“font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;”>There is somewhat of a firestorm over the dismissal of Brigham Young’s leading rebounder Brandon Davies from the team for the remainder of the season. No, he was not cheating on a test, nor did he break the law or NCAA regulations. Davies was tossed because he violated the school code of having sex with someone you are not married to.
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;”>Hmmmm, par for most courses when it comes to college these days, but at BYU they have a code that coincides with their religious beliefs. Davies violated it. Rules are rules, and you’re out.
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;”>How did this African-American athlete end up at a school that until recently was just fine not recruiting black players to its campus?
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;”>They were fine with it, until the likes of Marshall Faulk shredded their football teams while attending San Diego State. As for the basketball team, until the arrival of Jimmer Ferdete they only had Danny Ainge to hang their hopes on with his last-second shot in the NCAA tournament a generation ago.
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;”>Enter the 21st century. BYU became proactive in recruiting more athletes of color who would abide by their rules as well as make them more competitive. It’s been a happy union that has made the program recognizable and competitive. So of all the schools that Davies could have chosen, he decided on BYU, restrictive rules and all.
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;”>We have a young man who like Adam could not resist temptation, like a lot of athletes who have succumbed to the temptations when you are the Big Man on Campus. Now Davies is off the team, and his name is being dragged through the snow in Utah because he broke the rules.
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;”>Normally I would take pity on a young man when he made such a mistake, but what pity? This guy knew the drill, he knew the lay of the land, he chose an environment that until recently frowned on him for all the wrong reasons. Yet he went there, broke the rules and now he is sitting in a dorm somewhere wondering what happened?
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;”>No pity here. He messed up. Lesson learned, I hope. This should be a lesson to anyone else who thinks they can roll into town and have at it with their women without penalty.
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;”>There still needs to be accountability, no matter what school you go to, only when you choose one that has rules that may not be in line with mainstream America, don’t expect a pity party.
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;”>Most schools have some sort of ethics or morals language in the student handbook, yet most schools seem to not enforce it as much as BYU – for good reason. If they started throwing kids out of school for such hanky panky, it would be hard to staff a class.
“font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;”>Irons in the fire “font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;”>Â
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;”>Kudos to Coach Tony Irons at Imagine Academy for taking his basketball team as far as the school has ever been this season in the tournament. Tony is the son of Floyd Irons, longtime coach at Vashon High School. Tony has paid his dues, and while he had a great mentor in Floyd he is continuing to grow as a coach.
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;”>Let’s put it on the table now. For all of those who read this and think the name IRONS is now a cuss word, let’s think about it for a minute. Like him or not, Floyd Irons made a mistake that cost him, his name and reputation. He has paid his debt to society and has moved on like anyone else should be afforded.
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;”>As for his son, he should be judged by his actions, not his father. Although no one can dispute that Floyd Irons can coach, so if Tony can follow his dad in the coaching path, all the best to him and his career. It’s nice to see young coaches come on the scene and hopefully develop the next generation of men and women we can all be proud of. “font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;”>Â
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;”>Word on a roll “font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;”>Â
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;”>Is it me or is Incarnate Word Academy the best high school basketball program in the area, boys or girls?
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;”>A school of 500 girls finds a way to get to Columbia on a regular basis. The defending state champions are back again after a thriller at UMSL that was decided on a buzzer-beater by freshman Nakiah Bell. The Red Knights always play the toughest schedule and in most cases make minced meat of the competition, both public and private schools, on a regular basis.
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;”>Coach Dan Rolfes is turning out a few Division 1 players now, and competition to play at IWA is tough. It’s never easy to win the state championship because you don’t know what awaits you in Columbia, as IWA has also found out. This year was supposed to be somewhat of a reload year, but such is not the case.
“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;”>St. Louis “font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;”>will be represented by the perennial powers in IWA and St. Joe’s Academy. So what else is new?
