Editorial: BYU sacrifices winning to uphold honor code

Brigham Young University killed their Final Four chances because their team’s rebound leader had premarital sex. Brandon Davies obviously knew what he was getting into when he joined BYU’s basketball team. The private Mormon institution forbids pre-martial sex, alcohol, tobacco, coffee, tea, and even facial hair.

Religious institutions, like service academies, have trouble drawing star athletes to their schools. High school stars, most with visions of Animal House and hot babes, don’t seem to find private conservative institutions attractive. With the exception of Duke and their lax standards, private institutions have a harder time competing on the national sports stage. It’s become almost expected to see teams bend and twist the rules.

Expecting a college student to abstain from activities most college students actively participate in is pretty ridiculous. But as a private institution, BYU has every right to handle an internal conduct breach however it sees fit. Unlike the flurry of arrested Florida football players, or the Ohio State players who sold their trophies for tattoos, BYU has done a fantastic job of dealing with this potential problem.

Davies is still traveling with his team, watches practices, and can be seen with his teammates on campus. He may be re-instated next year if his honor review finds that he has displayed a commitment to the honor code.

What this really shows is that BYU chose commitment to high moral standards over winning. BYU is unlikely to advance past the Sweet 16 without Davies. But sticking to the school’s moral guns will help BYU save face in Provo.

BYU has shown that for every Cam Newton, there’s a student who has taken his punishment with grace. Davies, instead of throwing a fit in the media, has traveled with the team, accepted his punishment, and was there to cut down the nets when they won the Mountain West Conference.

I feel sorry for Davies. He’s going to watch the biggest games of the year from the sidelines because of something humans are hardwired to do. But if forgiving Davies means the moral standards of the school are sacrificed, then Davies is being rightfully punished.

College athletes must be held accountable. Just because they bring fame and glory to the school does not mean they should be let off the hook when they break the rules.

The days of D-1 sports being nothing more than a required AAU stint before the pros has been protected by an institution who threw what is arguably its greatest basketball team in school history to hold itself to its own standards.

This exceedingly rare trait should be applauded. When Jimmer Fredette graduates, BYU is unlikely to ever have a shot at a national championship again. And if that’s what it takes to uphold a schools standards, so be it.

jameyer@mesastate.edu

Categorised in: Opinions

This post was written by critedev