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Show Page W THE DAILY HERALD, (wwwJiaitTheHenkl.com). Prow, Utah, Friday, August 18, 2000 StoDOT, Bon csirOinniDiniago only thing they lack is experi ence, ana tneyu nave tnat i quickly come the 26th." By SCOTT BELL The Daily Herald PROVO isn't lost, 7 Maybe all hope v -- On the day LaVell Edwards stole the headlines, the BYU football team had a scrimmage.-- ' It took place Thursday evening at Cougar Stadium. And guess what? The BYU offense actually looked pretty good. Playing with starting running backs Luke Staley and Kalani Sitake in the lineup together for the first time, the offense, scored on its first three possessions against a defense. Staley only played briefly. But while he was in, he showed flashes of his form from early last season. He ran three times for 15 yards, and caught one pass for 10 yards. "Luke really makes a difference," Edwards said. Ie s got that burst where he just blows by rM tired-lookin- g v ROBERT JOHNSONIbe Dtily Herald See, I do know how: BYU coach a practice session last Tuesday. everybody. He's some-- mm National Coach of the Year in 1984 Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Year in 1979 1984 Grantland Rice Trophy, FWAA 1988 Neyland Trophy. AFCA Seven WAC Coach of the Year honors Eight NCAA District Eight Coach of the Year honors Dale Pex Memorial Awa Winner, Continued from Bl coached team this season. "This is a sad day for college football, but we're cer- tainly happy that he is ' going to have this year, DeBerry said. "He is one of the giants of coaching in college. Not only has he been a great, great coach, but he's been a credit to our profession, and our profession has become better because of his leadership. "He always cared more about his players than the Xs and O's. He's a man who cares about young people and he's impacted so many lives." Ute coach Ron McBride is another who will miss Edwards jokes with some players during r PEERS meetings field. LaVell Edwards 1974-7-5 Ranked "first nationally In passing seven times bowl game record Heisman Trophy winner 1990) A Two Outland Trophy Winners Buck, Detmer, (Jason 1986 and Mohammed Elewonibi, 1989) champion," Tollner said. "I have great admiration for what he's done with the program at BYU and our profession is going to miss him. Not only is he respected as a coach, but he is a great person." Mike Holmgren, who went from being BYU's quarterbacks coach from 1982 through 1985 to assistant coach for the San at conference and across the "From my standpoint, he's the guy I play off of at these meetings. He makes it fun," McBride said. "He comes in with that bored look, like he's heard it all before, then he has something funny and interesting to say. I don't see anyone else out there who's going to give me those Francisco 49ers and head coach for the Green Bay Packers and currently the Seattle Seahawks, also gave Edwards a lot of credit for his success. "Coach Edwards took a real chance in hiring me as a high school coach basically to coach the quarterbacks at BYU," Holmgren said. "And a lot of my philosophy today is based on the way he treated people, the way he did things. It Was an honor to work for him and I hope he enjoys his last season." But those who stayed in Provo through all or most of their careers say the same thing about the venerable Edwards. Dick Felt, who came to BYU as an assistant coach when Edwards was also an assistant, recalled an experience that he felt demonstrated the incredible respect the national coaching fraternity has for laughs. "But I'm just glad he's going out on his own terms. He's earned it. His record speaks for itself 29 years in one place. It's unbelievable the job he's done over such a long span. And everything he's done has been class. He's an awesome human being." McBride downplayed his own success against he's since Edwards taking over as Ute head coach in 1990 calling it "luck and good players," but did say it had always been a pleasure to coach against the Cougar mentor. Robinson was even more r succinct about his coaching experience against Edwards. Although friends Efor ; years the former USC and Los Angeles Rams coach and Edwards 2 became good friends when fon a European golf trip with other coaches he's 'only coached against Edwards once, last year when BYU beat UNLV 29-- 0 in Las Vegas. "We had a nice conversa- (Ty 5-- 5 j J . Edwards. "I was in Atlanta for, a convention, and LaVell was there with Patti," he said. "I remember I was in his room, talking with he and Patti, when there' was a knock at the door. "I answered the door and tion before the game, then it was a coach who Was one BYU won," Robinson said. of the top Division I coach"That's probably typical of es in