SYRACUSE, New York (AP) -- Just after a child sex-abuse scandal claimed the coach of a legendary U.S. football program and the university's president, ESPN reported Thursday that police were investigating allegations of child molestation against an assistant basketball coach at the storied Syracuse University program.
The school placed Bernie Fine on administrative leave Thursday night ``in light of the new allegations and the Syracuse City Police investigation.''
Syracuse is a college basketball powerhouse that has been led by coach Jim Boeheim since the 1970s. Boeheim managed to put an upstate New York city that had been known more for its snow on the American sports map.
On Friday, Chancellor Nancy Cantor said in an email Friday morning to students, faculty and staff that the school won't turn a blind eye to the allegations, and that Fine has ``vehemently denied the allegations.''
ESPN said the accusations were made by two former ball boys. Bobby Davis, now 39, told the network Fine allegedly molested him beginning in 1984 and that the sexual contact continued until he was around 27. A ball boy for six years, Davis told ESPN the alleged abuse occurred at Fine's home, at Syracuse basketball facilities and on team road trips.
Davis' stepbrother, Mike Lang, 45, who also was a ball boy, told ESPN that Fine molested him as well.
Syracuse police spokesman Tom Connellan said the inquiry is in its early stages.
``It's information that came to us today'' Connellan said, declining to identify who provided it.
Fine is in his 35th season as an assistant to coach Boeheim.
Syracuse said it had conducted its own investigation years ago and couldn't find witnesses to corroborate the allegations.
A statement by Kevin Quinn, the school's senior vice president for public affairs, said Syracuse was contacted in 2005 by ``an adult male who told us that he had reported to the Syracuse City Police that he had been subjected to inappropriate contact by an associate men's basketball coach.''
Quinn said the alleged activity took place in the 1980s and 1990s.
``We were informed by the complainant that the Syracuse City Police had declined to pursue the matter because the statute of limitations had expired,'' Quinn said.
Quinn said the school conducted its own four-month investigation, including interviews with people the accuser said would support his allegations, but that all of them ``denied any knowledge of wrongful conduct'' and that the coach also denied the allegations.
Boeheim released a statement saying: ``This matter was fully investigated by the university in 2005 and it was determined that the allegations were unfounded.
``I have known Bernie Fine for more than 40 years. I have never seen or witnessed anything to suggest that he would (have) been involved in any of the activities alleged. Had I seen or suspected anything, I would have taken action. Bernie has my full support.''
Davis said he felt bitter emotions after sex scandals emerged in the Catholic Church and, lately, with the allegations and charges against former Penn State football defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.
In the Penn State case, Sandusky is accused of sexually abusing eight boys over 15 years. The case cost coach Joe Paterno his job, and former school administrators Tim Curley and Gary Schultz are charged with not properly alerting authorities to suspected abuse and perjury.
Davis told ESPN that Boeheim knew he was traveling on the road and sleeping in Fine's room.
``Boeheim saw me with Bernie all the time in the hotel rooms, on road trips,'' Davis said. ``He'd come in, and see me laying in the bed, kind of glance at me like, `What are you doing here?' But he wouldn't say that. He'd just scowl. And I would look at him like, I'd be nervous. I felt embarrassed `cause I felt stupid that I'm there. I'm not supposed to be here. I know it, and Boeheim's not stupid.''
In a telephone interview Thursday night with the AP, Boeheim said: ``This kid came forward and there was no one to corroborate his story. Not one. Not one. ... They said I walked into Bernie's room on the road and saw this. I have never walked into Bernie's room on the road. This isn't true. This just isn't true.''
美대학 농구팀서도 아동 성추행 의혹
미국 뉴욕 주 시라큐스대 농구팀에서도 아동 성추행 의혹이 제기됐다.
미국 스포츠 전문 케이블 채널 ESPN은 시라큐스 대학 농구팀 보조코치 버니 파 인이 성추행 의혹으로 경찰 조사를 받고 있다고 보도했다.
낸시 캔터 시라큐스대 총장은 18일(현지시간) 학생들에게 보낸 이메일에서 교수 진과 학교 직원들은 제기된 의혹을 그냥 넘어가지 않을 것이라면서도 파인이 관련 혐의를 완강하게 부인하고 있다고 전했다.
ESPN에 따르면 바비 데이비스(39)를 비롯해 이 대학 농구팀의 전직 볼보이 2명 의 신고로 조사가 시작됐다.
데이비스는 파인이 자신이 12살이던 1984년부터 그의 집과 학교 농구 경기장 등 에서 성추행했으며 그런 관계가 27세까지 지속됐다고 전했다.
데이비스의 이복형인 마이크 랭(45)은 자신도 성추행을 당했다고 ESPN에 밝혔다 .
시라큐스 경찰 대변인 톰 코넬란은 "수사가 초기 단계"라고 말했다.
