“I received my Master's degree from the University of Utah while coaching at Granite High School. I obtained my doctorate from BYU while coaching. I pursued these degrees to prepare myself if coaching didn't work out.” IfsSchoolMastersDegreesHigh SchoolUniversityWork OutCoachingPursuedUtahGraniteDoctoratesByu Author:LaVell Edwards
“The Wyoming game in 1974, my third year as head coach. My first year, we were 7-4; the second year, we went 5-6; the third year started out 0-3-1. Some of the players got together and had a team meeting to get a few things straightened out. Starting with the Wyoming game, we won 6 straight games and won our first conference championship, the second in BYU's history. We went to the Fiesta Bowl, the first of many bowl games for the Cougars.” YearsFirstsTogetherGamesPlayerTeamThirdsMeetingsStartingCoachesBowlsChampionshipConferencesWyomingHead CoachesCougarsByuFiesta Author:LaVell Edwards
“After attending a banquet honoring the 1974 BYU team that won the Western AthleticConference and went to the Fiesta Bowl. It was the first of Edwards' 18 WAC champions and 21 bowl teams. That was the group of kids that totally changed the direction of my life and the direction of our football program. We started 0-3-1 and won seven or eight in a row. They were the first bowl team in school history. I hadn't really accomplished anything yet. To see all those guys reminded me where we've been. It was an emotional night.” FirstsKidsSchoolNightGuyGroupsTeamChangedEmotionalFootballProgramHistoricalWesternSevenEightChampionAccomplishedBowlsAttendingBanquetsByuFiestaSchool History Author:LaVell Edwards
“BYU takes on defending national champion Florida State in the Pigskin Classic in Jacksonville, Fla., eight days after announcing that the 2000 season would be his last before retirement: I do know this, that I'm finally a little bit more relieved than I've been for some time. Patti (his wife) and I have talked about it a lot and came to that conclusion (to retire). I had a feeling of serenity, if you will. In fact, I was feeling so serene that I put in a film of Florida State, and that got me out of that mood in a hurry.” IfsKnowsLittlesStatesFactsFeelingsWould BeLastsFilmTimeBitsWifeLittle BitSeasonsEightMoodConclusionChampionClassicRetirementRetiringSerenityFloridaSereneRelievedAnnouncingByuFlorida State Author:LaVell Edwards
“Current condition of the BYU football program? I think it's in good shape. We've got some good young players. We've had two or three pretty good recruiting years. We lost some players, obviously, that hurt us, but you always have turnover in college through attrition (graduation, transfers). That's the nature of the game.” ThinkingYearsTwoYoungThreeGamesLostHurtPlayerConditionsFootballCollegeShapesLosingProgramCurrentsGraduationTransfersTurnoverAttritionByu Author:LaVell Edwards
“Reminiscing No one knows ... until you live it, to be there, to tee it up each week, to get yourself ready, the players and whatever else.... I think its a very, very difficult, tough and demanding job. And to be able to, particularly, stay at the level of expertise that we have over the years. Along with the fact that we have made football a presence at BYU. I think those are the things that are about as satisfying as anything that has happened. Then, of course, the players.... I think the thing that will be the most difficult is leaving the relationships and the involvement.” ThinkingKnowsYearsMadeFactsAbleJobsCoursesDifficultLevelsPlayerHappenedWeekFootballReadyToughLeavingSatisfyingInvolvementExpertiseTeesReminiscingByu Author:LaVell Edwards
“BYU takes on defending national champion Florida State in the Pigskin Classic in Jacksonville, Fla., eight days after announcing that the 2000 season would be his last before retirement: We looked at it. We knew it would make things tougher. But how many chances does anyone get to play Florida State? It was too good to pass up.” DoeStatesPlayWould BeLastsChanceSeasonsEightChampionClassicRetirementFloridaAnnouncingByuFlorida State Author:LaVell Edwards
“Coming out of BYU's football spring, 1999, practice: We might have a chance to be pretty good.” MightChancePracticeFootballSpringComing OutByu Author:LaVell Edwards
“We have reached the point where we can lose a game or two and not drop out of sight in the rankings. I've been asked if it bothers me that BYU hasn't received the recognition it deserves. Well, BYU's gotten a lot of recognition over the years; I've never felt slighted. I honestly believed that we didn't deserve to be ranked any higher last year.” IfsYearsWellsTwoLastsGamesFeltLosesHigherDeserveSightHonestlyRecognitionBotherLast YearRankingSlightedByu Author:LaVell Edwards
“Edwards commented as he signed an extension to his contract. We have good young players in the program and strong schedules in the coming years. The future looks bright for BYU football. I also want to get a number of projects off the ground before I retire.” WantYearsLooksYoungStrongNumbersPlayerFootballProjectsProgramContractsRetiringSchedulesExtensionsByu Author:LaVell Edwards
