been waiting awhile. but i hope it's not too good because i don't want you to come back in february with

>>> plus, the woman hired to clean up the rutgers athletic department is now under scrutiny herself. my exclusive interview with a woman who says the new athletic director was not properly vetted. >>> and a collision and a deadly explosion. the video still to come. >>> welcome back to the second half of "outfront." let's start the second half of our show with stories we care about, where we focus on our own reporting from the front lines. one of the two suspects accused of the gruesome murder of a bridish soldier appeared in court for the first time today, 22-year-old michael abewali was charged with murder and unlawful possession of a fire arm. the our ses inspect who appears in this video with blood on his hands remains under arrest at a london hospital. since england doesn't have the death penalty, michael griffith tells us that the suspects if convicted are probably looking at about 25 years to life in prison. >>> new developments in the house's irs investigation. sources tell us lawmakers will be questioning two irs employees based in cincinnati this week. and they have plans to

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>>> plus, the woman hired to clean up the rutgers athletic department is now under scrutiny herself. my exclusive interview with a woman who says the new athletic director was not properly vetted. >>> and a collision and a deadly explosion. the video still to come. i am an american success story. i'm a teacher. i'm a firefighter. i'm a carpenter. i'm an accountant. a mechanical engineer. and i shop at walmart. truth is, over sixty percent of america shops at wmart every month. i find what i need, at a great price. and the money i save goes to important things. braces for my daughter. a little something for my son's college fund. when people look at me, i hope they see someone building a better life. vo: living better: that's the real walmart. ♪ fly me to the moon ♪ let me play among the stars ♪ and let me see what spring is like ♪ ♪ on jupiter and mars ♪ in other words [ male announcer ] the classic is back. ♪ i love [ male announcer ] the all-new chevrolet impala. chevrolet. find new roads. ♪ you >>> welcome back to the second half of "outfront." let's start the second half of our s

i know one man rare to go discuss the folly that is the rutgers athletic department, and that is dave zirin, sports editor of the nation host of edge of sports radio, and author of "game over: how politics has turned sports world upside down down." welcome. >> thank you. >> what the hell is going on at rutgers sports department. >> what is happening the sports department is one place oncomouse whereoncampus has had free reign every pit of his agenda has been challenged every step of the way. he can't even appear on campus without there being an impromptu protest. only in the athletic department is there free reign and there is a clown college. there is an expression that the fish rots from the head. at rutgers we have a two-headed mutant toxic fish. and the two heads are robert bargj and governor chris christie, that was not a new jersey joke. >> john: i understand that. you say this in your piece. you discuss how this particular kerfuffle goes all the way up to governor chris christie. can you discuss that. >> the good governor today was saying he has complete confidence in robert ba

she is in the you had rutgers athletic director. let me tell you, a scandal is already brewing.yball players that she coached in the 90s have written this letter to a new jersey paper claiming she called them, and i'm quoting them, whorewhores, alcoholics a learning disabled. you know the story of mike rice hurling basketballs and homophobic slurs at his players. [ beep ] >> herman meanwhile amitts sadm was an intense coach but there is a difference between high intensity and abusive behavior. rutgers university standing behind her. >>> it has been 662 days since the u.s. lost its top credit rating. what are we doing to get it back? the markets, as you know, on this holiday they're closed. but investment bankers are still making deals. canada's largest drug maker said today it is buying eye care specialist bausch & lomb from private equity firm warburg pinkus. our fourth story "outfront" tonight, revenge. kentucky police are vowing to find justice tonight after a fellow officer was gunned down early saturday morning when in what appears to be an ambush killing. investigators say

