Edwards innovated at BYU
Coach pioneered short passing game
Modern football fans might find it hard to believe, but there was a time when the forward pass was little more than an afterthought in the sport. LaVell Edwards was among the innovators who helped bring it to the forefront.
Edwards, who died Thursday at 86, is practically synonymous with Brigham Young football. He put the Cougars program on the map, winning 257 games over his 29-year career in Provo, Utah. He did it primarily with the controlled passing offense he devised to counter the much bigger and more physical teams BYU would face at the highest collegiate level.
The concept of using the short pass as a sort-of substitute for a power rushing game has become common. But when Edwards took over at BYU in the early 1970s, it was a fairly new idea to base an offense around quick outs and slip screens. Such play designs are now seen at all levels, and Edwards deserves much of the credit for developing them.
The success of the scheme helped grow the reputation of BYU as well as the Western Athletic Conference for exciting, high-scoring football. The Cougars went 13-0 and were voted national champions in 1984 after a riveting Holiday Bowl victory against Michigan.
Ty Detmer brought home the program’s first Heisman Trophy in 1990, and two of Edwards’ other students, Jim McMahon and Steve Young, went on to quarterback Super Bowl champion teams. Gifford Nielsen and Marc Wilson also were high-round draft picks.
His former assistants who’ve enjoyed considerable NFL coaching success include Andy Reid and Super Bowl winners Mike Holmgren and Brian Billick.