SYRACUSE -- The allegations against SU Assistant Basketball Coach Bernie Fine are shocking, and students are nothing short of stunned.
"I just hope it's not true. But I hope that with these rumors, that the investigation is taken seriously," said Catherine Mehta.
The news spread very quickly on the SU Hill. ESPN broke the story late Thursday evening, after a victim came forward claiming he was sexually abused by Fine for more than a decade. It allegedly started when we he was a ball boy for the team when he was a young teen.
Right now, Syracuse Police tell us they are in the early stages of an investigation. SU officials also say they looked into allegations and conducted interviews back in 2005 after accusations came up. The investigation didn't turn up any evidence of abuse. Fine strongly denies any wrongdoing.
The allegations come just days after the Penn State sex scandal involving Assistant Football Coach Jerry Sandusky. "All of a sudden SU is in a very similar situation. I'm just wondering, my first reaction, was did anybody know about this? How long has this been going on?" asked Alessondra Parra.
"After the recent news with Penn State, that's where I'm from. And it sucks to hear that people who are in constant contact with students, that abuse is potentially happening and that we have to investigate. I feel like it shouldn't be an investigation but prevention that we should be working on. And it's sad that we are always a bit too late it seems," said Carly Piersol.
Head Coach Jim Boeheim says he stands behind Fine, who has been an assistant coach for 35 years. Right now, he has been placed on administrative leave.
What do you think about the allegations?
