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Show Sportstacular September 27. 1979 Page 7 WU's Edwards earns respecti ftltoati is done Football teams and coaches around the country fear Brigham Youngs La Veil Edwards, not because he carries a big stick and looks cruel, but because of quality and deadly football teams that he has consistently turned out the past decade. In his seven seasons as head coach at Brigham Young University, Coach Edwards has moved the football program to new highs, compiling the best record of any football coach in BYU history, posting seasons in 1976 and 1977 and a 4 season in 1978, guiding the Cougars to a WAC title win or share four different times, and taking them to three bowl games. Edwards current record is (.648). Coming into the 1978 season, Edwards' overall record was and last year against San Diego State, the Cougars presented him with his 50th win as head coach. LaVell serves on the Board of Trustees for the American College Football Coaches Association and will be one of die coaches in this Januarys East-WeShrine Game. Edwards, 48, has had numerous honors come his way because of his fine coaching. He was named WAC coach of the year in 1972, his first season as head coach, when he guided a team picked to finish low to a record and a fie for second place in the WAC. He has been Utah Sportsman of the Year. In 1977, at the end of his second 2 season, he was named Kodak coach of the year for district eight. He has coached twice in the game. He has also served on the College Football Association Committee and helped coach the West squad at the game three years ago. Edwards played football at Utah State University, letterman at center and was where he was a three-yea- r He for two years (1950-51captain and at Fort Lee, played service ball for the Army (1952-5for a 3 team at Fort Lee, VA., and was player-coac- h Meade, Md. He joined the BYU staff in 1962 after coaching at Granite High School in Salt Lake City. After developing some strong defensive units, Edwards was named head coach in 1972. The coach is also known as Doc in some circles, since he completed his Ed.D. work at BYU last year. At that time he walked through the graduation line with his daughter Ann and her husband Ken, who received bachelor's degrees. LaVell obtained his bachelors degree at Utah State and 'his M.S. degree from the University of Utah in 1980. A product of Utah Valley (the family farm was only a mile or so from the site of the present football stadium), LaVell was raised in a large family in what was then rural Utah Valley. Counting a cousin raised by the family, LaVeils parents (Mr. and Mrs. Philo Edwards) raised a total of 14 children; 13 sons and daughters. LaVells parents observed their 60th wedding anniversary in 1977 and all 14 children and 9-- their spouses were present at the reception. The Edwards family organization numbers around 210 people and each year they purchase a block of 100 tickets. Edwards has a father image with his players, but also places a lot of responsibility on the individual athlete. His teams have the reputation for playing entertaining football. BYU was the top passing team in the nation in 1976 and 1977 and the Cougars offense has ranked high in other departments as well. They have several players listed in the NCAAs record books, including Marc Wilson in 1977 for most passes completed in a half (27) and passing yards in a game (571), and Jay Miller for most passes caught in (me game (22 in 1973). Pete Van Valkenburg was the nations leading rusher most of Edwards first season, and Miller led the nation in 1973 in pass receiving. Gifford Nielsen amassed several records under 2 9-- post-seaso- n 52-28--1 1, post-seaso- st 7-- 4 Blue-Gra- y (1950-51- ). (1952-54- h ). 4) 6-- This PROVO . Texas-E- l mark after something of . 9-- 2 5 -1 9-- 4 Blue-Gra- . the undefeated BYU squad for Saturdays prepares hal Homecoming fun is l Texas-E- UTEP losses came in a HnMng by North Texas State 3W) and a mtopointor against ). rival New tttoded State Tbe Miners exploded in a 7 win over Pacific, than last Saturday expected to be a capacity Coach LaVell Edwards, but in this case we needed the time to get some of our regulars back in the lineup." More specifically, Edwards may have been looking to Mat Mendenhall, the Cougars defensive end who is just now getting back into shape after suffering a ruptured appendix well before pre season practice began. Mendenhall, if all goes well, should see some action all-WA- C during tbe Texas-E- l Paso game. There are others on tbe ch who have used file bye to good defeated Nevada-La- s Vegas, advantage. : Quarterback Marc at El Paso. Wilson, another victim of a have thus far efforts BYUs ruptured appendix, was in the win starting lineup for the opener BYU running game Homer netted a dramatic Jones, Scott Phillips, Eric Lane, on a with Texas