Syracuse Basketball Coach Accused Of Molesting Ball Boy

Another coach suspected of touching kids

Amidst the current Penn State child sex abuse scandal, Syracuse University is now joining them in the news. Assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine has been placed on administrative leave as officials investigate allegations that he molested two ball boys (trust us, no pun intended) over a time period spanning from the 1980s to the 1990s.

One victim, Bobby Davis, is now 39-years old and says that the abuse started in 1983 right before he started seventh grade. The other is 45-year old Mike Lang who says that Fine started molesting him when he entered the fifth grade. It has also been reported that the two are actually step-brothers. 

While it is too early to say that Syracuse followed in Penn State's footsteps as in covering up the allegations when reported, it should be noted that when Davis first alerted officials, his claims were dismissed. Officers claimed that the statute of limitations had expired and that he needed proof that Fine was currently molesting boys. Oh yeah, the Syracuse police chief at the time just so happened to be a former basketball player for the school. How much attention do you think he paid?

Unlike Joe Paterno in the Penn State case, head coach Jim Bohiem did not look the other way when the allegations were brought to his attention. Instead he attacked them head on and said they were false.

''This matter was fully investigated by the University in 2005 and it was determined that the allegations were unfounded," he said in a statement. "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.''