the country. He had a LaVell." personal situation he wanthave coaches ed to discuss with LaVell, Many moved on from working on he wanted LaVeil's advice Edwards' staff at BYU to and support. LaVell talked head coaching positions at privately with him about other institutions and in it. "That is just typical of the NFL. Ted Tollner, the current head coach at San the regard people have for Diego State, served as him in this profession. He quarterbacks coach in put BYU on the map, but Provo in 1981, and said he is more than just a great that one year made a big coach. He's a great man Felt said one of the and that impact on him Edwards has helped WAC secrets of Edwards' success and now Mountain West was his positive attitude. "He has an ability to find football move up in the win-wi- n a national consciousness. situation, "LaVell is one of the real always," he said. "When exceptions in our profes- there would be concerns or sion. He is a real gentleproblems, he would find a man and also a guy who way to get along with both has turned a program that sides, to find a win-wi- n was not a successful pro- - solution. He didn't get gran, into a perennial demanding or out of sorts Four Davey O'Brien Trophy Winners. n 163 Cougars played in 173 Cougars named to He missed three days with a viral infection this week so he hasn't had a C teams Four defensive and seven offensive WAC Player of the Year Awards Honors 21 Academic C D State's selection 1993 Utah team Utah's Coach of the Century, Utah Centennial Sports 1996 with anyone, whether a Edwards. "I had watched BYU on player or a coach. Yet, he could get the players' TV, and seen (Edwards') attention and direct them demeanor on the sideline, in the right way." and to be honest, I Former athletic director thought he might be kind Rondo Fehlberg agreed of a mean guy," Thompson with Felt's assessment. said with a laugh. "Of stands that The thing course, 1 soon found out he out for me is his remark- was' anything but that. able insight into people, He's a Hall of Fame coach, and his absolute singular but he's an even better ability to manage the person. I had the chance process of communication to eat dinner with LaVell and react with people," and his wife and son durFehlberg said. "I don't ing the MWC meetings, remember LaVell ever once and it was just such an saying anything unkind enjoyable time." about anybody, ever. Thompson felt Edwards "You can't go through had done such a good job e life in the kind of establishing BYU as a not he's and in national power that his position find yourself provoked reg- place would not be hard to fill. ularly, yet I don't remem"It's a credit to LaVell ber him saying anything unkind. He has the unique and the program that he's ability to make everyone built that I am sure there will be more than enough feel important." Former offensive coordi- candidates to choose from. nator Norm Chow, who left People will be coming out of BYU after last season to the woodwork to apply for become offensive coordina- this job," he said. tor at North Carolina, Chow, however, had a spent 22 years working word or warning to the coach that follows Edwards with Edwards at BYU. He said one of the reaat BYU. , sons he, left was because he "It will be difficult," figured Edwards was in his Chow said. "It's going to be final few years of coaching. like John following "That's why I'm here," Wooden." Chow said from North Fehlberg isn't quite Carolina. "He just had ready to accept a successor enough. His peers, Bobby just yet "It's something that Bowden, Joe Paterno, Don Nehlen, are all in a little everyone knew sooner or. better physical shape than later would happen, that he is. It's a very wearing he'd, be finished coaching, business. but it always seemed it "He's agood man who would be later," Fehlberg deserves to go out in style. said. "Now it's here, you are He is responsible for the almost saying, 'No, no, it innovation of the passing can't be,' because it upsets game in college before it's our sense of order of the time. It equalized the taluniverse. "He's been such a marent. Everybody's doing, it now." velous friend and mentor commissioner over the years to me. MWC. Craig Thompson said he LaVell was coaching when was disappointed for the I was an athlete here in the conference that Edwards 1960s. I can't remember when he wasn't a coach was retiring, Tm disappointed for us, here. He was always a guy ; because of what he brings you could talk to." Robinson agreed that to the conference," but figsaid. "He brings Edwards is low-keThompson a ' national reputation, ured this might be a time instant credibility and the BYU coach could actuall those ally decide NOT to be quite recognition, things that are so hard to bo easy