“One day I was complaining to Bill Coltrin about what I thought was an unfair article about our team. I was going to call the writer and complain to him. Bill told me, "If you plan to stay in this business (coaching), you need to realize a couple of things about the press. One, whatever is written, it will probably be forgotten in two or three days by the public; and two, if you complain or make an enemy of the writer, just remember you may have your 'day in the sun,' but he/she is going to press 365 days a year." I have never forgotten that.” IfsNeedsYearsMayTwoRememberThreeRealizingEnemySunPlansWrittenTeamCoupleOne DayBillsPressesForgottenComplainingCoachingArticlesUnfairRemember YouRemembers You Author:LaVell Edwards
“Professionally - I had the opportunity to play sports throughout my youth, in high school and college. Early on, I decided I wanted to be a coach so I tried to learn everything I could about all positions on the team.” PlayWantedSchoolOpportunitySportsTeamPositionYouthCollegeHigh SchoolDecidedCoaches Author:LaVell Edwards
“I went to many coaching clinics, talked to other coaches, read articles, books, etc. Anything I could do that would help me prepare to be the best coach possible. Fortunately, the coaches I had as a player were good men and were excellent role models in setting priorities and relating to the team members and coaching staff.” MenBookHelpingRolesPlayerTeamMembersModelsCoachesPrioritiesSettingSettingsExcellentCoachingBeing The BestHelp MeEtcGood ManRole ModelsArticlesStaffClinicTeam MemberBest CoachesCoaching Staff 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
“Not playing on Sunday has caused problems for other organizations or teams who wanted us to do so, but we never had to think twice about such a decision.” ThinkingProblemWantedDecisionTeamOrganizationSundayThink Twice Author:LaVell Edwards
“I know the team, as a whole, has had an impact on the youth of the church, and on the missionary efforts throughout the world.” KnowsWorldWholeChurchEffortTeamYouthImpactMissionary Author:LaVell Edwards
“After the Cougars' 19-15 Cotton Bowl victory over Kansas State We're the only team in NCAA history to win 14 games in a season. It was just a great experience and I can't say enough about it. . . . People don't know how difficult it is to get up for 15 games.” PeopleKnowsI CanStatesEnoughGamesWinningDifficultJusticeKnow HowTeamVictorySeasonsGet UpBowlsCottonKansasGreat ExperiencesNcaaCougars 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
“The main reason for doing it now had more to do with the players. This is a great group. This particular group has really worked hard to prepare themselves. And we have a chance to have a good football team.” ArtHardReasonChancePlayerGroupsTeamFootballParticularPreparationFootball TeamGood Football Author:LaVell Edwards
“Commenting on the decisions of the Bowl Alliance regarding WAC teams: It's a step, no question. Obviously, it's not what any of us wanted, but it's at least a step. We can now say we're part of the Alliance. However, I hope it's not perceived that they bought us off and we're going to go away. It's not fair. It's not right; we still need to fight. We can't let them go away and hide. Other schools are taking a major share of the pot, and that's still a major sore point as far as I'm concerned. But at least this is a step, and better than what we had in the past.” NeedsStillsWantedSchoolPastFightingDecisionStepsTeamShareMajorsConcernedFairsGoing AwayPotBowlsAlliancesNot Fair Author:LaVell Edwards
“How is your health? I feel pretty good, and I'm very anxious to get the season going. I think we have a chance to have a good football team. I don't have any health problems. I don't know how any of the stuff gets started. . . . My health is very good.” ThinkingKnowsFeelsProblemStuffChanceKnow HowTeamFootballHealthySeasonsVery GoodAnxiousGood HealthFootball TeamHealth ProblemsGood Football Author:LaVell Edwards
“What motivates me is not one more championship, it is the challenge each year. I have just thoroughly enjoyed starting in spring with a new team and trying to put all the elements together to make a team.” TryingYearsTogetherChallengesJusticeTeamElementsSpringStartingEnjoyedChampionship Author:LaVell Edwards
“What keeps you motivated? The challenge of putting all the elements of a team together and seeing how you do and what you become is the thing that I still enjoy. I also enjoy the associations and relationships with the players and other coaches - to be in the arena, so to speak. I still enjoy that. I'm also at the point, though, that if we're not doing well - it's tough enough as it is - that I'm not going to be hanging on just to be hanging on. Because it's not anything I need from an ego standpoint or anything else. I just thoroughly enjoy what I'm doing.” IfsNeedsWellsStillsEnoughTogetherSpeakEnjoyChallengesJusticePlayerSeeingTeamEgoElementsToughCoachesMotivatedAssociationArenaStandpointHanging OnKeep You Motivated Author:LaVell Edwards
“After announcing that the 2000 season would be his last before retirement: Last winter I made the decision to coach for only one more season. I have been wrestling with the timing of announcing that decision. After seeing the outstanding attitude and work ethic of this team, I came to the conclusion that it's best to get the announcement out of the way now so we can focus on the season and avoid the repeated distractions that come from questions about my retirement.” WayHas BeensMadeWould BeLastsWorkDecisionAttitudeFocusSeeingTeamEthicsSeasonsWinterCoachesConclusionRetirementWrestlingDistractionTimingWork EthicOutstandingAnnouncementsAnnouncing Author:LaVell Edwards
