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Show Sporfstacular : September 27. 1979 Page p BVU's Edlwardls qgtds Football teams and coaches around the country fear Brigham Youngs LaVell 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 B YU history, posting 2 seasons in 1976 and 1977 and a 9--4 season in 1978, guiding the Cougars to a WAC title win or share four n different times, and taking them to three bowl games. Edwards current record is (.648). Coming into the 1978 season, Edwards overall and last year, against San Diego record was 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 the 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 4 record and a tie 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 Blue-Gra- y 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 (1950-51- ). and captain at Fort Lee, for the ball Army ( 1952-5played service for 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 bachelors degrees. LaVell obtained his bachelors degree at Utah State and 'his M.S. degree from the University of Utah in 1960. 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, LaVells 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 ail 14 children and irspcti 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 file 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 one 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 -- 9-- post-seaso- 52-28- -1 1, 7-- Edwards has had more players drafted into the pros 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 at Lincoln schools in nearby Orem. . . was High School (now Orem High) in 1946 and 1947. . . three-yeregular 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 ( team at Fort Meade, for 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-- 4 in 1972, in 1973, in overall record of in 1977, and 4 in 1978). . in 1975, in 1976, 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. (35) n ar (1950-51- ). 1952-5- 6-- 3 h 6-- ' season (29). all-sta- te 9-- : din 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 post-seaso- st -- tifinati 3s (1954-55- 5-- 6 6-- 5 9-- 2 -1 9-- 9-- 2 Blue-Gra- Miners enter treacherous Cougar den This PROVO years Homecoming theme at Brigham Visio.is of Young University, Tomorrow, sounds like it must have submitted been somebody oh football staff. Texas-E- l by Pasos Thats what the Cougar for Saturdays football camp must be thinking as the undefeated BYU squad prepares Homecoming game before what is expected to be a capacity crowd in BYU Stadium. It stands to reason, according to the Miners line of thinking, that if the Cougars can be talked into looking far enough down the past UTEP they fat cats for an of tomorrow Visions upset. sounds like a great lead for a road-w- ell could become Sunday punch. afternoons game, Saturday which 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 2-- champions in the league, are 0 thus far. That the Miners are at the .500 2-- mark after four games is something of a surprise. Texas-E- l Paso has averaged a win a season during the past two years, and Coach Bill Michaels crew has already posted two wins in the young 1979 campaign. UTEP losses came in a ManHng by North Texas State (9641) and a against rival New Mexico State The Miners exploded in a Sl-- 7 win over Pacific, then last Saturday one-pointe- r (13-14-). Coach LaVell Edwards, but in this casq we needed the time to get some of our regulars back in the lineup. More specifically, Edwards may have been looking to Mat C Mendenhall, the Cougars defensive end who is just now getting back into shape after suffering a ruptured appendix n well before practice began. Mendenhall, if all goes well, should see some action 'during the Texas-E- l Paso game. There are others on the club who have used the bye to good all-WA- D. pre-seaso- advantage. Quarterback Marc Wilson, another victim of a ruptured appendix, was in the Homer starting lineup for the opener BYU running game Jooee, Scott Phillips, Eric Lane, with Texas A and M. But the is neutral field at Houston, plus a quarterback of two years Scott Reber and others Weber State (433) on ago is Just now nearing the form generating more of a ground home field. he was in prior to the sickness. attack than BYU has had in recent seasons. As of last week, the Cougars Cats Mountain Technically, the Saturdays game will also were leading the nation in have been idle but not inacis bring there together some of the every tive since then. passing. Thus, finest kickers. Brent will that to leagues in reason go this they a suspect early Ordinarily, bye BYU has already of Johnson the visitors to the rather air against the season could hinder, 16 points in two than help, a team, admitted Saturday. At the same time, the accounted for defeated Nevada-La- s Vegas, 17-1- 5, at El Paso. BYUs efforts thus far have netted a dramatic ooepoint win on a over Texas A and M (18-1- rpast all-WA- C games (including three field goals), while UTEPs Steve Folkner kicked the deciding field goal) in the points (a win over Las Vegas. Folkner also does the UTEP punting. rd BYU punter Clay Brown, who is ranked among the NCAA leaders, will take a 47.8 average into the Homecoming game. |