Samuelson and the Honor Code

[Jeff Lebowski]

I recently heard Cecil Samuelson once again repeat Bronco's line (with no attribution, BTW) about how at BYU we have winning athletic programs because of the honor code, not in spite of the honor code. I really cringe when I hear that because it smacks of hubris and flat-out B.S. Why not be honest and say "We recognize that there may be a price to pay in terms of winning by enforcing the honor code. But we are going to do it anyway because we feel it is the right thing for us to do." Now that is a statement I could respect.

Let's put it this way: what is the strongest and most successful NCAA sports program in the US currently? I would argue it is Florida. They also happened to be voted the #1 party school in America recently. And their football games are referred to as the "world's largest cocktail party". A year or two ago, Texas got the dubious honor as #1 party school. I believe it was the same year they won the national championship over USC.