Brandon Davies has been suspended from BYU’s men’s basketball team for the rest of the 2010-11 season due to a BYU Honor Code violation.
Losing Davies, a BYU center, has been a tough blow to BYU’s team as well as for cougar fans nationwide. BYU’s basketball team was ranked number 3 in the nation but lost yesterday’s game against the New Mexico Lobos, with the final score being 82-64. It was the team’s first home game loss this season.
So what exactly did Davies do to get suspended? The Salt Lake Tribune reports Davies admitted to having sexual relations with his girlfriend – a strong violation of the BYU Honor Code, but neither BYU nor Davies have officially specified the nature of the violation.
According to The Salt Lake Tribune, Davies told his team everything and apologized for his actions.
BYU has been receiving criticism (just search “BYU” on twitter right now for some examples) for a seemingly unrealistic Honor Code and suspending Davies during an ideal season. But Davies knew what he was signing up for when he decided to come to BYU. Every BYU student agrees to live by the university’s Honor Code.
The Honor Code standards include:
- Be honest
- Live a chaste and virtuous life
- Obey the law and all campus policies
- Use clean language
- Respect others
- Abstain from alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea, coffee, and substance abuse
- Participate regularly in church services
- Observe the Dress and Grooming Standards (which includes a clean-shaven appearance for men)
- Encourage others in their commitment to comply with the Honor Code
While we may not know exactly Davies did, it’s safe to assume this was more than saying a few curse words or not shaving for a couple days.
ESPN’s Pat Forde praised BYU for sticking to their rules even when it hurts.
“What makes this such a powerful testament is the fact that so many schools have cravenly abandoned their standards at such a time as this, embracing athletic expediency over institutional principle,” Forde said in his recent editorial. “It happens so often that we don’t even raise an eyebrow at it anymore …
‘Indefinite’ suspensions often last only as long as they’re convenient — timed to coincide with exhibition games or low-stress games against overmatched opponents.
That certainly didn’t happen in this instance at BYU.”
J.J. Despain, a sports editor for BYU’s campus newspaper The Daily Universe, wrote an editorial on BYU’s situation published in today’s paper.
“It’s a sad day in Cougar Nation.” Despain said. “But rather than starting a blame game, let’s instead cheer on the Cougars at the next game.”
We at BYU Her Campus agree – It’s a tough blow, but we’re still cougar fans and wish our boys luck at Saturday’s game.
Go cougars.