lost his wife Bathsheba to David, who already had riches, power, wives and the ability to get as many more unmarried wives as he wanted. But ego-driven David chose the married one instead. If BYU is able to survive this, it won't be because Pope chose to do the honorable thing. No one forced him to offer Chandler, knowing it might well sabotage BYU, just like no one forced him to leave BYU in the middle of a rebuild. Chandler means ten times as much to BYU as he will to Kentucky. BYU has already been recruiting future classes around Chandler, using him as an attractive draw. Only if we accept that Pope's personal ego gratification is more important than honor and doing right by those who comprised "the best locker room in America," can we defend him with the attitude of "all's fair in love, war and college sports."

It would be much different if Chandler had already been in the program, played for BYU, and decided he wanted out. But to intervene so that BYU was never given a chance to earn Chandler's loyalty, shows a lack of character on Pope's part.