BYU gets it right with new Honor Code policy

PROVO — For every BYU athlete who has violated the Honor Code but not the law, Tom Holmoe delivered welcoming news.

Speaking before a group of media during an informal setting this week, the university’s athletic director announced a change in the way BYU publicly acknowledges that an athlete is under investigation for a possible Honor Code violation. Basically, with two exceptions, administrators and coaches will shut up.

“Over the last year we’ve had discussions with people on campus regarding an Honor Code policy,” Holmoe said. “We’ve had a number of discussions and it led to the point, as of Jan. 1, when we receive inquiries from the media about Honor Code issues we no longer will address them from a campus perspective. There won’t be a campus spokesperson that will address any Honor Code issues anymore.”

And it’s about time.

For the last several years, a BYU spokeswoman upon request would confirm if Honor Code officials were investigating an athlete. In almost every case, it involved players from the two highest-profile sports, football and men’s basketball.

Once the media received the confirmation, the player’s name was broadcast to the world. It never made any sense to subject a college student to such public embarrassment.

BYU will no longer comment unless there is a public record, which usually involves some kind of arrest or other police involvement. The school also will comment if an athlete publicly speaks on any Honor Code action.

All in all, the policy is right.

In the last few years, BYU has had two high-profile athletes — basketball player Brandon Davies and linebacker Spencer Hadley — be suspended for Honor Code violations. Both times a BYU spokeswoman confirmed the players were under investigation even though neither had committed a crime.

Both athletes were subject to public ridicule and embarrassment. In future cases, BYU will play no part in subjecting its athletes to public humiliation.

“I’m just happy where we’re at right now. It’s a good resolution to a number of different discussions,” Holmoe said.

With the explosion of media and the advent of social media, BYU probably can’t prevent Honor Code information from leaking out. But the school owes it to the players to at least do its part. If names get out through other avenues, then so be it.

One potential problem likely will surface when Honor Code discipline involves a player being forced to sit out games. At that point the media will probe to determine the reason for the suspension.

“A coach could say a violation of team rules,” Holmoe said.

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During the 45-minute roundtable, Holmoe also hit on a number of topics. Some of them included:

• Conference realignment has quieted down for now, but Holmoe believes it will pick up again at some point. He thinks all of the power conferences will play a championship game as part of the new playoff system.

At some point, BYU football will need to have a conference affiliation. Independence is not a long-term solution.

• BYU is close to securing a bowl agreement for the upcoming season. Holmoe said BYU’s strong relationship with ESPN can help secure a bowl game.
• Holmoe is confident Notre Dame will fulfill its six-game contract with BYU, which both schools agreed to four years ago. With Notre Dame beginning a scheduling agreement with the Atlantic Coast Conference, it may take several years to complete the series with BYU.
• If the NCAA foolishly decides to pay college athletes, BYU will be ready for it. “As we’ve studied this over the last couple of years, we’re prepared to do what it takes to be competitive,” Holmoe said.

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