March 3rd, 2011
By Jason Gargano |
Sports |
BYU Players Can't Have Sex?
Brigham Young University's basketball
team is having a great year. Going into last night, the Cougars were
ranked No. 3 in the country, had a 27-2 record and were likely to
grab a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament.
Then 6-9 sophomore forward Brandon
Davies — the team's third leading scorer, top rebounder and best
athlete — was kicked off the team for violating BYU's honor code.
In the team's first game without him, the Cougars were routed at home by New Mexico (82-64), a sign its magical season has likely come to a screeching halt.
So how did Davies besmirch his school's honor? Word is he had “premarital sexual relations” with his girlfriend. Now, I admit to knowing little about the Mormon faith, but really? So let me get this right: It's OK for Bill on HBO's Big Love to have three different wives (and actively seek a fourth, if not yet a fifth and sixth) but Davies can't have sexual relations with his girlfriend?
Curious as to the other ways BYU players might tarnish the school's honor, I tracked down this list:
• Respect others
• Obey the law and all campus policies
• Observe the dress and grooming standards
• Be honest
• Abstain from alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea, coffee and substance abuse
• Use clean language
• Participate regularly in church services
• Encourage others in their commitment to comply with the Honor Code
That eliminates nearly every human I know — and has probably eliminated the Cougars from doing major damage in the NCAA tournament. At least they have their honor.
03.03.2011 at 11:57
Reply
jennfromks
First of all Bill from HBO's Big Love is not a member of the Mormon Church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints does not believe in plural marriages so to compare that to the code of conduct at BYU is ridiculous. All students whether they are athletes or not sign a code of conduct. Sustaining from premarital sex is part of a thing called morals. Something many people in todays world have gone without. As for the other items you listed I would beg anyone to give me a good reason as to why any of these criteria are bad!
03.03.2011 at 12:35
Casey811
Why is drinking tea and coffee dishonorable?
03.03.2011 at 12:54
Jason Gargano
Jenn,
The Big Love reference was mostly a joke. And I never said adhering to BYU's various criteria was necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it's kind of subversive and oddly endearing that in today's ruthless sports world someone would put "morals" ahead of winning.
03.04.2011 at 12:29
I THINK BEING MORMON SHOULD BE ELIGAL
