JB

[hplare]

Don't understand the treads saying JB is done if the allegations turn out to be true. Yes, he's been adamant in standing up for his long-time friend and assistant, as one would hope he would if he truly believes in his innocence. More accusers would certainly cloud the issue, but being supportive of Bernie is a far cry from covering anything up. Does anyone really think JB would involve himself in such a thing?

 

[jkm54]

If the allegations turn out to be true, Boeheim called the victims of a sex crime liars. Can't imagine the university is going to want to be associated with that.

 

[HoustonCuse]

He's all-in and so is the entire basketball program for that matter. Unbelievable that it comes down to this, but it does.

 

[dash-30-dash]

the basketball program won't miss a beat no matter what happens. Do you think guys on the team are going to transfer because of this? Or Coleman or Grant aren't going to still come here. The out of bounds series hurt us a lot more then this ever could.

 

[HoustonCuse]

the basketball program won't miss a beat no matter what happens. Do you think guys on the team are going to transfer because of this? Or Coleman or Grant aren't going to still come here. The out of bounds series hurt us a lot more then this ever could.

If people have a choice of going anywhere (and the ones we want do) do you really think they'd sign on at Child Molester U - with a rookie head coach no less?

 

[rstone7727]

Don't understand the treads saying JB is done if the allegations turn out to be true. Yes, he's been adamant in standing up for his long-time friend and assistant, as one would hope he would if he truly believes in his innocence. More accusers would certainly cloud the issue, but being supportive of Bernie is a far cry from covering anything up. Does anyone really think JB would involve himself in such a thing?

I agree, JB telling the truth "as he knows it" will not cost him his job (I don't think). OTOH, if it's proven that he did know about it, of course he's toast.

 

[pearl31]

If the allegations turn out to be true, Boeheim called the victims of a sex crime liars. Can't imagine the university is going to want to be associated with that.

This.
The university wouldn't be able to retain him even if they wanted to. Last month? Maybe Now? No.

 

[dash-30-dash]

we are loaded for the next few years and by then, it is old news.

 

[MyMeloMyMan]

we are loaded for the next few years and by then, it is old news.

What if Fine is found guilty. Then they clean house in the coaching staff and the ncaa possibly allows student athletes from SU to transfer without the one year penalty.

 

[Cuseman78]

What if Fine is found guilty. Then they clean house in the coaching staff and the ncaa possibly allows student athletes from SU to transfer without the one year penalty.

Why would we clean house if Bernie is found guilty? Unless they actually covered something up, how could they rightfully terminate the whole staff for Bernie's "transgressions"? Boeheim, with him now on the record as calling the alleged victims "liars", would most certainly be canned but I don't see what Hopkins/Gmac/Autry have anything to do with it.

 

[ljmilman]

Why would we clean house if Bernie is found guilty? Unless they actually covered something up, how could they rightfully terminate the whole staff for Bernie's "transgressions"? Boeheim, with him now on the record as calling the alleged victims "liars", would most certainly be canned but I don't see what Hopkins/Gmac/Autry have anything to do with it.

Especially since Autry was a player who likely wouldn't have had any idea, and G-Mac was nowhere around the program when this was allegedly occurring.

 

[Boozercrook]

I agree, hplare. If the allegations are proven true, Boeheim will condemn Fine as much as the rest of us. He will say, as he did in his comments tonight, that he supported his friend until he saw evidence to the contrary. Fine is innocent until proven guilty. Assuming for a moment that Fine is guilty (and I certainly think and hope he is not), as long as he is a solo actor, and his actions have not been facilitated or covered up by Boeheim or the university, Boeheim and the program will survive.

 

[ljmilman]

I agree, hplare. If the allegations are proven true, Boeheim will condemn Fine as much as the rest of us. He will say, as he did in his comments tonight, that he supported his friend until he saw evidence to the contrary. Fine is innocent until proven guilty. Assuming for a moment that Fine is guilty (and I certainly think and hope he is not), as long as he is a solo actor, and his actions have not been facilitated or covered up by Boeheim or the university, Boeheim and the program will survive.

It is difficult to predict with any foresight. The thing is, Boeheim would obviously be fine if his entire statement had been that he gave his full support to his friend. However, when he took the stance that the accusers are "liars" and "out for money," if he is incorrect, that is likely not something the University will be able to excuse. Who is to say that that means he would be fired? Not me. But, it wouldn't look good on JB.

 

[Boozercrook]

You're right, of course, that we don't know with any certainty he it will play out. There are too many variables. I'm just offering one example of how Fine might be guilty but Boeheim survives.

And I think we need to consider that possibility in the context of how Boeheim's comments have been received thus far. Those I have talked to (and I live in Chicago, so the commentators are not SU fans and are not as familiar with Boeheim as people on the east coast were when I lived there) have new respect for Boeheim's toughness (let's face it, previously his national reputation has wrongly been that he is nerdy and a whiner) and loyalty. His statements so far are not being viewed badly. If he turns out to be wrong, he can say so, but as long as he is being honest, both now and then, and there is no cover up, his reputation can survive.

 

[ljmilman]

You're right, of course, that we don't know with any certainty he it will play out. There are too many variables. I'm just offering one example of how Fine might be guilty but Boeheim survives.

And I think we need to consider that possibility in the context of how Boeheim's comments have been received thus far. Those I have talked to (and I live in Chicago, so the commentators are not SU fans and are not as familiar with Boeheim as people on the east coast were when I lived there) have new respect for Boeheim's toughness (let's face it, previously his national reputation has wrongly been that he is nerdy and a whiner) and loyalty. His statements so far are not being viewed badly. If he turns out to be wrong, he can say so, but as long as he is being honest, both now and then, and there is no cover up, his reputation can survive.

That's fair. For certain, if the end result of the investigation by the Syracuse Police/DA is that Bernie Fine is guilty of these accusations (or other accusers come forward, or whatever phrasing will properly please everyone in this hypothetical scenario), then I hope JB comes out of this saying "I said what I believed," and that somehow the administrators and the public perception allows him to stay if he so chooses.

As far as I'm concerned (as a 22 year old SU Alum who didn't follow the program before attending in 2007), Jim IS Syracuse University Basketball, and in some sense he is Syracuse University. I don't want to envision this program without him, at least not until that becomes a reality (and it is inevitable at some point). His loyalty and toughness are to be admired, I simply hope he is right.