Syracuse assistant coach Bernie Fine has been accused of child sexual assault.
Penn State football now has a new friend and unlikely ally in the Syracuse basketball program. Not long after the Larry Sandusky case shocked the world with its allegations of blatant sexual abuse being covered up by Penn State University, Syracuse now has a similar sexual scandal. A former ball boy for Syracuse, Bobby Davis, has accused longtime assistant coach Bernie Fine of sexually abusing him over a 12 year period starting in 1983. A relative of Davis also accused Fine of sexual abuse.
“This matter was fully investigated by the university in 2005, and it was determined that the allegations were unfounded,” said a strongly-worded statement from Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim. “I have known Bernie Fine for more than 40 years. I have never seen or witnessed anything to suggest that he would have been involved in any of the activities alleged. Had I seen or suspected anything, I would have taken action. Bernie has my full support.”
I wonder if Joe Paterno knows Jim Boeheim (or worse, if Larry Sandusky knows Bernie Fine). Like Sandusky, the Syracuse allegations cover a long period of time, with Fine’s abuse taking place over 6 years (from 1984 to 1990) at Fine’s home, Syracuse’s basketball facilities, on team road trips, and even at the 1987 Final Four. Unlike Sandusky, these allegations were first raised on ESPN’s Outside The Lines investigative journalism program. Allegations were first raised in 2002, but Syracuse newspaper Post-Standard never published a story because a second source could not be found to verify the abuse claims.
Tags: Syracuse, New York, Syracuse basketball, Bernie Fine, Jim Boeheim, Syracuse assistant coach accused of child sexual assault, child sexual abuse, sports, college basketball, NCAA, ESPN, Outside The Lines, Bobby Davis, college athletics sex scandal, ball boy accuses Syracuse coach of sexual assault
