Jim Boeheim: Should Coaching Legend Take the Fall for Bernie Fine Sex Scandal?

Allegations came to light on Nov. 17 regarding long-time Syracuse assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine molesting two former ball boys. Legendary head coach Jim Boeheim was vehement in his support of Fine, but since then Fine has been fired, and Boeheim has changed his stance.

Boeheim initially claimed that Bobby Davis—one of the alleged victims—was lying about Fine and that he was simply trying to cash in during the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal at Penn State. Boeheim's denial was so intense, in fact, that it seemed a bit suspicious.

Now that Fine has officially been fired from his post as assistant coach, Boeheim's sentiments are quite different. That likely has something to do with the fact that a third alleged victim has come forward, and a recording of a conversation between Davis and Fine's wife Laurie has been made public in which Laurie expresses suspicion of Bernie Fine's actions.

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"What is most important is that this matter be fully investigated and that anyone with information be supported to come forward so that the truth can be found," Boeheim said. "I deeply regret any statements I made that might have inhibited that from occurring or been insensitive to victims of abuse."

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At this point it is nearly impossible to tell if Boeheim knew anything to begin with. The manner in which he scoffed at the allegations could have been his way at covering up the supposed incidents, but it just as easily could have been a natural defense of his good friend.

One particularly strange comment he made while trying to debunk Davis' accusations was that he had never been in Fine's hotel room on road trips during his entire tenure at Syracuse. This came up when Davis claimed that Boeheim had seen him in Fine's hotel room before, and that he seemed to know something inappropriate was happening.

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He makes the point that he was around and traveling with the team. Not that I know of. I never saw him. He is quoted — (that) I saw him in the room. I have never been in Bernie Fine's room in my life. That is an outright lie.

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The fact that Davis traveled with the team—at least occasionally—has been corroborated, so it's quite interesting that Boeheim would have never seen Davis on a road trip. Also, while it's possible that Boeheim has never been in Fine's hotel room, that assertion reeks of a wild haymaker from somebody who is about to be figured out.

Boeheim's initial devil-may-care attitude with regards to Davis' allegations certainly didn't sit well with many, including anti-sexual abuse organizations, many of which are calling for Boeheim to get the axe in addition to Fine.

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"I think Jim Boeheim should be fired or resign as well," (Road to Recovery president Rev. Robert) Hoatson said Monday. "These boys were members of the basketball program. Jim Boeheim's responsibility is to oversee that program, and the children were not safe on his watch."

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Hoatson brings up an interesting point that, even if Boeheim wasn't privy to what might have been going on with Fine and the Syracuse ball boys, it was his responsibility as head basketball coach to ensure that everything regarding the program was squeaky clean.

Unlike the Penn State case, in which former head coach Joe Paterno was shown in the grand jury presentment to have been alerted of Sandusky's actions, there may be no such damning evidence against Boeheim. Because of that, the university has to make a decision based upon an assumption.

While there isn't necessarily any right answer in this case, I would lean toward firing Boeheim. His immediate dismissal of the allegations against Fine were simply too adamant for me to believe that he knew absolutely nothing about Fine.

Davis has shown himself to be reliable at this point, especially with the tape coming to light. So, if Davis is to be believed, then Boeheim knew that Fine had some sort of involvement with Davis.

To ensure that this situation doesn't spiral out of control like Penn State, Syracuse needs to make a preemptive strike, and that involves firing Boeheim despite his many contributions to the university.