Syracuse, N.Y. - Assistant Syracuse University Basketball Coach Bernie Fine said in a statement Friday afternoon that allegations against him that he molested two ball boys decades ago are "patently false in every aspect".
Bobby Davis, 39, told ESPN that Bernie Fine started molesting him in 1984 when he was a ball boy for the basketball team.
Davis said the sexual contact continued until he was 27 years old.
"Sadly, we live in an allegation-based society and an internet age where in a matter of
minutes one's life long reputation can be severely damaged," Fine said. "I am confident that, as in the past, a review of these allegations will be discredited and restore my reputation."
Head Basketball Coach Jim Boeheim also spoke publicly for the first time since Fine was placed on administrative leave due to the sexual abuse allegations.
"I feel like someone just punched you in the stomach," Boeheim told the Gomez and Dave Show on TK99 Radio in Syracuse Friday morning.
Bobby Davis told ESPN that Boeheim saw him in Fine's hotel room on several road trips.
Boeheim said Davis' claims that he saw him in Fine's hotel room are untrue.
"I have never been in Bernie Fine's room on the road. And I've known Bernie for 50 years and I don't believe this," Boeheim said on the radio show. "It's as simple as that. I never saw this guy at any time in anybody's room."
In a statement released Friday, Syracuse University's Chancellor said that an adult contacted SU in 2005.
Chancellor Nancy Cantor said the man claimed six years ago that he reported the allegations to police in the 1980's and 1990's.
Cantor said the investigation lasted four months in 2005.
"All of those identified by him denied any knowledge of wrongful conduct by the associate coach," Chancellor Cantor said. "At the end of the investigation, as we were unable to find any corroboration of the allegations, the case was closed. Had any evidence or corroboration of earlier allegations surfaced—even if the Police had declined to pursue the matter —we would have acted."
Cantor said they learned last night that the Syracuse Police Department has opened a new investigation.
Davis' stepbrother, Mike Lang, also claims Fine molested him starting in the fifth or sixth grade.
Lang was also a ball boy.
"All we really know is that a terrible tragedy is unfolding for both the accuser and the accused. I want you to know that we will do everything in our power to find the truth, and —if and when we do find it—to let you know what we have found," Cantor said.
"I appreciate the Chancellor’s statement that I should be accorded a fair opportunity to defend myself against these accusations," said Fine.
Syracuse plays Colgate at home Saturday.
Boeheim said he's trying to keep his players focused on tomorrow's game.
