Just two weeks after Penn State was rocked by a child sex-abuse scandal, Syracuse police said they were investigating child molesting allegations against a longtime assistant basketball coach at Syracuse University.
The school placed Bernie Fine on administrative leave Thursday night “in light of the new allegations and the Syracuse City Police investigation.”
ESPN said the accusations were made by two former ball boys.
Bobby Davis, now 39, told the network Fine allegedly molested him beginning in 1984 and that the sexual contact continued until he was around 27. A ball boy for six years, Davis told ESPN the alleged abuse occurred at Fine’s home, at Syracuse basketball facilities and on team road trips, including the 1987 Final Four.
Davis’ stepbrother, Mike Lang, 45, who also was a ball boy, told ESPN that Fine molested him starting while he was in fifth or sixth grade. Lang said he decided to come forward after seeing the Penn State coverage
Syracuse police spokesman Tom Connellan said the inquiry is in its early stages.
“It’s information that came to us today” Connellan said, declining to identify who provided it. Fine is in his 35th season as an assistant to coach Jim Boeheim.
Syracuse, meanwhile, said it had conducted its own investigation in 2005 and couldn’t find witnesses to corroborate the allegations.
Boeheim released a statement saying: “… 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.”
PAC-12 HIGHLIGHTS
No. 15 Arizona 81, at St. John’s 72: Solomon Hill had 15 points to lead the Wildcats in the semifinals of the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer at Madison Square Garden in New York
Kyle Fogg had 13 points for Arizona (4-0) and Jesse Perry added 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Wichita State 67, Colorado 58: Ben Smith scored 17 points and Garrett Stutz had 14 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Shockers over the Buffaloes in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
At Oregon 73, Eastern Washington 65: Garrett Sim scored 17 points, Tyrone Nared added 15 and the Ducks needed a late run to get past the Eagles midway through the half.
At San Diego State 56, USC 54: Xavier Thames scored 12 points, including the game-winning basket with 1.8 seconds remaining to lift the Aztecs.
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