A and M. But the over Texas A and M Scott Reber and others is two of neutral field at Houston, plus a years quarterback of a ground on ) ago is just now nearing the form generating more glide past Weber State BYU has had in than attack to sickness. the in field. was home he prior the Cougars recent seasons. the As of last Cats Mountain week, Cougars file Technically, Saturdays game will also iwere leading the nation in have been idle but not inacis there together some of the bring every Thus, tive since then. passing. finest kickers. Brent will that to in reason leagues go this suspect a they early Ordinarily, bye BYU has already of Johnson visitors the the season could hinder, rather to the air against 18 points in two accounted for the same the At admitted time, Saturday. than help, a team, 03-14- , 31-- It stands to reason, according to the Miners line of thinking, that if tbe Cougars can be talked Into looking far enough do4m the road-w- ell they past UTEP could become fat cats for an upset. Visions of tomorrow sounds like a great lead for a 17-1- one-poi- (43-3- . 5, nt (16-1- 7) Sunday punch. Saturday afternoons game, yhich will be the 18th gridiron meeting between the two teams, will serve as the WAC opener for both schools. UTEP will come to Provo with a 2 record, while the Cougars, who are defending four games a surprise. Paso has averaged a win a season during tbe past two years, and Coach Bill Michaels crew has already posted two wins in file young 1979 campaign. Pasos u 2-- 5-- 6 4 6-- 2-- 0 Thats what the Cougar crowd in BYU Stadium (1954-55- champions in the league, are thus far. That the Miners are at the .500 years football camp must be ttrinUag Is 6-- 3 enlter treacherous Cougsir den Homecoming theme at Brigham IToung University, "Visiojs of romorrow, sounds like it must have been submitted by tomebody oh football staff. n all-sta- te 9-- WiJmers Edwards tutelage, leading the nation in several categories in 1976. He had the single game high in rushing and passing (455 yards), single game high in passing (468 yards), most touchdown passes in one game (5 against Utah State) and most TD passes in a season (29). Edwards has had more players drafted into the pros (35) than all other BYU grid coaches combined. The coachs outlook on the game of football is that it should help the players develop permanent values, while they are having fun: Im a firm believer in hard work to reach the desired goals, he says, but I also believe football should be fun; a sport the players, as well as the fans, can enjoy. It doesnt have to be regimentation or drudgery. The outgrowth of football should be good, positive values that will benefit a player for the remainder of his life. His teams have won outright or shared four WAC bowl championships, played in three games, traveled to Japan for the Silk Bowl, etc. He has served on the College Football Association Committee, and coached at the game in Lubbock, Tex. Facts about Coach Edwards: Born Oct. 11, 1930, in Provo, Utah. . . attended schools in nearby Orem. . . was at Lincoln High School (now Orem High) in 1946 and 1947. . . three-yea- r regular at center. . . also lettered two years each in basketball and track. . . enrolled at Utah State in let1948, played center and linebacker. . . three-yea-r terman as center for the Aggies. . . was captain and all. . he played conference for two years at Fort Lee, Va service ball for the Army ) for team at Fort Meade, was player-coacMaryland. . . returned to Utah and joined staff at Granite High in Salt Lake City (1954), serving as head football coach, wrestling coach, golf coach for a period of eight years. . . also tennis and basketball ) for two seasons. . . he joined the BYU staff in 1962. . . seven seasons at BYU. . . his teams have completed an (78-in 1972, in 1973, in overall record of in 1975,9--2 in 1976, in 1977, and in 1978). . 1974, . in 1974 he was recipient of the coveted Dale Rex Memorial Trophy and was also honored as the Utah Sportsman of the Year. . . he was WAC Coach of the Year in 1972. . . twice he has served on the coaching y staff of the game. . . LaVell obtained his M.S. degree from the University of Utah in I960,, and last year he received his Ed.D. from BYU. . . married former Patty Louise Covey of Big Piney, Wyoming, and they have three children: Ann, 23, now married; John, 20, serving a church mission in Canada (he was 880 runner in track and holds state high school record); and James, 16, attending Provo High. . . LaVell is one of the better golfers among the nations football coaches, also gardens. all-WA- C throe field Steve while UTEPs goals), Folkner kicked the deciding field goal) in the points (a win over Las Vegas. Folkner also does the UTEP punting. games (including 51-ya- rd BYU punter Clay Brown, who ranked among the NCAA leaders, will take a 47.8 average into the Homecoming game. is |