When I was at Ricks (many moons ago), some nosey wanna-be HC policewoman in my apartment complex saw me pile into a vehicle with sleeping bags, 4 guys and 3 girls. They assumed we were going camping in mixed company, I guess (oh, the horror!). What they didn't know is that we were actually a working rock/pop band on our way to play a function for Ricks in West Yellowstone that night, then onto Boise, where we slept under the stars in the back yard of a general authority, followed up the next day with playing for a regional church youth conference in Washington.

Funny thing was, the Dean of Standards was also my bishop and a friend. He simply told me of the rumor and asked me for the back story. I told him and we both laughed about it and moved on. He did tell me that the self-appointed tattlers were a constant annoyance to him, but sometimes he had to follow up if something had any appearance of legitimacy. He always tried to do so giving the subject of the rumor total privacy and total benefit of the doubt.

Heck, even if my current bishop heard a salacious rumor about me, he'd probably ask me about it, just to confirm it's not true. That's not inappropriate in my book, especially if I have a position of responsibility in the ward. A high profile athlete at BYU is subject to so much scrutiny, I don't envy them. I'm just not ready to assume that the HC office went all Nazi on Jake. It could've been just a simple phone call from the HC office to Jake or his coach. The real shame should be placed on those starting and perpetuating the false rumors.

There's lots the HC office can improve on, but they also have a very difficult balancing act given the parameters they have to work under. I'd need more information before throwing them under the bus on this one.