. >>> newly released court documents show rutgers' incoming athletic director was named in a lawsuit at the university of louisville. julia herman was picked to replaced the former athletic director. she's also under fire for her own abuse allegations stemming from her time as coach at the university of tennessee. >>> six laws are now in the books in colorado seeking to regulate newly legal marijuana and keep it away from children. among them, tough punishment for driving while high and restrictions limiting the sale of drugs to those at least 21 years old. >>> a florida judge has ruled against george zimmerman's defense team. judge debra nelson barred zimmerman's lawyers from bringing up martin's school suspension, prior marijuana use and text messages. >>> a pift pivotal movement is getting recognition. honoring those who took part in a sit-in at the woolworth's lunch counter back in 1963 where a group of racially mixed activists were attacked by a white mob for sitting at a whites-only lunch counter. >>> a new attraction in south carolina is taking people to new heights. jet packs

our fox affiliate has more from rutgers. >> when julie herman takes over at athletic director at rutgersut after questions emerged about her past, some wonder whether she's the right person for the job. >> [ bleep ] >> this video of former rutgers university basketball coach mike rice physically and verbally abusing players upended the athletic department this year. after it surfaced, rice was fired and soon after, athletic director tim pernetti resigned. 49-year-old julie herman was brought in to right the ship. >> this will never happen again on this campus. >> herman faces scrutiny about her background amidst a report she quit as coach of tennessee's woman's volleyball team after the players complained she humiliated them. the players wrote in a letter, the mental cruelty we suffered as a team is unbearable. >> i heard about t i don't know if that's the right move for rutgers. >> students and alumni were disappointed to hear of the allegations. in addition to the tennessee players' complaints. it emerged in 1997 a jury awarded $150,000 to a former assistant coach who said herman fired

. >> trouble for the incoming rutgers athletic director julie hermann even before she starts her job.ts that 16 years ago she humiliated and emotionally abused players while coaching tendencies women's volleyball team. she denied having knowledge of a letter that the 16 tennessee clears the medical that preparedrutgers officials, however, have talked about in recent days. she was hired to replace the ousted tim pernetti let go after basketball coach mike rice was fired for his behavior. new jersey gov. chris chris it plans to examine the point of before she began june 17th. >> robbie rogers the newest arrivals and aa member of the ls galaxy soccer team made history when he entered sunday night's game against the seattle sounders. rogers entered a substitute in the 77th minute of the game making a the first openly gay male athletes to play in major-league soccer. the crowd cheered and chanted his name. the galaxy beat the seattle sounders four to zero. >> new york city launches the nation's largest pipe share program. the privately funded city bike program as of yesterday. it offers 60

. >> chris christie, talking about the revelation around rutgers university new athletic director pastin classic christie style, not holding back. >>> in a live look at the markets. and they are, as they have been most of the day, down. dow down after yesterday's record close. but those say that is just a drop in the bucket with this year's gains. we look at how an improving economy could translate politically. i want to make things more secure. [ whirring ] [ dog barks ] i want to treat more dogs. ♪ our business needs more cases. [ male announcer ] where do you want to take your business? i need help selling art. [ male announcer ] from broadband to web hosting to mobile apps, small business solutions from at&t have the security you need to get you there. call us. we can show you how at&t solutions can help you do what you do... even better. ♪ ♪ now you can give yourself a kick in the rear! v8 v-fusion plus energy. natural energy from green tea plus fruits and veggies. need a little kick? ooh! could've had a v8. in the juice aisle. how much is too much water? too little? until we got

. >>> newly released court documents show rutgers incoming athletic director was named in a lawsuit athe university of tennessee. dismissed in the wake of the tim rice video. she's also under scrutiny for her time at tennessee. >>> six new laws on the books in colorado seeking to regulate marijuana and keep it away from children. among them, tough punishments for driving while high and restrictions limiting the sale of the drug to those who are at least 21 years old. >>> a florida judge has ruled against george zimmerman's defense team. deborah nelson barred zimmerman's lawyers from bringing up trayvon martin's school suspension, prior marijuana use and text messages. >>> recognition 50 years later. in mississippi, an historic marker was unveiled honoring those who took part in a sit-in at the luncheon counter back on may 28th, 1963 where a group of racially mixed activists were attacked by a white mob for sitting at a whites only lunch counter. >>> and taking people to new heights. jet packs using a high-powered stream of up to 1,000 gallons of ocean water are letting people go some 3

