Bernie Fine Scandal: Why Jim Boeheim Shouldn't Be Fired After Allegations

After former Syracuse assistant coach Bernie Fine was accused by three alleged victims of child molestation, head coach Jim Boeheim's level of involvement in the scandal has been brought up. Some believe Boeheim should be fired because of Fine's alleged doings, in part because of the belief he may have known something but covered it up.

But this isn't the Penn State scandal, folks.

All signs point to Boeheim having no idea what Fine was allegedly up to.

After ESPN broke the story about Fine allegedly molesting former ball boy Bobby Davis, Boeheim said, via The Post-Standard:

"

This is alleged to have occurred...what? Twenty years ago? Am I in the right neighborhood? It might be 26 years ago? So, we are supposed to what? Stop the presses 26 years later? For a false allegation? For what I absolutely believe is a false allegation?

"

Davis also accused Boeheim of seeing him in Fine's hotel room.

Said Boeheim:

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I don't recall ever walking into any of my assistant coaches' rooms. Now, could I have once...one time? I have a pretty good recollection of things, but I don't ever recollect ever walking into Bernie Fine's hotel room. Ever.

"

Boeheim did say he was aware Davis went on road trips with the basketball team, but he believed it was only because he babysat Fine's kids.

Said Boeheim:

"

He babysat Bernie's kids. That's why he was on the trips. He'd babysit. The kid only traveled, to my knowledge, if he was babysitting Bernie's kids. This is when he was 18 years old. He was helping to babysit the kids. That's the only time I know about, from talking with Bernie.

"

What does this all add up to?

To me, it appears Boeheim never knew exactly what was allegedly going on with Fine and Davis, and, if you ask other top basketball coaches, they never would have dreamed Fine could be capable of such heinous acts.

Legendary head coach Rick Pitino told Pete Thamel of The New York Times, "I’m as shocked as anyone. I’m shocked. I can’t fathom it or believe it. It’s so startling.”

After more accusers came forward, Boeheim has changed his stance, probably because he didn't know what he was dealing with before.

Said Boeheim in a statement, via The Post-Standard:

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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. I deeply regret any statements I made that might have inhibited that from occurring or been insensitive to victims of abuse.

"

It's also worth noting that if someone knows they did something wrong in these cases, they generally don't say much. Boeheim had a plethora of quotes, most likely because he believed Fine was being falsely accused and wanted to stand up for him, as anyone would in that case.

Of course, this is speculation, as none of us know yet if Boeheim knew about Fine's alleged doings. But by the look of things, it appears he really didn't know what was going on.

You can't fire someone for simply being around an alleged child molester.