Rose was courageous to toss Broadus

It was the first time as a Division I coach that BYU head basketball coach Dave Rose had to pull the trigger and kick a player off his team.

It wasn't fun.

But Rose said the decision on Monday to suspend senior point guard Rashaun Broadus was his decision and his alone — and he did it in the best interest of his team and the program as a whole.

He didn't like it, but it comes with the job.

Rose could have taken other actions. He could have suspended Broadus for two games, the game with TCU on Wednesday and the road trip to UNLV this Saturday. He could have made it three or four games.

But considering all his options, the case at hand, he chose to end Broadus' college career following an incident Sunday morning when the native of Hawaii was pulled over on I-15, ticketed for a myriad of violations and then arrested for suspicion of drunk driving.

Rose had suspended Broadus in his junior season for one game for "breaking team rules."

To some, the recent action may have seemed harsh. To others, it was inevitable and only justice being handed out for misconduct.

What we don't know is the whole story. Rose didn't even mention specifics of the case or his review of it from Sunday's events. Nor did he elaborate on possible other incidents — if any — on Broadus' private records as a member of his program. To that end, nobody but those two will fully know the scope of what basis Rose made his decision.

Here is a sampling of reader reaction to the Broadus affair:

• "I feel for Rashaun Broadus and wish him the best of success in his life, but Rose did the right thing, no question! These players know what is expected of them. They know the rules and the code. Sometimes athletes think that they are above the rules and if they break them, everyone will turn the other way because they are the star athlete. I grew up playing sports and I have seen this all over. I remember that there were times that teachers wanted to make it easier for me, and I wouldn't have any of it. The idea that rules don't apply to me because I am the star athlete starts in Little League and goes all the way to the pros. I think this hurts the player more than anything. They need to know that where there are rules there are consequences. These players need to realize that there are results/consequences to their actions — good and bad. Rose showed character in his decision and Broadus showed a lack thereof on Sunday morning, and now it is time for him to pay the price of his choices that morning. " — Shaun