By now we've all heard about BYU forward Brandon Davies's dismissal from the basketball team for violating the school's honor code, and how that is going to really hurt the Cougars' chances in the NCAA Tournament.
Now, the report is that Davies's violation was having sex with his girlfriend. For those of us that are not familiar with the Mormons or BYU beyond their basketball and football teams, it seems crazy. But like BYU head coach Dave Rose said in the article, those kids made a commitment, so they knew what they were getting into. Davies knew he was violating and did it anyway.
So despite the fact it's impossible for me to relate to an honor code that prohibits one from drinking tea, this isn't just a case of the institution being a bully.
Pat Forde wrote a column and hit the nail on the head: maybe it's weird, but respect BYU for doing it. Upholding their standards is more important than winning games, and that is admirable.
But all my respect for BYU will stop at this point. As I understand it, Davies still might get kicked out of school. For having sex. With his girlfriend. Davies didn't go pay for a prostitute on the other side of town and take her to a hotel. No, he was with a girl that is important to him, that perhaps he loves.
If the University were to kick him out of school for that offense, then I will no longer be impressed. It will just become another typical case of administration being too power hungry, and ruining another kid's year because they turned minutiae into something bigger.
You've done well so far, BYU. Don't blow it.
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