Jim Boeheim predicted it, foreshadowed it and then couldn’t avoid it. The probative and at times aggressive questioning about the sexual abuse allegations against former Syracuse associate men’s basketball coach Bernie Fine were fired at the SU head coach repeatedly for nearly 20 minutes.

The completed 84-48 win over Eastern Michigan meant nothing. After a litany of consecutive questions regarding his job status, Fine and ball boys within the program, Boeheim shot down the frivolous efforts by director of athletic communications Pete Moore to direct the press conference elsewhere.

There was no deterring what became the main event Tuesday night inside the Carrier Dome.

‘Questions about the game?’ Moore said 9:45 into the questioning.

‘There’s not,’ Boeheim replied with a smirk. ‘Pete, give it up.’

Boeheim was blasted by an abnormally large group of media, prompting the head coach to declare there was more press in attendance than fans Tuesday night. In his first press conference since Chancellor Nancy Cantor made the decision to fire Fine on Sunday evening, he had a prepared statement to read aloud before the relentless questioning began. His demeanor was markedly different than the free-spirited Boeheim the media saw following SU’s win over Colgate on Nov. 19, and he made perfectly clear the ongoing investigation into the allegations requires him to hold his tongue.

‘I’m saddened in many ways by what’s unfolded, the events that have unfolded,’ Boeheim read from the podium. ‘And I’m looking forward to a time where we can talk and learn from what has happened. There’s an important investigation going on, which I fully support, and I can’t add anything to that by speaking more about that now. The investigation, and all that we can learn from it, is what is important.’

A central focus of the questions directed at Boeheim was the seemingly staunch contrast between his comments before Fine’s firing and his statement released following the dismissal Sunday night.

Gone were the allusions to extortion and lying by the accusers and the unwavering support of Fine. And in its place were three sentences that expressed regret and took a step back.

‘I believe the university took the appropriate step tonight,’ Boeheim said in his statement on Sunday. ‘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.’

When questioned about the change in his stance, Boeheim contended that his stance hasn’t changed at all. He said Tuesday that each and every one of his previous comments was made in reaction to the knowledge he possessed at that time.

Boeheim said he has not heard the audio tape of a secretly recorded conversation between Bobby Davis, Fine’s initial accuser and Laurie Fine, the former associate head coach’s wife. It was a recording in which Laurie Fine admitted to knowing about her husband’s alleged molestations of Davis and hinted at a romantic relationship between herself and Davis.

But the head coach did say his previous statements needed to be clarified as more facts came out, though he wouldn’t specify which statements.

‘Based on what I knew at that time, that there were three investigations and nothing was corroborated, meaning whatever was said was true by three different sources wasn’t corroborated,’ Boeheim said. ‘ … That was the basis of me saying what I said.

‘As obviously more facts came out, more facts did come out. … I think the university statement was accurate. I think they acted on the information they got. That’s it.’

Overshadowed by the frenzy of anticipation surrounding Boeheim’s press conference was the return of former assistant coach Rob Murphy to the Carrier Dome. Murphy is now the head coach of Eastern Michigan, and his return to Syracuse could not have come at a more trying time for the university and the community.

Murphy said he has remained focused on coaching and preparing his team over the course of the last few weeks, but he understands how difficult of a time this is for his former employer.

‘It’s a difficult time for Syracuse,’ Murphy said. ‘Period.’

After the game, just as they did following the game against Manhattan after the initial news broke, the SU players remained adamant that their focus hasn’t been deterred.

C.J. Fair called the media attention annoying. Dion Waiters called it old news after more than 10 days of nonstop coverage. And as the questions continued to be fired off at Boeheim, he simply waved his statement at the press before folding it up and walking away from the podium.

Try as they might, the questions won’t cease. Not until the ongoing investigations provide some sort of closure. But with new information bursting forth on an almost-daily basis, there is no end in sight. 

Where Tuesday’s press conference ends, the next one begins.

‘Until this investigation is done,’ Boeheim said. ‘We have to wait. I wish there was something more I could add to that, but we have to wait.’

mjcohe02@syr.edu

Published on November 29, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Michael: mjcohe02@syr.edu | @Michael_Cohen13