Ray and Janay Rice attend high school football game on Saturday
Ray Rice and his wife Janay attended a football game at Rice's alma mater, New Rochelle (NY) High, on Saturday.
It was the couple's first public appearance since the NFL suspended Rice indefinitely after the video of him punching his then-fiancée surfaced earlier this week.
• Report: Ray Rice told Roger Goodell in June that he hit his fiancée
Ray, Janay and their infant daughter Rayven were on the sideline for the first half of New Rochelle's game against Ramapo.
The crowd didn't initially boo or cheer Rice, according to CeFaan Kim of News 12 Westchester, but some fans reportedly wore his No. 5 high school jersey.
New Rochelle coach Lou DiRienzo invited Rice, his former player, to the game, according to Kenneth Garger and Kathianne Boniello of the New York Post.
“Ray is a part of our family and a part of this program,” DiRienzo told The Post. “He made a terrible mistake but I know the character of the man and he will rise from this. The mistake he made will be erased by the good deeds he will continue to do and by the good deeds he’s done. New Rochelle High School will always be Ray Rice’s home. Having him here today means the world to me.”
Rice's jersey and photo were removed from the school's Hall of Fame this week, News 12 reported, which upset DiRienzo, according to The Post. The school's principal explained in a letter to parents that the wall is meant to highlight alumni who are role models.
• The most embarrassing week in NFL history
- Chris Mascaro
