PROVO, Utah — Legendary BYU head football coach LaVell Edwards didn't coach his last home game in Cougar Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 18. A brief pronouncement by President Gordon B. Hinckley during a pre-game ceremony renamed the facility and Coach Edwards ended up coaching his first game in LaVell Edwards Stadium.
The final BYU home game of the season was a time for celebration honoring one of college football's most successful coaches. His team joined the festivities by dominating New Mexico, 37-13, handing him career victory number 256, moving him past Nebraska's former coach, Tom Osborne, into sixth place among the winningest coaches in college football history. Coach Edwards had one game remaining, the following week in Salt Lake City against the University of Utah.
President Hinckley was greeted warmly on a chilly, late afternoon by a large crowd that arrived early to take part in the pre-game activities. Fans didn't seem overly surprised, but cheered in approval when President Hinckley opened his comments: "I am happy to announce that the board of the trustees and the administration of the university, in recognition of a remarkable and wonderful man, have determined to name this the 'LaVell Edwards Stadium.' The full name will be the 'LaVell Edwards Stadium, Home of the BYU Cougars.' "
The words were greeted with a prolonged ovation by around 60,000 fans as a banner graced by the new name was unfurled from the top of the press box.
Coach Edwards, who announced in August that he would retire at the end of this season, then accepted the official game ball from President Hinckley.
Remembrance of tremendous victory
Announcing that he had another surprise, President Hinckley held up another football. He said it had been signed by all the players of the 1984 national championship BYU football team following their Holiday Bowl victory over Michigan and then was given to him.
"I understand LaVell does not have one of these footballs," President Hinckley said brightly. "I have treasured this through these 16 years and now take great pleasure in giving this ball to him in remembrance of that tremendous victory in 1984.
"I do so with one stipulation. When he throws the last pass, and makes the last run for the goal, that he turn this ball over to the Church museum in Salt Lake City, which is anxious to get it."
As the fans cheered, President Hinckley left the field.
The BYU marching band opened the pre-game ceremony with music and then formed a human corridor leading from the southeast corner of the playing field to the center of the field where President Hinckley and BYU President Merrill J. Bateman, also a member of the Seventy, waited. Then the BYU football players entered the field and lined up on both sides of the corridor where they saluted the coach as he walked by. As he greeted President Hinckley and President Bateman, Coach Edwards was joined by his wife, Patti, and other family members.
President Bateman spoke first, declaring, "If anyone wants to know what LaVell means to this university, look at the banners up on the press box." As fans looked, they saw signs spread the entire length of the press box, one for each of the 22 bowls games to which Edwards took a team and a large sign in the middle recognizing the national championship.
President Bateman then announced that the board of trustees, of which President Hinckley is the president, approved the building of a new and much-needed indoor practice facility for football and other sports.
The accolades continued post game for Coach Edwards, who was joined by his wife on a portable platform in the middle of the field. Among the honors was the announcement by President Bateman that a BYU scholarship would be provided "in the name of LaVell and Patti Edwards" for the outstanding junior on the football team to be used his senior year. The scholarship would be awarded based on academics, athletic performance and leadership.
Perhaps the best summary of Coach Edwards' characteristics as head coach at BYU was presented by Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson. He read a tribute from the conference which said, "For your valuable contributions to college football and to your fellow man, for building a program of the highest regard, with class and dignity, touching the lives of innumerable coaches and players, for your selfless commitment to the principles of fair play and your impenetrable devotion to good sportsmanship, thank you for your outstanding accomplishments."
"Thanks for the Memories"
Finally, there was a video tribute played on the scoreboard screen. It was accompanied by the song "Thanks for the Memories" with reworked lyrics about Coach Edwards' personality, his gridiron success, the rivalry with the University of Utah and his future as a fisherman, golfer and missionary.
Then he left the field for the final time under a shower of fireworks, forever to remain undefeated as a head coach in LaVell Edwards Stadium.
