The 27-2, third-ranked BYU Cougars were dealt a major blow late Tuesday when it was announced that center Brandon Davies would be suspended for the rest of the season. The school said the dismissal was due to a violation of the school’s honor code, though they did not specify which aspect of the code was violated. We do know that Davies is still a BYU student and that the school learned about the issue on Monday. The only details that were revealed came from The Salt Lake Tribune.
School spokeswoman Carri Jenkins told the paper “that to her knowledge, no other BYU student-athletes were involved in the violation. Asked if the dismissal had anything to do with Davies’ academic standing, she said, “No. This is a violation of the honor code.”
Jenkins’ comment that no other student-athlete was involved and Davies’ standing as a current student makes me believe it was not a sex issue. When BYU running back Harvey Unga was busted for the same violation, he ended up leaving school along with his girlfriend, pretty much solidifying suspicion that it was sex-related. It could have been something serious like pre-marital sex, but then I don’t think he’d still be a student if that were the case. Now if you’re curious about the BYU Honor Code, here’s what it states:
- 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
Encourage others in their commitment to comply with the Honor Code
That’s a pretty extensive list right there, and if you’re following the code you must be living one heck of a clean life. I must also add that it’s commendable of BYU to hold their Honor Code in such high esteem that they’re willing to let their high-profile basketball team suffer due to a violation. Many other schools and teams would make an exception for such a player, but BYU has not. It’s quite commendable that they stick to their principles even when one of their athletic teams will be hurt — it shows a strong sense of priorities.
As for the basketball team that will now be without its third-leading scorer, it’s pretty simple: in Jimmer they trust.
UPDATE: The Salt Lake Tribune says Davies had pre-marital sex with a girl and reportedly impregnated her.
