“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
“In the early years, I was able to accommodate most of the requests and favors that came my way, but as the requests multiplied, I had to make tough choices because the numbers were more than I could handle.” WayYearsAbleChoicesNumbersToughFavorsHandleMy WayRequestAccommodateTough Choices 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
“I can't think of anything I would do differently in my life. It would be nice to undo some of my mistakes I made over the years, but then I wouldn't have grown professionally or personally.” ThinkingYearsMadeI CanWould BeMistakeNiceBeing NiceMy Mistakes Author:LaVell Edwards
“Milestones you'd like to reach before retiring? Not really. Because when I began it was never to reach 100 games or reach 200 or to get high on the all-time list or whatever else. Those things are by-products. I want to win another championship, beginning with the conference championship. The thing that was disappointing to me last year was the fact that we did not win the conference championship. I felt like we just let that game (against Air Force in Las Vegas) get away from us.” WantYearsFactsLastsTimeGamesWinningForceFeltJusticeAirProductsDisappointmentListsAll TimeGet AwayRetiringLast YearChampionshipConferencesVegasLas VegasDisappointingAir ForceGetting HighMilestone Author:LaVell Edwards
“Edwards commented as he signed an extension to his contract. They had changed coaches every three or four years before my getting the head job. It was just going to be a matter of when I got fired. There were a lot of people that felt that.” PeopleYearsMatterJobsThreeFeltJusticeFourChangedCoachesContractsFour YearsExtensions Author:LaVell Edwards
“I was asked this morning if it was frustrating to be 13-1 last year and not have more recognition and I said, "Hey man, I'd take that every year. I'd take that kind of frustration and not worry about it one bit. It wasn't frustration, it was one of those great runs and I enjoyed it."” IfsMenYearsKindSaidRunningLastsBitsMorningWorryHeyRecognitionEnjoyedFrustrationLast YearFrustrating Author:LaVell Edwards
“Edwards recalled that he once planned to coach until he was 60 as he signed an extension to his contract. I was about 62 before I ever remembered that's what I had set up. . . . Now I'm already making plans for next year and recruiting. That's the reason for this. I just feel good right now.” FeelsYearsReasonNextPlansRight NowCoachesPlanningFeel GoodRememberedContractsExtensionsNext Year Author:LaVell Edwards
“Commenting on playoffs to determine a national champion: I'm not in favor of 15 games either. I think that's way too much football. The thing that I feel good about is that these guys hung together through 15 games and played hard every week. That's a marvelous tribute to the kids. We just hung in there today and kept playing. It's just been a special feeling all year long.” ThinkingWayFeelsYearsChildrenLongHardFeelingsKidsTodayTogetherGuyGamesToo MuchWeekSpecialFootballDetermineFavorsFeel GoodChampionHungMarvelousTributePlayoffsI Feel Good 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
“At some point in time it will be right for me to step aside. That may be after this year, but that may be after two or three more years.” YearsMayTwoTimeThreeSteps Author:LaVell Edwards
“Considering retirement? When that happens, I don't want that to be the story of whatever the season it is. I don't want to have to be talking about it all the time. My plan is when the time is up, it'll be time to hang it up. When that comes, it'll come. But right now, I don't have any clue as to when that'll be. It's been that way the last couple of years. . . . I've often felt if I ever get to a point where I don't want to go recruiting and can't get excited about it, then maybe it's time. That's a pretty good indication that's probably it. And I haven't reached that point at all yet.” IfsWayWantYearsStoriesHappensLastsTimeFeltTalkingPlansHavensCoupleRight NowSeasonsExcitedRetirementConsideringClueIndication Author:LaVell Edwards
“I honestly haven't thought about it much. When it comes time for me to retire, I don't think I'll know going into that season. I'll have to evaluate it at the end of each year.” ThinkingKnowsYearsEndsTimeHavensSeasonsHonestlyRetiringEvaluate 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
“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
“Looking at the championship-winning quarterbacks, Edwards remembered their particular talents: Steve Young: Here's a guy that is really a talent. He's the best athlete we ever had. He could run, he developed into a good thrower. He's smart. He's intense. He could make it in the movies. Really, he's got it all. He was coachable, but he had his own ideas. He never let up, not even in practice. I'd take Steve Young every year.” YearsIdeasRunningYoungGuyWinningPracticeTalentParticularSmartAthleteIntenseRememberedChampionshipQuarterbackBest AthleteThrowersSteve Young 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
“I can honestly say that two weeks after the national championship year, I'd forgotten about it and started laying the groundwork for spring practice. And so every year, that's been the thing that's motivated me. . . .” YearsI CanTwoPracticeWeekSpringForgottenHonestlyMotivatedChampionshipTwo WeeksGroundworkNational Championships Author:LaVell Edwards