two suspects say they did it in the name of islam. >>> the incoming athletic director accused of abuse at rutgerse. this morning we've learned that julie hermann will keep her new job which is set to begin next month. hermann was tapped to turn the school's athletic program around after an abusive coach scandal involving former rutgers basketball coach mike rice. but the new jersey star ledger uncovered a letter from 1997 that accused hermann herself of mental cruelty and abuse when she coached volleyball at the university of tennessee in the 1990s. hermann said she's not sure of the motivation of players bringing up that turmoil 17 years later. she said she has no plans to resign from rutgers and the president of the school rutgers is backing her. >>> the u.s. marine suspected of going on a shooting rampage in west texas that left one dead and five people injured is also wanted for questioning in another murder. esteban jays smith died early sunday morning. investigators are looking for a link between the texas shootings and a murder at a north carolina mot motel. >>> amanda bynes is threatening

rutgers's president says the school looks forward to her running the athletic department.g she humiliated and emotionally abused players. >> getting specific, the letter the tennessee players wrote, apparently claimed hermann called them whores, alcoholics, learning disabled. i mean -- >> you know, it's an interesting thing. who knows if it's true. assuming it were true, how long should something like that follow you in your career? if you did something at your first job, ridiculous, and learned your lesson, should you pay for it now that you're here, ten years later? i don't know. >> we talked about this a little bit yesterday. i think while in many other circumstances it's okay to say there's a time limit to when things can follow you and how long, but when you are being hired to clean up a mess very similar to the one you are being accused of, i think there is no statute of limitation here. i think if you have anything -- >> the burden is extra high. >> if you have anything on your record, not going to work out for us. that's just me. >> i see your point. >>> moving on

. >> trouble for the incoming rutgers athletic director julie hermann even before she starts her job.resigning following reports that 16 years ago she to miliary and emotionally abused players while coaching tendencies and women's volleyball team. she denied having knowledge of the letter that the 16 tennessee players submitted to the school. the truckers officials, however, have taught her about it in recent days. she was hired to replace the ousted tim pernetti, who was let go after basketball coach mike rice was fired for abusive behavior. new jersey governor chris christie plans to examine the appointment before she begins on june 17th. >> we will be right back. look at 'em. living on cloud nine with that u-verse wireless receiver. you see in my day, when my mom was repainting the house, you couldn't just set up a tv in the basement. i mean, come on! nope. we could only watch tv in the rooms that had a tv outlet. yeah if we wanted to watch tv someplace else, we'd have to go to my aunt sally's. have you ever sat on a plastic covered couch? [ kids cheering ] you're missing a good ga

tonight, new questions about the new athletic director hired to turn around rutgers troubled athletican was named a senior athletics administrator. this comes just days after a report that volleyball players accused her of verbal abuse when she coached them back in the 19 9d 0s. president obama returned to the jersey shore today seven months after season day caused billions of dollars. the president walked on the board walk and said, yes, the jersey shore is open for business. >> and i saw what thousands of americans saw you are stronger than the storm. after all you've dealt with, after all you've been through, the jersey shore is back and it is open for business, and they want all americans to know that they're ready to welcome you here. >>> also this. passengers are arriving back home on charter flights from the bahamas after a fire on the royal caribbean's "grandeur of the seas" cruise ship canceled the trip for more than 2200 people on board. passengers will get refunds and money towards a future cruise if they're willing to go on another one. wolf, back to you. >> susan, excelle

