(Image Source: The Post-Standard)

BY MOLLY HULSEY

Associate head basketball coach Bernie Fine was fired Sunday by Syracuse University, after a 10-year-old recording of a phone conversation reportedly between his wife, Laurie, and one of his accusers, Bobby Davis, aired in an ESPN Outside the Lines report.

“LAURIE FINE: I know everything that went on with him. Bernie has issues, maybe that he’s not aware of, but he has issues. And you trusted somebody you shouldn’t have trusted.”

In the recording, the woman ESPN identifies as Fine’s wife not only admits to knowing the abuse occurred, but also seems to suggest a later sexual relationship of her own with Davis. Legal analyst Roger Cossack explains the implications the phone call could have.

“It also, I think, highlights the involvement of Bernie Fine’s wife Laurie, who could even be considered in some ways certainly an enabler, which may even add up to aiding and abetting in this situation.”

ESPN says it was first approached by Davis with the allegations in 2003, but it could not find another source to corroborate his story. ESPN’s Mark Schwarz explains to ABC News why caution was necessary.

“These are grave charges. We had to do everything that we could to confirm that the voice was indeed Laurie Fine... That's why we wanted to, before airing it, take the extra step to run it by a voice recognition expert who says yes, that is the voice of Laurie Fine.”

It’s not just the Fine family who will be affected by this recording. Fox Sports points out that Syracuse head coach, Jim Boeheim, will face scrutiny as well.

“Jim Boeheim, the head coach of Syracuse, has stood behind Bernie Fine. He’s been out publicly saying, ‘He’s my guy, these are allegations, we’ve done a full, thorough report and these are not true.’ Well, now Syracuse fires him. So it’ll be very interesting to see what happens with Boeheim as we go on.”

A third accuser, 23-year-old Zach Tomaselli, also came forward saying he was allegedly molested by Bernie Fine. But his estranged father, Fred, says his son’s story is a lie. Tomaselli himself is also currently facing sexual assault charges in Maine.