going. "It's probably wise for replace., He's so recognizato announce it now," him such has ble, integrity." ' ' The commissioner, who Robinson said, "because it came to the MWC. in its ends speculation and peoinaugural season last year ple hounding him about from the Sun Belt what he's going to do." Conference, admitted to Dorothy Knoell can be being an "absolute out 1 aider- when he came into reached by calling - af or by the MWC, but it didn't take long to become a fan of dknoellheraldextra.com Peterson seemed. to get firof fMiti rona 1W4 f Via IV ' ' For the evening, he Thursday. finished 12 of 18 for 14 j yards and a touchdown, Engemann was 8 of 14 fpr 102 yards and a touchdown. Doman went 5 of 14 for 50 yards, an interception and- a j ! touchdown. Bosco said he will review film of the scrimmage ' and hand out grades today. After mnroV U.W. A tint-V- W - UW 111 P conferring with Edwards and offensive coordinator Lance Reynolds, Bosco said he hopes to name a starter for the Florida State game today. "He won't necessarily be the guy for the whole sea- son," Bosco said. "But we'd like to name a guy for the first game, at least." T If the BYU offense can come close to duplicating its Thursday performance when it faces the Seminoles, whoever starts at quarterback may look pret ty good. It was the first time this training camp the first-tea- m lot of work. But he's been . cleared 100 percent Tm not sure how much well use him in the (Florida State) game. Well probably determine that when we get down there and see how it goes. We may not use him very much I dont know for sure." Besides Staley, there were some quarterbacks who 134 Cougars named to the Academic team Utah Sports Hall of Fame inductee 1993 V thing special. post-seaso- games 31 Cougars recognized as all-st- ar uVGDUGO played Thursday night. Bret Charlie Peterson, Engemann and Brandon Doman continued their duel for the starting job. "I've seen improvement from all of them," quarterbacks coach Robbie Bosco said.; "All: they're doing is making the decision tougher. They're all getting better. The 7 offense outperformed the first-un- it defense. "As a defense, you don't want to see the offense score like that," defensive end Setema Gali said. "But as a team, I'm happy for the offense because they've worked hard, they've got pride and we need them to get their confidence up." If the BYU defense can rebound, the team seems to be rounding into decent form as the opener approaches. And besides everything else he said Thursday, Edwards also had comforting words for Cougar fans. we have problems on this team," Edwards said, "it won't be at quarterback." If 77 r"f high-profil- ('V DAN LUNDThe Daily Herald In charge: Cougar coach LaVell Edwards, left, motions player during a scrimmage Thursday night. PLAYERS Continued from Bl . , '. y, : , , 344-255- - , . particular team. He said that again Thursday, intimating that the current group caused him to stay on the job one more year. fWe have a great group of young men," Edwards said. "We always have. But this particular group has really worked, hard and has a chance to be a good football team.". The oldest player on this year's team is senior offenKam sive lineman Valgardson. He will turn 25 . in September. i So Edwards was getting started on his fourth year as head coach before any of these current Cougar players were : born. Obviously, Edwards was the deciding factor behind many players to attend BYU. choosing ' "I wouldn't have come here if LaVell wouldn't have come to my house," Sitake said. That was the big differ- -' ence. Hayden Fry, from Iowa, visitedjne too. But it was just different. When : LaVell walked into my house,; I knew I was going to BYU. BYU foot-"I cajat imagine - - ; to a ball without LaVell. I don't know what will happen next year. It's like BYU coming out wearing red or sonwi thing. But thankfully, we stijl have 12 games with him this year. Naturally,. BYU player have already started about playing the season for Edwards. With a schedt that includes Florida Stat Vireinia. Mississippi Stat) and Syracuse, the extra moti; vation can't hurt. "Coach Edwards said it's his last season, so why not beat Florida State," Lee said. "He said if he could pick the schedule for his last season, he'd pick the same schedule we have. It's exciting for us to . that he's still competitive, that he's not dying out on us." Gali, for one, has already envisioned the perfect ending to Edwards' final campaign. "You have to begin with the end in mind," Gali said.,1 can see an undefeated sea- - him and carrying him off the field on our shoulders. We want to send Coach Edwards off in the best way possible." ; . : Scott Bell can be reached nt nhtll(SJumMfirtmrfim fir 344-255- 7. ; . , |
