Just a quick comment on what "PERSIFLAGE" said below, Brandon Davies actually didn't get caught breaking the honor code. He came forward himself and admitted to it. Also, I do not think at all that he is publicly shunned. In fact, most people respect him that he came forward himself and admitted to it. Did he slip up? Yes, he did. And we're all here to help him back up.

'Which is why I believe that because Larranaga didn't lower his standards and allow Skinn to play against Michigan State he and the Patriots were rewarded not only with a victory over the Spartans but a run that took them all the way to the Final Four.'

That's not karma, that's called religious superstition with a touch of self-righteousness.

Apparently the poor fellow's Mormon upbringing and contractual promises were insufficient to control mother nature's hormonal surging - thus was he outed as a normal sexual male who happened to 'get caught' doing what legions of college students are doing on a daily basis - having sex.

No doubt he and his girlfriend will be publicly shunned and totally humiliated - thus forcing a move to a community college in Salt Lake City. He should take solice in knowing that he isn't the only one of his fellow students at BYU that have broken this so-called 'honor code'.....many times over. He just got caught.

Another fallen teenager, and I suspect one of his own teammates turned him in. He just should have kept he magic underwear on, and he'd have lived to sink another hoop.........

Having been an athlete living under BYU's honor code I know first-hand some of its challenges. However, I knew when I signed the Honor code I promised to live up to its tenants. This is about personal integrity and keeping a promise. No one is perfect. Mistakes happens. However, it doesn't negate the fact that a promise was made and broken and there are consequences to that rule. I'm a great fan of Brandon and I hope to see him back on the court soon.

Being a former athlete I know what he and the team are going through. A loss of such talent at this critical time is devastating, but any athlete who has kept and honored this code knows how it brings a band of brothers together.

As far as BYU's handling of the situation, I don't believe they could have done any better. Brandon's absence alone would have forced BYU to eventually release a statement. So, whether is was on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday when he didn't suit up, a statement would have been made. A non-response would be not better. News gets out one way or the other. BYU did the right thing by addressing Brandon's dismissal immediately.

As far as the school capitalizing on this situation as a marketing opportunity for the school's honor code--that's absolutely absurd. The bottom line is a rule was broken and there was a consequence. As an athlete I knew the limits. If I had made a mistake, I wouldn't expect someone to turn a blind eye. BYU and Rick College (Now BYU Idaho) has always had an honor code. So this isn't about two consenting adults rights to have an intimate relationship, its about committing to live by the code of conduct while at BYU. You're free to be consenting adults all you want. That's your right. But this is not about free consent, this is about choosing to honor a promise to keep relationships within the parameters that was clearly explained in the honor code. This is not anything new to Students entering BYU. Most have grown up knowing this is the code of conduct for any active practicing LDS individual.

But all students at BYU are required to live within the code of conduct. That's what they committed to do. Its not easy, yet it is also not impossible. Thousands of students graduate yearly living this same code.

Having worked with the press and media, I believed Mr. Holmoe did the best he could. The Honor Code entails a broad range of expectations. Whether you use "a breech in Team Policy" or "breaking the Honor Code" they are usually synonymous in many cases. I would challenge you to find a more confidential system than BYU's Student Life (the group dealing with violations). You stated, "who's job is it to judge?" Well, in this case the code is the judge. This is religious school and infractions are dealt by Student Life and in some cases by the Clergy.

I think you misjudge the Mormon community if you think Davies will be carrying around a proverbially scarlet letter. We are loyal Brandon fans and believe in him.

The article was okay until you went weird, asserting that GM beat MSU because of karma relative to the coach's decision. What did MSU do to earn that?

STUPID.

And why didn't GM go on to win the tourney? Did another team operate with even greater integrity the weekend before?

@ pumpy25 | March 4, 2011 6:25 PM
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Here's the text of BYU's announcement,
“Due to a violation of the BYU Honor Code, Brandon Davies will not represent the university on the men’s basketball team throughout the remainder of the 2010-11 season”
BYU later clarified that Davies's violation was not criminal. That's still what we have from BYU.
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As this article noted, the alleged nature of his violation was reported by The Salt Lake Tribune and picked up by the rest of the media. FYI, The SL Trib was started back when as the anti-Mormon paper in Salt Lake City; fortunately things are more amicable now but nobody familiar with Utah's media would suggest it was working under some nefarious direction of BYU or the LDS Church.
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I hope you can see the parallel in your public false witness against Mr. Holmoe with the evil of which you accused him: you damaged him in the public eye with your false accusation -- you falsely claimed he was damaging Davies by putting in the public eye with details of his violation.

Personally, I would never attend a school where drinking a beer or a cup of coffee, smoking a cigarette, or getting laid were grounds for disciplinary action, but he did choose to attend such a school, he did agree to abide by those rules, he did freely admit to having broken one of them, and he is accepting the consequences that he knew were attached to them.

Ah yes, BYU, home of gay witch hunts and faculty member Dr. Robert Card's invention to detect sinful homosexual arousal while they showed the suspects (some minors in violation of State and Federal laws) gay pornography. Mormons then tortured them with electroshock if the sinners' boners triggered the alarm on this delightful "Christian" apparatus:

http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6050959/fulltext.html

Re the previous comment:

You should do a little more research before writing such a lengthy statement. BYU has a strict policy of not disclosing what particular part of the honor code was violated. BYU expressly declined to disclose what the violation was in this instance. Whoever revealed that Davies was engaging in premarital sex, it was not BYU.

First of all how disingenuous of Mr. Holmoe to state "It is very common in these situations where people won't understand. This is something for us we live it." Most poeple understand the concept of an honor code in reference to a private religious institution. BYU is NOT the only private religious university which requires all students to adhere. For example the University of Notre Dame has a fairly strict honor code to which the students must abide. The difference is that violations of the honor code at Notre Dame are, for the most part, kept confidential no matter who the violator is in an effort to show integrity to ALL parties involved. This confidentiality protects the student from media attention and scrutiny. Typically, this situation would have been handled by stating the particular student athlete violated team policy and the situation is currently under review, nothing further. In the case of Brandon Davies BYU seems to have no adherence to the rule or concept of confidentiality. Mr. Holmoe rationalitation for this is that everybody will be asking,"'where was he." So let them ask. If the honor code is truly present for the benefit of the student in an effort to make them moral people it should not matter that other, particularily the media want to know the specific details. The interest of the student/student athlete should be paramount, in situations like this, not the university he'she is attending. It seems clear that, BYU, by releasing the details of this suspension to the public and particulariy the media, is promoting its own interest at the expence of a 19 year old student athlete. Even if we assume that Brandon Davies disclosed this very personal and intimate situation in his life, to BYU officials, it would appear that the same BYU violated the trust and respect incumbent of the confessor, once the information is received. Shame on you MR. Holmoe and BYU for you disingenuous love for Brandon Davies. You must ask yourself again, IN THIS INSTANCE, is the honor code present for the benefir of this student athlete, or to be used as a marketing tool to promote a positive public image of BYU, an inage it so desperately craves.
They are making him wear a Scarlet letter, two consented adults. I understand the beliefs of the church, but who's job is it to judge again?

Great article! Thanks! Go Cougars!

I'll look for a similar column when BYU throws a woman off a team for getting an abortion.