RIP Lavell Edwards

[myboynoah]

Mine's a dumb little story, but it fits. My family visited New York in the summer of 2002, just after my senior year of high school, and we went to church on Sunday in the building that is now the temple. My recollection is that they had either just announced that the building would become a temple or the local members were aware of significant renovations and had a hush hush understanding of what was about to happen. Anyway, after sacrament meeting, we walked out the door and there was my mom, gabbing in the hallway with LaVell himself. She had done some namedropping to strike up a conversation, she being related to someone he'd know. It was a short conversation, and I don't remember doing anything more than gawk, but he was kind enough to suggest that I looked like I'd be a good tight end.

Such a sad day. My wife was very nice not to say what she must have been thinking when I came home and sobbed.

Yeah, wives just don't get it.

I had no personal interaction with LaVell, but did get to know one of his sons my last year at the BYU. A very nice, grounded guy; a real credit to his father.

My best memories are early on of LaVell's coach's show on Sunday evenings after the late news on KSL. It usually came on around 10:40 pm and it was just LaVell, Paul James, and one of the players. No fancy graphics, no video highlights, just LaVell and Paul recapping the Saturday game and talking about next week. What an awesome way to end the weekend. I was sad when that ended.

A sad, sad day. We owe Coach Edwards so much.

[The_Tick]

Some wives get it.

Mine texted me yesterday asking if I was okay. She knows how much Coach Edwards meant to me/my childhood and how important BYU athletics is to me.

I cried yesterday. Not ashamed to say it either.

I cried when Dave Niehaus passed away. I cried yesterday with LaVell passed away. I'll cry when Vin Scully passes away. These are the idols/voices of my youth.

Twitter was awesome yesterday. So much love for someone so highly respected.

The thing that impresses me the most is the love that came from the opposition. Coach McBride yesterday was again a fantastic representative for the UofU and showed the love and respect that should be built in the rivalry.

I'm misty as I type this.

[The_Tick]

Also PAC....do you still have a spreadsheet around showing which players/coaches played with whom at that 2004 golf tournament? That event was awesome.

[lambdacoug]

LaVell is the reason I'm a BYU fan, and have remained so even after everything else. He was the coach for the first 26 years of my life. I was at the game when they named the stadium after him. I remember all the great games and moments. Football was a major reason I wanted to go to BYU in the first place. In HS, I wrote a report on him as one of my heroes. When I went to ND game in South Bend a few years ago, we were sitting up in the stands and there was LaVell, coming around to say hi to everyone. Sad day. Sad week. :'(

[Bo Diddley]

BYU Football was such a huge part of my childhood that Lavell Edwards was naturally one of my heroes growing up, much like so many others. I'm still trying to process his passing. What a giant of a man.

[Goatnapper'96]

Some people are just born to be great. Lavell Edwards was of that gang. I hope he was gracious when he got to heaven and my dad and Theron Murphy lectured him for not going for two against SDSU in 1991. But I know he was.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Also PAC....do you still have a spreadsheet around showing which players/coaches played with whom at that 2004 golf tournament? That event was awesome.

I wish I did, but I can't find it, although I'll keep trying. OhioBlue, who took over for me and did a great job, might have a list; wish he were still around. One thing I found was the following list of players and coaches who had signed up a few days before my biff:

Robbie Bosco
Paul Clifford
Chris Edwards
LaVell Edwards
David Futrell
Chris Germann
Stan Larson
Jay McDonald
Korey Rasmussen
Pete Rossi
Steve Sanders
David Tuckett
David Wright

Marv Allen
Todd Arbon
Andy Boyce
Mark Bellini
Kerry Edwards
Dick Felt
Jim Herrmann
Kirk Holle
Jay Huckaby
Dave King
Steve Lindsley
Ty Mattingly
Dave Neff
Tom Pitcher
Courtney Rogers
Vai Sikahema
Brad Smith
J.C. VonColln
Cary Whittingham
Fred Whittingham
Jeff Wilcox

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Some people are just born to be great. Lavell Edwards was of that gang. I hope he was gracious when he got to heaven and my dad and Theron Murphy lectured him for not going for two against SDSU in 1991. But I know he was.

Was that the game that prompted the infamous post game call-in show call;

Caller: Wondering why you didn't go for 2 and the win.

St. LaVell: A tie gave us a share of the conference title.

Caller: I would've gone for 2.

[The_Tick]

I wish I did, but I can't find it, although I'll keep trying. OhioBlue, who took over for me and did a great job, might have a list; wish he were still around. One thing I found was the following list of players and coaches who had signed up a few days before my biff:

Robbie Bosco
Paul Clifford
Chris Edwards
LaVell Edwards
David Futrell
Chris Germann
Stan Larson
Jay McDonald
Korey Rasmussen
Pete Rossi
Steve Sanders
David Tuckett
David Wright

Marv Allen
Todd Arbon
Andy Boyce
Mark Bellini
Kerry Edwards
Dick Felt
Jim Herrmann
Kirk Holle
Jay Huckaby
Dave King
Steve Lindsley
Ty Mattingly
Dave Neff
Tom Pitcher
Courtney Rogers
Vai Sikahema
Brad Smith
J.C. VonColln
Cary Whittingham
Fred Whittingham
Jeff Wilcox

I played with a Edwards nephew I believe.

[Shaka]

Hmmm, maybe it was a different even that I played with Drage.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Hmmm, maybe it was a different even that I played with Drage.

No, I recall that Drage, along with a few others, was a late sign-up. Drage wasn't a member of the '84 team but was a worthy tagalong.

[wuapinmon]

I was at a restaurant in Washington, UT with my BiL, years after he graduated. Lavell came over, remembered his name, asked how he was, and wished him well. Class act always.

[Donuthole]

I was at a restaurant in Washington, UT with my BiL, years after he graduated. Lavell came over, remembered his name, asked how he was, and wished him well. Class act always.

Burger Stop, I hope. Otherwise, you shouldn't have been eating in Dog Town.

[CJF]

Lee Johnson was there also. Sadly, one of the waiters was a former OL that left school early to play in the NFL and didn't stick. I felt bad for him that day.

[dabrockster]

Another minor story I was told about the person Lavell was.

As you all know BYU Wrestling was cut but before it was cut there was the possibility if the local community raised enough funds they would keep the program. Lavell Edwards was one of the first to donate a substantial amount to help save the program. The funds were raised.

In the end it was just a bluff that was called but it was another example of how supportive Lavell was to all athletic programs at BYU.


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