Utah is well known as the “Mormon Bible Belt.” But a recent controversy involving sex, sports and religion has the rest of the country scratching their heads.
Right in the mix of a NCAA men’s basketball tournament, Brigham Young University suspended basketball player Brandon Davies for violating the school’s honor code. His crime: having sex with his girlfriend.
BYU is a private school affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and requires students via an honor code to “live a chaste and virtuous life.” Students are also required to be honest; abstain from alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea, coffee and substance abuse; and attend church regularly. But due to his intimate transgressions, Davies has been suspended from the team for the rest of the season and his future at the school is unknown.
“Everybody who comes to BYU, every student if they’re an athlete or not an athlete, they make a commitment when they come,” BYU Coach Dave Rose said, adding that he thought Davies would play again for the team. “A lot of people try to judge if this is right or wrong, but it’s a commitment they make. It’s not about right or wrong. It’s about commitment.”
It's 2011. This was just stupid.