If you know anything about college basketball this season, then you know about BYU and their sudden success. The Mormon Cougars, led by star player Jimmer Fredette, are ranked #3 in the nation this week and are in the discussions for a #1 seed for the NCAA tournament.
Well also this week, the school announced that starting forward Brandon Davies has been dismissed from the team for breaking the school’s honor code. The school was quick to announce that he has not been kicked out of school; he has not done any criminal offense; and he has not messed up academically. He simply broke the school’s honor code. Every student, athlete or not, at BYU commits to keeping the school’s honor code.
Davies admittedly broke the honor code. And because of that he has been dismissed from the team. (This really hurts the team. Their first game without Davies was last night, and they lost badly.)
ESPN reports today here that Davies had sexual relations with his girlfriend. This is not allowed for any student at Brigham Young University.
My thoughts race quickly to whether this is good or bad. Should they forgive him and restore him? Or should he be punished this?
In a day when integrity is lacking nearly everywhere, especially in collegiate sports, it is nice to see a school stick to their commitments and model integrity.
As BYU’s head coach said:
“A lot of people try to judge if this is right or wrong, but it’s a commitment they make. It’s not about right or wrong. It’s about commitment.”
I agree. Great statement. Having sex with your girlfriend is wrong, but its not the end of the world. But also getting kicked off the team for this season is not the end of the world. He is still in school.
Discipline is a good thing. Its how people grow. Commitment is a good thing too. If you make a commitment, be committed. And if you are not going to be committed, then just know that discipline may come.
It is nice to see a good example of integrity from the school.