Maybe I missed something but I don't see the honor code playing a role in this. It's about Pope and the basketball team. The school environment comes into play and the HC lends to that, but it wasn't a major factor itself.

I mean, if it was a different coach, a struggling one, and maybe a locker room that wasn't so great, that's what changes everything in this scenario, not the honor code.

I just don't think any credit was ever given to the HC, so let's not make it up just to try to make a positive point about it.