. >> rutger's new athletic trikt to director brought in to clean up after the basketball coach abuedd class. the women's volleyball coach in tennessee 16 years ago after players complained they ruled through humiliation. in evidence in a 97 case he sited a wedding video she told the coach not to come back from her honeymoon pregnant. >> governor chris christie says he is looking into the situation. those are your headlines. >> new calls this morning from republicans to name a special council to investigate the irs scandal involving the targeting of conservative groups. peter doocy joins us live in washington with more on this. good morning, peter. >> good morning ainsley. congressional committees have had a long time of connecting the dots to figure out who the irs told employees to unfairly target conservative groups. lindsay graham is saying it's time for a special council to come in. he thinks those kinds of instructions and that kind of phone comes from the heist levels of the u.s. government. senator rand paul thinks the irs scandal is diminishing president obama's ability to le

. >> reporter: she's the woman rutgers hired to fix the athletic department after that damning videof a coach berating players. [ bleep ]. >> we will no longer have any practice anywhere anytime that anybody couldn't walk into and be pleased about what's going on in that environment. >> reporter: now julie herman is facing allegations that she was abusive while coaching the university of tennessee's women's volleyball team. 15 players saying they wrote a letter to school officials complaining of mistreatment in 1997. >> she told us we're fat, stupid, whores, alcoholics. not letting us shower or eat on our road trip from florida to tennessee. >> reporter: late today she issued a statement, that she never knew about the letter. adding, she was an intense coach, and also, i am truly sorry that some were disappointed during my tenure. there was also video of this as an assistant coach's wedding, seemingly joking. >> you know, because the office and all, and it would be a baby in there. >> reporter: that assistant coach says she was fired after becoming pregnant. in an interview with our

athletic director. even governor chris christie got involved. here's randi kaye. >> reporter: on paper, she looks like the healer and the visionary rutgers needs to rescue its athletic program. under julie herrmann's watch, six years at the university of tennessee, the lady vols advanced to the ncaa tournament for the first time in a decade. but herrmann's former tennessee players are raising a red flag. in 1996, the team wrote this letter, spilling stories of mental cruelty, accusing their coach of calling them [ expletive ] alcoholics and learning disabled. the letter was published sunday in newark's "star-ledger" newspaper. this was julie herrmann at her introductory press conference at rutgers before such sordid details came to light. >> it is a new days, it's already fixed and there's nobody who doesn't agree about how we treat young people with respect and dignity and build trust. >> reporter: kim is one of the lady vols who alleged abuse under herrmann. >> isn't that ironic, of all the people that they can hire, you know, someone who has actually done that kind of thing to me, you know, and to others. >> reporter: herrmann had great succes

. >>> more questions swirling around rutgers athletic director julie hermann.a sex discrimination lawsuit during her tenure as senior athletics administrator at louisville. in a suit, a senior track coach alleged she faced gender and sexual discrimination and was fired after placing a complaint with the university's human resources department. the lawsuit holds hermann largely responsible for the coach's firing. >>> if you google the words "hot mess," you might find pictures of amanda bynes. from tweeting about celebrities, she seems to be on a spiral down. what happened to the girl that everyone once loved. >> reporter: the images of amanda bynes hiding behind a blond wig in front of new york city police, people are asking what happened to this amanda? bynes first rode to fame as a child on nickelodeon's "all that" and "the amanda show." >> i just happen to be amanda's number one fan. >> reporter: it led to several movie roles, most recently playing a virtuous teen in "easy a." >> there's a higher power that will judge you for your indecency. >> reporter: now

but chicago beat phoenix 102-80. >>> the new athletic director at rutgers, julie herman, will not lose her job according to the university president. she was brought in over the scandal after basketball coach mike rice abusing players, but herman's former players also accused her of abuse which she says she cannot remember. >>> in baseball, players on all teams wore camouflage caps and jerseys with camo numbers and letters as a memorial day tribute to members of the american military. >>> the central oklahoma broncos won the ncaa division ii softball national championship. they honored the tornado victims in nearby moore, oklahoma, by wearing blue ribbons in their hair, and it read "pray for ok." >>> at the coca-cola 600, ricky stenhouse jr. bumped danica patrick, causing her to crash. the kicker is that patrick and stenhouse are dating. but patrick's team owner, tony stewart, says he is fed up with stenhouse for blocking other drivers. >>> an nfl quarterback robert griffin iii has sent handwritten thank-you notes to many fans who showered him with gifts before his upcoming wedding. >>

