Syracuse University: Bernie Fine, Jim Boeheim and the Sexual Abuse Allegations

The situation at Pennsylvania State University continues to get increasingly ugly several hours to the north, as a newer and equally repulsive story is slowly developing.

Bernie Fine, a former longtime assistant coach at Syracuse University under legendary basketball coach Jim Boeheim, is accused of numerous sexual encounters with under age men. Two of the three accusers are former ball boys.

This story of sexual abuse has surfaced over the past few weeks. It features very different dynamics from those at Penn State University—for now.

As of now, it's all accusations with no real legal teeth to them. At Penn State University the issue is innocent until proven guilty—at Syracuse University we are awaiting to find out what Bernie Fine is formally charged with. Through it all Jim Boeheim, like Joe Paterno, has handled the situation poorly. While Paterno made his key mistakes in the years leading up to the formal charges being filed, Boeheim made his most egregious misdeed when the charges first surfaced a few weeks ago. 

It wasn't that he just came to the defense of Bernie Fine, but he also lambasted the accusers who went on record as being the victims of sexual abuse. "It is a bunch of a thousand lies that he has told," Boeheim told ESPN, referring to Davis. "You don't think it is a little funny that his cousin (relative) is coming forward?"

It's not the worst thing in the world to stick by a friend in the face of adversity. However, to call out the people who are alleging sexual abuse is a rather tasteless thing to do. At the very least, Boeheim should have taken the high road and just allowed the investigation to continue. In Boeheim's defense, he recently publicly apologized for his statement. He admitted he was wrong to attack the credibility of the people who are accusing Fine of sexual abuse.

"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 in a statement released by the school. "I deeply regret any statements I made that might have inhibited that from occurring or been insensitive to victims of abuse."

While that apology for his mea culpa may be sufficient for now, there is a gathering storm that could easily render any and all apologies by Boeheim as irrelevant. It's tough to say what will happen in Syracuse, New York though. Unlike at Penn State University, with its thorough grand jury report. A formal arrest of the accuser, Jerry Sandusky in Syracuse, the case is much less formal with less hard evidence.

Fine has been fired by Syracuse University. There is a growing list of accusers as well. There is also a major scandal brewing in the Syracuse, New York area about the manner in which the accusations were handled. The local police department seem to be taking a tepid interest at best in the initial accusations. They tried to tell the accuser that the statue of limitations on the charges had expired when he pressed about the investigation delay. The police chief at the time was a Syracuse University alumni and former basketball player.

Those above Boeheim at Syracuse University may have some explaining to do. Apparently, they conducted an insufficient internal investigation and kept the details a secret from Boeheim. There's also the matter of a controversial recorded phone conversation from nearly 10 years ago between one of Fine's accusers and Fine's wife. This conversation was turned over to the media giant ESPN, but not given to law enforcement officials.

The reasons for this seemingly inexcusable act are up for debate. ESPN claimed they didn't feel the tape had enough credibility to merit an investigation of their own, and questioned why law enforcement would be needed.

Dave Zirin of  The Nation, reported today that ESPN employees anonymously made claims about the numerous Syracuse University alumni in the ESPN hierarchy, who may have had a bit too much power in determining the priority of this story. 

There are already calls for Jim Boeheim to resign. He may or may not be placed in a situation where that has to happen. One thing seems certain though, that the Syracuse University scandal isn't getting smaller and it isn't going away. Boeheim's future and the future of the Syracuse University program are both on the line. More importantly if under age men were sexually abused, then there could be more. But, how many?

Jim Boeheim is a revered public figure who holds the highest profile position at a major university, and where the basketball program is the premier program on campus. It's a nearly identical situation to the one at Penn State University with Joe Paterno. With the exception that the sport is basketball not football. The big difference is that Paterno knew something was going on with regards to Sandusky and underage boys. Boeheim as of now appears to have known nothing. 

Will that be enough to save his job and reputation? Should it be? It will be interesting to hear what the victims say. As well as what the now intense legal scrutiny uncovers.