Brandon Davies, Girlfriend Have Sex: BYU Honor Code Violation

The sports world is collectively scratching its head today, as reports that premarital sex and Brandon Davies' girlfriend led to his BYU honor code violation and suspension. A college basketball player suspended for having sex with his girlfriend? At the Mormon school, it's a BYU honor code violation and grounds for dismissal from the university.

If Brandon Davies played for most any other college basketball team in the country, this would likely never even be reported. But the Salt Lake Tribune reports that is why the star forward, on the No. 3 Cougars team, was suspended mere weeks before the NCAA Tournament.

The suspension could cost the team its hopes for a deep run in the tournament and millions in revenue, but BYU stood behind its honor code and suspended Brandon Davies for the remainder of the season.

BYU, affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, has an honor code which forbids students from engaging in premarital sex, and admonishes them to "live a chaste and virtuous life." Not only religious schools have strict rules for students. At West Point, for instance, some Friday nights have mandatory study hours, and students reportedly aren't allowed to sit on the same piece of furniture as someone of the opposite sex.

According to the BYU Honor Code:

Students must be in good Honor Code standing to be admitted to, continue enrollment at, and graduate from BYU.

Publicly, BYU officials have said only that Davies violated the school's honor code and his actions were not criminal in nature, according to USA Today. Davies is reported to have admitted his transgression to BYU officials on Monday, according to multiple sources. One has to wonder if he had an attorney present.

The BYU honor code violation could lead to Davies dismissal from the college entirely. Think of it as a contract, of sorts, between students and the school. Expect to hear about Brandon Davies' girlfriend every time BYU plays a game during March Madness.

Related Resources:

• Tribune: BYU hoops star suspended for premarital sex (USA Today)
• BYU stands by its Honor Code, which could ruin basketball season (Post Gazette)
• BYU Player Suspended: What did Brandon Davies Do? (FindLaw.Com)