. >>> and in this almost all-jersey show, more controversy for rutgers, for the rutgers university athletic program. two months after the men's basketball coach was fired over charges of verbally abusing players, the "newark star-ledger" reports that the julie herman who was hired to clean up the mess was herself accused of verbally abusing volleyball players at the university of tennessee in 1996. the reporter was asked how he managed to uncover this? >> rutgers did not make the phone calls that i did. when i say that i'm not trying to suggest that what i did was an act of genius by any stretch. i picked up the phone and in doing sort of basic reporting, one-on-one, i called former players and -- that's how i discovered it. >> joining me now is chris mad dog russo, host of the mad dog sports show on sirius xm radio. so basically this "star-ledger" reporter hit the google machine to find out all about julie herman. >> it described rutgers, very sloppy. who trusts that president, i certainly don't. i know governor christie is wrapped up with the president today, i want to hear from him. you

athletic director. even governor chris christie got involved. here's randi kaye. >> reporter: on paper, she looks like the healer and the visionary rutgers needs toescue its athletic program. under julie herrmann's watch, six years at the university of tennessee, the lady vols advanced to the ncaa tournament for the first time in a decade. but herrmann's former tennessee players are raising a red flag. in 1996, the team wrote this letter, spilling stories of mental cruelty, accusing their coach of calling them [ expletive ] alcoholics and learning disabled. the letter was published sunday in newark's "star-ledger" newspaper. this was julie herrmann at her introductory press conference at rutgers before such sordid details came to light. >> it is a new days, it's already fixed and there's nobody who doesn't agree about how we treat young people with respect and dignity and build trust. >> reporter: kim is one of the lady vols who alleged abuse under herrmann. >> isn't that ironic, of all the people that they can hire, you know, someone who has actually done that kind of thing to me, you know, and to others. >> reporter: herrmann had great success

athletic director, there were perhaps he should have been dealt with slight discipline. so that's something that has to be evaluated. >> all right. assemblyman tom giblin, rutgersw athletic director. >>> on to world of politic, michelle bachman, a one-time candidate, announcing overnight she not run for a fifth term in congress. >> looking forward after the completion of my term, my future is full, it is limitless, my passion forces have america will remain. i want you to be assured there is no future option or opportunity be it directly in the political arena or otherwise that i won't be giving serious consideration if it can help save and progressive conservative our great nation for future generations. >> kind of surprising since bachmann became the faith of big government rage. in fa in fact, "newsweek" became all the rage. she became the butt of a lot of jokes. >> i am looking forward to resting, to spending some time at home and, most of all to blinking for the first time since this all started. >> didn't every politician become the butt of a joke in 2008? don't worry, bachmann says she won't fade away. she insists it played for the role in her decision n

you've had a chance to talk to some of your former teammates since this news at rutgers, since she's been hired to run the athleticent at rutgers but what do you all want to see how? do you want her to stay on at rutgers? would you like to see the university now say that she's not the right person to head their athletic department? >> no. i mean, we have all discussed, you know, what happened in the past, and it wasn't about any kind of, you know, causing any drama. we were just asked a question, you know, how was julie as a coach? and we told the truth. it was nothing more than that. we were just telling our side of the story, we weren't trying to cause any waves, honestly i don't think any of us expected it to get to this point. you know, hopefully at this point julie's changed and she's realized what a program needs, but, it -- we -- we've moved on and we're very happy in our lives. >> quick last question, do you know if anyone at rutgers contacted you or anyone else on your team in tennessee before hiring julie? >> as far as i know from the teammates i've talked to, no. >> all right, kim obiela, thank you very

