Syracuse, NY

Syracuse associate head basketball coach Bernie Fine denied accusations of sexually assaulting a former ball boy.

In a denail issued through his lawyer on Friday, Fine said "These allegations are patently false in every aspect."

Fine is in his 35th season as an assistant to coach Jim Boeheim on the Syracuse bench. He was immediately placed on administrative leave by the school Thursday.

This latest scandal comes just two weeks after the Penn State child sex-abuse scandal rocked college football.

Bobby Davis, who is now 39, said Fine had molested him "hundreds of times" in a report on ESPN.

Perhaps taking into account the backlash Penn State administrators were subject to in regard to how they handled the Jerry Sandusky scandal, Syracuse chancellor Nancy Cantor said the school will follow up and investigate the allegations.

"Let me be clear. We know that many question whether or not a university in today's world can shine a harsh light on its athletics programs," Cantor said in an email to students, faculty and staff. "We are aware that many wonder if university administrations are willing to turn a blind eye to wrongdoing that may disrupt a successful sports program.

"I can assure you I am not, and my fellow administrators are not. We hold everyone in our community to high standards and we don't tolerate illegal, abusive or unethical behavior—no matter who you are."

 

Syracuse assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine has been placed on leave by the university following sexual abuse allegations from a pair of former ball boys with the program.

The instances of alleged abuse happened in the 1970's through the 90's, at hotel rooms, Fine's home and during a Final Four trip, though head coach Jim Boeheim adamantly denies them.

"I know this kid, but I never saw him in any rooms or anything," Boeheim told ESPN of the allegations against his assistant. "It is a bunch of a thousand lies that he has told. You don't think it is a little funny that his cousin (relative) is coming forward? ... "He supplied four names to the university that would corroborate his story. None of them did ... there is only one side to this story. He is lying."

The alleged victims are Bobby Davis, now 39, and Mike Lang, now 45.

The university, in a statement, indicated it is investigating the matter.

"In light of the new allegations and the Syracuse City Police investigation, this evening Chancellor (Nancy) Cantor asked Director of Athletics Dr. Daryl Gross, to place Associate Head Coach Bernie Fine on administrative leave."

Boeheim went on to question the pair's motives in light of the recent matter at Penn State.

"Why wouldn't he come to the police (first this time)? Why would he go to ESPN? What are people looking for here? I believe they are looking for money. I believe they saw what happened at Penn State and they are using ESPN to get money. That is what I believe. You want to put that on the air? Put that on the air."

 

 

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