As you’ve probably heard by now, the BYU men’s basketball team has suspended its leading rebounder, Brandon Davies, for the rest of the season for an honor code violation.
The move comes as somewhat of a surprise in college basketball circles, as the Cougars are ranked No. 3 in both polls, and No. 1 in RPI. This is the best BYU team in years, and one that can hardly afford to lose such a key performer. Before tonight’s loss to New Mexico, the Cougars were regarded as a likely No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, which starts in two weeks.
After watching Saturday’s win over San Diego State, I’ve taken the Cougars seriously as contenders for the national championship. Jimmer’s great, and they play with a poise rare amongst Cougar teams I’ve followed.
However, the reactions of BYU fans are puzzling to me. I’ve seen more than one student there say how proud they are of the school. When said students aren’t basketball fans (and they haven’t been, so far), such expressions of pride underwhelm me. If you have no interest in BYU basketball, then of course you’re okay with the program getting its legs cut out from under it. It takes no courage to support the sacrifice of something you don’t care about, so why thump your chest on Facebook?
I do like the BYU basketball team, certainly more than I like the Honor Code Office, and I’ve gone back and forth today on this. The timing is just awful. But while I’m not surprised by the school’s decision, I’m not especially buoyed by it. BYU did exactly what you’d expect it to if you paid any attention to the school. Being a BYU fan and finding satisfaction in the school not putting winning first would be like a USC fan expressing shock that his football team did put winning first. It’s just what they do.
That’s not to say other schools’ values are just as valid as BYU’s. I’d rather have the integrity the Cougars showed than the anything-goes philosophy of many other athletic departments. But anyone could value other things above winning, and then not win.
The fact is, the Cougars are playing a different game from everyone else. It really wouldn’t make sense for a state university to set the same standards of personal conduct that a university owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would. It’s fair for BYU students to be proud of BYU for being BYU, but as a sports fan that doesn’t do much for me.
Of course, if the Cougars do win it all, or even make the Final Four, that would be truly impressive, and it would make sense to hold up the school as a model for all athletic departments. It’s just hard to see that happening after an 18-point loss.
My only other thought is how bad I feel for everyone involved in the team. Tough draw for the coach. Downer for Jimmer Fredette, a truly great collegiate star whose athletic peak might be this season. I hate to think this will cost him his moment of glory in the NCAA Tournament. And I feel sad for Davies, who may well have cost his teammates the high point of their basketball careers, but who is already paying dearly in public humiliation for his private failings. At any other school, his only job would be to beat his opponents; but at BYU, playing well and living right are both just part of the game.
Comments
I have been pleasantly surprised by the reaction of some sports pundits, whom I expected would reflexively criticize BYU's high standards. But many of them have noted how refreshing it is for a school to have standards and actually enforce them. BYU has proven to be the polar opposite of many schools (i.e., the aforementioned USC) and the pious fat cats who control the NCAA's exploitative cash machine.
I have no love lost for BYU sports, but I was hoping to see them make a run this year. Jimmer is great, and I hate to see his talent squandered in what might have been his greatest hour. I unfortunately don't see him being much of an impact player on the next level.
http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/05/jim-mcmahon-talks-about-b-y-u-s-honor-code/