Bernie Fine Scandal: Jim Boeheim Takes Big Risk by Backing Syracuse Assistant

Legendary college basketball coach Jim Boeheim put his own reputation, as well as that of Syracuse University, firmly on the line with his support of longtime assistant Bernie Fine, who is accused of having molested two young ball boys for the school's basketball team during the 1980s.

That's not to say that Fine is necessarily innocent or guilty in the matter or that Boeheim is entirely wrong to back him if he believes in Fine's innocence as vehemently as his comments would suggest. As Boeheim told ESPN (h/t USA Today):

""I know this kid (Davis), 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 (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.""

If Boeheim's words are supported by the police investigation, then he and the university, at least for the most part, will be no worse for the wear.

However, if the claims put forth by Bobby Davis and Mike Lang hold up, then Boeheim and Syracuse will come off as doubly ignorant and, as such, that much more condemning.

After all, the only thing worse than committing crimes of these nature is enabling such atrocities to occur, and the only thing worse than that is to deny the possibility so strongly.

There is some reason for suspicion in regard to these shocking allegations, which come just a week after the Jerry Sandusky child rape accusations rocked Penn State.

Outside the Lines, ESPN's sports news magazine, investigated the accusations put forth by Davis back in 2003 but declined to air the story when the claims could not be corroborated. It is now being reported because Davis' stepbrother, Mike Lang, has come forward.

The Syracuse Post-Standard also looked into the matter and brushed the story aside as well.

Ultimately, this potential fiasco figures to be much trickier to figure out than its Penn State counterpart. As of yet, there is no Mike McQueary, no third-party witness to lend credence to the claims being investigated.

If anything, though, the fragility of the matter should be even more reason for Boeheim to measure his words carefully. He is to Syracuse what Paterno was to Penn State and, as such, whatever he says or does could have dire consequences for the university as a whole.

There is no winning for Boeheim and Syracuse in this situation, even if they are found innocent or, rather, the case is too flimsy.

As such, all parties involved would be best served to keep quiet and let the facts of the investigation speak for themselves.