here's michelle miller. >> reporter: when rutgers university hired 49-year-old julie hermann as its new athletic director she spoke of change. >> there's no one that doesn't agree about how we treat young people with respect and dignity and build trust. >> reporter: rutgers hoped hermann would repair the damage done by this video of former head basketball coach mike rice physically and verbally abusing players. rice was fired and his boss, athletic director tim pernetti, resigned. but now hermann is accused of abusive behavior when she coached volleyball at the university of tennessee. kelly dow was one of 16 players on hermann's 1996 team to complain the coach destroyed their love of the game. >> to give that much physically and emotionally and just have it stomped on repeatedly, it's just -- everybody has a breaking point. >> reporter: she joined teammates in writing this letter that said hermann called them "whores, alcoholics and learning disabled." today hermann denied the accusations on a conference call with reporters. she said: but some new jersey lawmakers, including state senator richa

rutgers university is back in the news this morning. the newly appointed athletiche defensive against abuse allegations in her past. nbc's kristin dahlgren is live on the campus in new jersey. she has the latest on this story. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, savannah. are not backing down, insisting she is not resigning after this letter surfaced from 1997, in which herman's former players, write, in julie herman's gym, the only emotion is fear. on the phone with reporters on the memorial day holiday, julie herman testifi herman defended herself, admitting she was an intense coach, but denying she ever abused players. herman was hired as rutgers' athletic director, following the revelation of this tape. [ bleep ] the former men's basketball coach, mike rice, allegedly abusing players. he was fired. herman vowed -- >> we will no longer have any practice, anywhere, any time, that anybody couldn't walk into and be pleased about what's going on in that environment. >> reporter: but a letter from 1997 signed by all 15 players on herman's university of tennessee

>>> rutgers university is in the spotlight again and not in a good way. the university's new athleticr brought into mop up rutgers scandal plagueded sports program is not exactly squeaky clean. turns out julie hermann was once accused of being an abusive coach at the university of tennessee and rutgers got into a boat load of trouble with its own abusive basketball coach. more now from john berman. >> after everything that happened at rutgers, this is the last thing that university needs. two officials say what to do next is still being considered. and that the hiring of the new athletic director is an issue right now of grave concern. and what happens next, again, still not clear. >> reporter: rutgers university faced tough criticism in the days after a video sured of its head basketball coach being abusive towards its players. the video captured former coach mike rice's aggressive behavior, hurli ining basketballs at play and yelling homophobic slurs. he was fired and the athletic director forced to resign. >> i was deeply disturbed by the behavior. >> reporter: this time the univer

. >>> the athletic department at rutgers university is back in the spotlight, under scrutiny again. him throwing things, hurling expletives at players. now questions are swirling about the new athletic director who was hired to clean the mess up. that story is coming up. [ female announcer ] what if the next big thing, isn't a thing at all? it's lots of things. all waking up. ♪ becoming part of the global phenomenon we call the internet of everything. ♪ trees will talk to networks will talk to scientists about climate change. cars will talk to road sensors will talk to stoplights about traffic efficiency. the ambulance will talk to patient records will talk to doctors about saving lives. it's going to be amazing. and exciting. and maybe, most remarkably, not that far away. the next big thing? we're going to wake the world up. ♪ and watch, with eyes wide, as it gets to work. ♪ cisco. tomorrow starts here. feby earning your degree fromore racapella university,re. you'll have the knowledge to advance your career while making a difference in the lives of patients. let's get started at c

>>> and new jersey governor chris christie wants to talk to officials at rutgers, after allegations that the school's new athleticers have accused her of coaching through emotional abuse. there is no response from rutgers. >>> and years of frustration and heartbreak, they are all over. tony kanaan has his first-ever victory at the indianapolis 500. it was no easy ride. the lead changed a record 68 times, back and forth, before the brazilian flew across the finish line. celebrating with that traditional chug of milk. he said the last lap was the longest of his life. >> i didn't know milk was traditional. >> not always alcohol involved. >> i know. but i think champagne is a little more festive. >> next year's indy 500. >> i have connections. >>> this is really why you came in. >> yes. i wanted to give you all your monday edition of "pop news." and happy memorial day to everybody. we begin this morning with a russian businessman who bid $1.5 billion -- no. it's just million. leo dicaprio in a rocket bound for space. >> come again. >> the high bidder in the am far charity auction. he will train for three days before

