Brandon Davies, a key component of the No. 3 ranked college basketball team in the country had sex with his girlfriend. On most teams, that’s about as common as a player making an “And One” layup. But at BYU, that type of conduct, will get you suspended, no questions asked.
Brandon Davies was suspended from BYU after it was discovered that he had sex with his girlfriend. It’s a crushing blow to BYU and arguably, college basketball’s best player, Jimmer Fredette. BYU has been absolutely balling this year and Brandon Davies, the starting center for the team, was a major component of the team’s success. With Davies in the lineup the team’s record was 27-2.
When you go to BYU, you’re going there with the understanding that you are expected to follow a code of conduct employed by the church of Latter- Day Saints. It’s a strict code of conduct that most of us would have already violated by noon each day.
Brandon’s crime was getting laid. It will cost him the rest of season, including missing the tournament and it could derail the team’s chances to make a big run in the tourney as many have expected them to do this year.
Here’s just a few expectations of the BYU honor code:
1. Be honest
2. Live a chaste and virtuous life –that means no sex!
3. Obey the law and all campus policies
4. Use clean language
5. Respect others
6. Abstain from alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea, coffee, and substance abuse
7. Participate regularly in church services
8. Observe the Dress and Grooming Standards
Take a look at that list and ask yourself how many of those you have already violated today. I may have violated a couple of those before I finish writing this piece.
I can’t imagine how difficult it must already be for BYU to recruit. And now with this, a guy slips up once and get’s his rocks off and now he’s off the team and his career is jeopardized; this will only make it tougher for BYU to recruit guys. That’s not to say that there’s not players out there that can live up to this standard, it’s just that the price for making a single mistake is way too high for basketball players looking to become a professional one day.
It’s hard enough to become a pro, it’s even harder to say no to all the tail being thrown at you as a division 1 college basketball stud, kudos to the rest of the BYU players for either maintaining the standard or for not getting busted.
Interestingly enough, in the absence of Davies, BYU got their asses handed to them by un-ranked New Mexico. At 6-9, 235 lbs, Davies gives BYU 11 points and 6 rebounds per game, and provides a defensive presence in the middle. Without Davies in the lineup, it was an ugly loss, New Mexico romped them 82-64, dropping BYU to a record of 27-3 and will likely drop them down in the national rankings.
Somebody please correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t this young man step up and take responsibility for his actions? Didn’t Davies admit to his violation of the Honor Code, instead of trying to lie or hide it, which he probably could have done? Still he’s suspended for the rest of the season?
It’s not like he was throwing bunga bunga parties…
Isn’t there anything in the “Honor Code” about forgiveness?
