To illustrate just how insane this whole Brandon Davies story has become, at one point Wednesday, "Brandon Davies girlfriend" was a more searched topic on Google than "Charlie Sheen."
People all over the country are fascinated by this story. Most national pundits had either never heard of BYU's honor code or knew what was in it. They can't believe that a 19-year old kid would get kicked off the 3rd-ranked basketball team in the country for having premarital sex with his girlfriend. Some may say that's simply ridiculous. Is it really that big of a deal?
To BYU it is.
Right at the apex of what could have been the greatest season in school history, BYU stood up for its principles and dismissed Davies from the team. Nevermind that Davies apparently self-reported the violation, or that he had been a model student and athlete during his collegiate career. He broke the honor code, and was punished. BYU may end up losing millions of dollars because of this. That's not what's important. Their values, whether you agree or disagree with them, stand first.
BYU isn't giving up Davies. They're letting him stay in school, and will give him every chance to return to the team next season. You may not agree with it or like it, but Davies knew the rules when he signed to play at BYU.
When athletic director Tom Holmoe stood up at the press conference to announce BYU was going independent in football, the number one reason he gave was exposure. BYU wants its school and its beliefs exposed to as many people as possible. Well, they're getting that exposure now. And then some.
Brandon Davies is not the first athlete to violate the honor code, nor will he be the last. But his case is certainly getting the most attention. This is a chance, albeit an unwanted chance, for BYU to show the world what it believes and what it stands for.
People all over the country are realizing that the honor code isn't just something BYU hopes all its students follow. It requires them to. It's the law. And it doesn't matter if you're a sociology major or a key member of the greatest basketball team in school history, you must live its principles or you will pay the consequences.
Just look at Ohio State. Five players, including star quarterback Terrelle Pryor were suspended by the NCAA for selling various Buckeye memorabilia and accepting improper benefits. For some reason, the NCAA allowed them to play in the Sugar Bowl and hold off the suspensions until next year. BYU would never have let that happen. They would have suspended them right away. With the Davies case, BYU has proven it is not a school of hypocrisy.
Maybe the most amazing thing about this story is the support the students and fans are giving the administration. I talked to dozens of rabid fans before the New Mexico games Wednesday night. These are the kind of fans willing to camp out in the cold for three days to get tickets to a basketball game. Every single one of them said they support the university's decision to dismiss Davies. They realize it most likely ruins their Final Four dreams, but that doesn't matter to them. The code they live by is far more important. And no matter what you believe, that must be respected.