. >> she hasn't stepped into the roll and already rutgers universities new pick for athletic director is in controversy. she is julie hermannaccused of abusive treatment this year and the university's president is doing explaining. we'll have those details coming up in a bit. oh, he's a fighter alright. since aflac is helping with his expenses while he can't work, he can focus on his recovery. he doesn't have to worry so much about his mortgage, groceries, or even gas bills. kick! kick... feel it! feel it! feel it! nice work! ♪ you got it! you got it! yes! aflac's gonna help take care of his expenses. and us...we're gonna get him back in fighting shape. ♪ [ male announcer ] see what's happening behind the scenes at ducktherapy.com. what makes a sleep number what makes a sleep number store different? you walk into a conventional mattress store, it's really not about you. they say, "well, if you wanted a firm bed you can lie on one of those. if you want a soft bed you can lie on one of those." we provide the exact individualization that your body needs. the sleep number memorial day sal

>>> new jersey governor chris christie wants to make sure that those elected to clean up the rutgers athleticnt is right person to do that job. the university of tennessee is where she coached 16 years ago. former tennessee assistant coaches and staff members at her previous job at the university of louisville have recently come to hermann's defense. she was appointed in the wake of this viral video showing former basketball coach mike rice hurling profanities and even basketballs at his players. >>> sad news for hollywood star angelina jolie. her aunt died of breast cancer. she had a double mastectomy because she has the brach i. jolie's mom passed away of breast cancer in 2007. >>> furloughs begin for hundreds of thousands of workers at the pentagon. will this compromise the mission at the defense department? >>> plus on this memorial day we honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. medal honor recipient colonel jack jacobs joins me next. if you're seeing spots before your eyes, it's time for aveeno® positively radiant face moisturizer. [ female announcer ] aveeno® w

. >>> rutgers university introduced julie herman as its new athletic director. she's the first woman to head the sports program and just the third tapped to run an athletic department at a bcs school. her predecessor resigned after the firing of an abusive men's basketball coach. >> columbia university is changing the requirements for a whites only scholarship. now it is taking legal action to change the race rule. following her death in 1920 an iowa woman left over half a million dollars for fellowship at the new york school under the stipulation the money go to white students from iowa who do not study law. >>> take you to sports now. actor will smith and son jade nn the first elimination there with miami ousting chicago. >> passed on a three. what a finish for dwayne wade. >> wade had a great night. 18 in that 94-91 win. marc gasol giveses them the lead over oklahoma city. kevin durant misses. memphis wins 88-84 and make franchise history going to their first western conference final. >>> the kentucky derby winner is a favorite to win the preakness at pimlico

former basketball coach mike rice isn't the only scandal rutgers university faces. the new athleticice was fired for abusive behavior -- is now herself accused of being an abusive coach. john berman reports. >> reporter: rutgers university faced tough criticism in the days after a video surfaced of its head basketball coach being abusive toward players. coach mike rice's aggressive behavior. hurling basketballs at players and yelling homophobic slurs. the university fired rice after a public outcry and the athletic director was also forced to resign. >> "i was deeply disturbed by the behavior the video revealed." >> reporter: this time, the university's president will have to answer to governor chris christie after reports surfaced that the new athletic director -- hired to turn the university's image around -- is herself accused of being an abusive coach. the governor's spokesperson said in a statement: >> "he's not going to be making any judgments at this time, but he expects to be talking with the rutgers administration this week to get the details." it has emerged that back in 1

