LaVell Edwards
LaVell Edwards
Reuben LaVell Edwardsis a former American football head coach for Brigham Young University. With 257 career victories, he ranks as one of the most successful college football coaches of all time. Among his many notable accomplishments, Edwards guided BYU to a national championship in 1984 and coached Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer in 1990...
ProfessionCoach
Date of Birth11 October 1930
school winning player
Potential does not always ensure success. The greatest players have not always been the most endowed. In athletics, we often hear the phrase, "He has the will to win". I think this is wrong. We can have the greatest will to do well. But unless we have prepared, it is of little use. Really, it should be the "will to prepare". Those who succeed have this will, whether it be in athletics, whether it be in school, whether it be in their chosen vocation, whether it be on a mission, or in almost any other phase of their life.
team winning games
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.
life loss winning
Edwards said he would like to be remembered for the impact he has had on the lives of his players. In this business we are judged by wins and losses in the media. I don't discount that, but I've never concerned myself much with that . . . except that it helps me stay employed.
football winning loses
I'd rather lose and live in Provo than win and live in Laramie
time winning utah
Edwards said the greatest moment of his career was winning the national championship. The lowest moment (of my career) happens every time we lose to Utah.
disappointment winning las-vegas
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.
ball became began built compete decided figured focus jim line pass recently recruit stanford stick stopping success successful talent throwing time trophy
At that time we didn't really have the talent to be able to line up and compete with many teams. Stanford had recently had some success throwing the ball with Jim Plunkett (1970 Heisman Trophy winner) at quarterback. I figured with most defenses built to focus on stopping the run, we would try and pass the ball. Once we became successful and began to recruit better players, I just decided to stick with the offense.
exciting meeting people
It's very exciting to be here. Being here with some people who I read about when I was younger, some of them I've met, some of them I'm meeting for the first time.
achieved classroom college football represents truly
He truly represents what you want to have in a college football player. He's achieved on the field, in the classroom and off the field, in the community.
barry five sent teams
After the season, Barry (Switzer) sent me a telegram and said, 'Congratulations on doing something only five other teams have done,'
time moving time-to-move-on
I just feel that you reach a point when its time to move on.
retirement time couple
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.
football team school
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.
running smart athlete
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.