Rutgers football coach Kyle Flood apologized to the Rutgers community Monday, speaking out publicly for the first time since his three-game suspension for misconduct.

Flood was suspended by Rutgers officials last month for contacting a professor about the grades of one of his players, Nadir Barnwell. This is a violation of school policy.

At the media event, Flood declined to fully go into the situation, but admitted he should have known better than to contact the professor.

"Ultimately, the important thing is that I'm responsible to know [the rule]," he says, adding he just wants to help the team move forward.

Flood says that he felt helpless watching the last three games from the bench.

The suspension came during a very trying time for the Rutgers football team. In addition to the suspension, several players, including Barnwell, were kicked off the team following accusations of a variety of violent crimes.

Another recently suspended star player, Leonte Carroo, was revealed to have had a relationship with a recruiting host in the athletic department prior to his arrest for alleged assault. Those charges were dropped.

Rutgers University officials are said to be conducting a thorough investigation into the football team.

Flood's first game back as coach will be Saturday in Indiana.