Bernie Fine: Molestation Scandal Hits Syracuse as Alleged Victims Speak

Bobby Davis has been saying he was molested by Bernie Fine for years. Now people are finally beginning to listen. 

Chalk it up to a report by ESPN's Outside the Lines. Give credit to the plume of smoke billowing from Penn State at the moment. Whatever the case, the allegations made by Davis and his step brother Mike Lang are finally be received by the public at large. 

In an interview with Outside the Lines, Davis stated that he had been molested by Fine, an associate basketball coach at Syracuse, when he was a ball boy for the team in the 80s. 

Davis had reached out to police officials about the allegations in 2003 but detectives told him it was past the statute of limitations. 

Now Syracuse police are opening up a full investigation based on Davis' allegations as well as Lang who recently came forward. Police have issued that they are still in the beginning stages of that investigation. Meanwhile, Syracuse has placed Fine on administrative leave. 

In the interview, Fine is alleged to have reached into the boys' shorts and touched their genitals. Lang says that he told Fine at one point, "I didn't feel right about it. And I told him Bernie, 'please don't do that to me.'"

The report issues that head coach Jim Boeheim was never alerted to the allegations and the men say they never divulged the molestation claims at any point. 

Boeheim has since come forward to defend his longtime assistant. He told ESPN the following: 

"

I know this kid, but I never saw him in any rooms or anything. 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.

"

This is not the first time that Outside the Lines investigated this matter. They did so the first time Davis came forward in 2003. 

At that time, they could not find any other victims or substantive evidence to go on. This time around they have a new alleged victim that claims the Sandusky scandal has given him bravery to come forward. 

This is what Davis told ESPN in 2003:

"

I would go on recruiting trips with him, stay in hotels with him. I stayed in many hotels with him. At the (1987) Final Four. I would get there a day earlier than Laurie (Fine's wife) and the kids sometimes and we'd spend the night all alone in a hotel room many times."

Boeheim saw me with Bernie all the time in the hotel rooms, on road trips. He'd come in, and see me laying in the bed, kind of glance at me like, 'What are you doing here?' But he wouldn't say that. He'd just scowl. And I would look at him like, I'd be nervous. I felt embarrassed 'cause I felt stupid that I'm there. I'm not supposed to be here. I know it, and Boeheim's not stupid.

"

It is easy to lump this in with the vitriol we feel from the Jerry Sandusky trial. However, at this time Fine has not been charged with any wrong doing and has been backed fully by head coach Jim Boeheim. 

There is no doubt that this story will continue to unfold until investigators are willing to come public with their findings. 

If true, Syracuse would be placed under same scrutiny that is now enveloping Penn State at the moment.