Unga: Better for Cougars if he leaves?

The loss of Harvey Unga would be a big one to BYU’s football team if he isn’t reinstated following an honor code violation.

But maybe not as big as you think.

It’s true the absence of BYU’s all-time leading rusher would be a major loss for next season. But in the long run, they might be better off if he doesn’t return.

Coach Bronco Mendenhall has thrived at BYU, in large part due to good recruiting. He sells the program, but he also sells the honor code. He is up front about the type of student-athlete he recruits. And he’s up front about expecting players to live by the code.

So in the wider scope, it may actually convince even more LDS and Christian players to go there if Unga isn’t allowed to return. It would certainly encourage parents who want to keep their kids on the straight and narrow.

Even if technically Unga could become eligible, keeping him off the team would reinforce what Mendenhall has already been selling.

For an interesting take on the honor code, check out this column by CBS Sportsline’s Gregg Doyel:
cbssportsline.com