. >>> rutgers university is standing by its incoming athletic director despite her being under fire becauseome former players say she treated them. julie hermann is denying knowledge of a letter written by players on the tennessee women's volleyball team that hermann coached 16 years ago. in that letter, hear mane is accused of humiliating and emotionally abusing players. she says she's never considered resigning and the school's president is backing her. >>> it was an anxious holiday weekend for dozens of visitors hanging out at a casino in atlantic city. two elevators got stuck at the rebel hotel trapping 50 guests. firefighters responding to the first call had to cut off power, pry open the elevator door and drop a ladder down the car. it took 45 minutes get everyone out one by one then another elevator suddenly stopped at the same hotel and they had to do it all over again. >> wow. >>> a russian apartment building is going to need a new facade after this. a huge crane topples over crashes on to the nine-story building and slams on to the roof, slices through a line of balconies and then

the woman that rutgers said could clean up the university's athletic department after a coach was caught abusing his players, she's now accused of doing the same thing herself. >>> and caught on camera. a california man beaten to death by police. what sparked this violent attack? >>> good morning, everyone, welcome to "early start," i'm john berman. >> i'm christine romans. it's memorial day. >> we're going to start with the dangerous and deadly weather in too many parts of the country this holiday weekend. starting in texas where at least three people died in historic flash flooding. one woman swept away as rescue workers tried to desperately to pull her from her vehicle. and texas, not alone in this unseasonable weather stretching across the united states. let's bring in cnn's iger peterson. >> it's been a holiday weekend weather of extremes. that has many wondering, it really says what is on the calendar? is it really may right now? right? look at all this unbelievable weather. i want to show you what it's like out there. the unofficial start of summer looking nothing like it's suppos

. >>> up next, after going through one athlete abuse scandal, you would think rutgers would check theou don't want to replace that guy with a coach that would call women really, really bad names. >> i would think abusive behavior is something they ward against. they didn't think of using you the google. willie explains the new problems for the university, next. i am an american success story. i'm a teacher. i'm a firefighter. i'm a carpenter. i'm an accountant. a mechanical engineer. and i shop at walmart. truth is, over sixty percent of america shops at walmart every month. i find what i need, at a great price. and the money i save goes to important things. braces for my daughter. a little something for my son's college fund. when people look at me, i hope they see someone building a better life. vo: living better: that's the real walmart. happy birthday! it's a painting easel! the tide's coming in! this is my favorite one. it's upside down. oh, sorry. (woman vo) it takes him places he's always wanted to go. that's why we bought a subaru. (announcer) love. it's what makes a subaru, a

rutgers hired jowlly herman as the new athletic director. she was brought in after rice was fired. now, herman is facing serious accusations she abused players while coaching volleyball 16 years ago at university of tennessee. >> so r like saying we're stupid not letting us shower or eat. it was no longer worth a scholarship or playing volleyball. we didn't care what happened. we could no longer play under those circumstances. >> the new jersey governor will talk to rutgers about allegations. herman denies them saying she's not considering resigning and did acknowledge she was an intense coach and may have made mistakes but believes she is qualified for the job. >> wow. >> as forecasted gloom arrives in time for the holiday. >> yes. sorry to see the gloom. >> right. >> this, here it's been a dreary looking memorial day. scattered areas of light moisture. looking south ward now spring moving in. the patch of spring yelz moving out over the bay. at the moment no rainfall is occurring. it does look dreary in this live view from downtown looking east towards san francisco. this is a lo

tonight, new questions about the new athletic director hired to turn around rutger's university programlie hermann was named in a sex discrimination lawsuit where she was a senior athletics administrator. this is days after a report of university of tennessee volleyball players accused her of verbal abuse when she coached them in the 1990s. >>> president obama returned to the jersey shore today. the president walked on the boardwalk with new jersey governor, chris christie and said yes, the new jersey shore is open for business. >> i saw what thousands of americans saw over memorial day weekend. you are stronger than the storm after all you have dealt with, after all you have been through. the jersey shore is back and it is open for business. they want all americans to know that they are ready to welcome you here. >>> passengers are arriving back pbahamas after a fire on the the cruise ship. canceled the trip for 2200 people on board. passengers will get refunds and money toward a future cruise, if they would like to take it. wolf, back to you. >> excellent. people are talking about the