Bernie Fine: Syracuse Coach Accused of Molesting Ball Boys

by NowPublic Staff | November 18, 2011 at 09:37 am

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Associate Head Coach Bernie Fine on Admin Leave after Sex Abuse Claims

Two former ball boys for Syracuse University have accused associate head coach Bernie Fine of sexually molesting them. Bernie Fine is now on administrative leave as police investigate.

One of the victims, Bobby Davis, now 39, said that Bernie Fine began molesting him in 1984, when he was in 7th grade. ESPN began working on this story in 2003, but never published their story, as they were unable to corroborate Bobby Davis' accusation.

The other alleged victim is Mike Lang, now 45, is Bobby Davis' stepbrother. He has just recently come forward after the Jerry Sandusky scandal began dominating headlines.

Jerry Sandusky Scandal: Penn State Cover-Up?

Bernie Fine has been an assistant coach to Jim Boeheim for 35 years. Boeheim is backing up Fine, saying that he knew nothing about the alleged abuses, and accused Bobby Davis of lying.

Both Bobby Davis and Mike Lang appeared on camera for ESPN to make their accusations.

Bernie Fine was investigated in 2005, but nobody could apparently back up Bobby Davis' accusations. Now that Mike Lang has stepped forward, the investigation has been reopened.

Davis said Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim saw him in Fine's hotel room on several of those road trips, but Davis said he never told Boeheim about the alleged abuse.

Deadspin got hold of an email sent from Syracuse chancellor Nancy Cantor to alumni. Int he email, Cantor tries to assuage any concerns that Syracuse would try to sweep the scandal under the rug: indeed, one of the many moving parts to the Jerry Sandusky scandal is the fact that Penn State took so little action in the initial investigation.