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| LaVell Edwards, BYU Head Coach, 1972-2000 |
Few people have had more success at building a college football program than LaVell Edwards. He coached the BYU Cougars for 29 seasons, and had a hall of fame career. He took a program that struggled to string together winning seasons, and turned it into a national champion. Conference championships became expected. During an era when bowl invitations were scarce, it was almost a given that BYU would get one.
Scores of great players came through the ranks under Edwards. They, too, became college football hall of famers, as well as All-Americans, NCAA record holders, and NFL All-Pros.
The success of Edwards allowed BYU to expand its football stadium to 65,000 seats. Provo, Utah became one of the toughest road environments in college football. Number one ranked Miami lost in Provo. Penn State, Texas A&M, Arizona State, and Texas are just some of the other nationally ranked teams to come to Provo and lose. At the end of his career, BYU renamed the football stadium LaVell Edwards Stadium (LES).
Edwards passed away December 29, 2016, so BYU has been wearing a patch every game this season to honor him. However, there is nothing about the product BYU has put on the field this season that honors Edwards. In fact, after the last showing against UMass, Edwards must be rolling in his grave.
It is as if the BYU football program died with Edwards.
Offensive production is as bad as it was before he took over the program. The seven-game losing streak earlier this season was another dubious feat that hadn't happened since the pre-Edwards era. With the loss to UMass, BYU finished with a losing record at home this season, 2-4. The last time that happened was 2003. The time before that was 1971--the year before Edwards took over.
The cherry on top is that UMass recorded its first road win against a Football Bowl Subdivision member. In the same venue that bears Edwards' name, BYU let a program as small in stature as UMass win its first ever FBS road game. UMass has lost road games at:
- Miami (OH),
- Western Michigan,
- Akron,
- Northern Illinois,
- Bowling Green,
- Buffalo,
- Central Michigan,
- Ohio,
- Toledo,
- Kent State,
- Ball State,
- Eastern Michigan,
- Old Dominion, and
- Temple.
LES looked almost like a ghost town late in the game yesterday. There was probably no more than 5,000 fans who stayed until the end.
There is a great documentary about LaVell Edwards entitled LaVell Edwards: The Spirit of Cougar Football. After what has been witnessed this season, that title just might be more literal than figurative.
The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com
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