BYU to wear patch to honor coaching icon LaVell Edwards

Former BYU head football coach LaVell Edwards passed away on December 29, 2016. By that time, BYU had already completed its 2016 football season, so in 2017 Brigham Young Cougars football will honor the man who made BYU football what it is today by wearing a patch for the entire season.



"We're all going to remember him forever, but the patch with LaVell was an idea with Kalani and me," BYU Athletic Director Tom Holmoe said at BYU Media Day. "Not everybody knows LaVell like we know LaVell, but we certainly want to pay tribute to LaVell. We want to honor LaVell for the man he was, for the coach he was, for the love he gave us."

This patch will be worn by BYU football players and coaches every game of the upcoming season.

BYU has already named the stadium after Edwards. He is already a member of the National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame, and he continued to receive awards and honors long after retiring. Truth be told, probably every current college football player and coach today is influence by what Edwards did. That is not hyperbole, or an emotional overreaction to what may be the final act to honor this great man.

While it is pleasing to see that BYU will do something, the NCAA should step up and have every school do something to honor him. It could be something as simple as painting the 50-yard line blue on every field for every game. As simple as that is, it would catch the attention of every fan and every player. Every broadcaster would have reason to mention Edwards as they explain to their television audience why that particular line on the field is a different color.


One last time, thank you LaVell for what you stood for while coaching BYU football, and for the way you made lasting improvements to the world through college football.

The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com

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