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Many athletes run afoul of the law, and in BYU’s case, a much stricter Honor Code than at other schools. Some schools are too lenient, some are too strong. How does BYU compare, especially among black athletes? Dr. Darron Smith of the University of Memphis shares his thoughts on a white player at Duke University, Grayson Allen, and a black player at BYU, Brandon Davies:
I think Coach K is trying to win basketball games. He’s not interested in the moral underpinnings of decisions like the BYU thing, but he’s trying to win ballgames.
While many have criticized Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski for his lenient treatment of Allen, BYU was praised by national sports commentator Jim Rome, who was impressed with BYU’s decision to suspend Brandon Davies from the basketball team, despite BYU’s great season and run into the NCAA basketball tournament. But Smith didn’t agree with Rome’s assessment.
I don’t think Jim Rome understands the context. I don’t think he understands. He is just looking at an incident, an isolated incident. He doesn’t understand the deeper meaning behind it. It was spoken out of context. It was spoken foolishly without understanding the particulars behind this.
Brandon was treated differently than most players, in that he wasn’t kicked off entirely like other players who were non-Mormon were. He got that courtesy extended to him, but the way he was paraded around and made the scapegoat and to me I know that had an effect on him, to be the whipping boy because there’s already a stigma around black people and sex. Now he’s the poster boy for inappropriate sexual relations as a Mormon. I know he’s carrying that stigma.
What do you think? Is Duke too lenient? Is BYU too strict? Are both schools deserving of praise or criticism?
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