Brad Rock - Tales from the BYU Cougars Sideline: A Collection of the Greatest Cougars Stories Ever Told

BY
BRAD ROCK

Copyright 2003, 2013 by Brad Rock

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

ISBN: 978-1-61321-339-1

Printed in the United States of America

To Audrey, Preston, Allison,
Meredith, Jordan and Lauren

Whenever former athletes, coaches or sports media members gather in an informal setting, the conversation usually involves stories of the great plays and players, unusual characters and funny moments. They share anecdotes of the day one player did this, the time another player said that. Often the characters and events surrounding a game are more interesting than the game itself.

The stories evolve as years pass, but the substance remains. One of the challenges of writing a book like this one is deciding which and whose version of a particular story to use. Occasionally two or more people remember the same event differently. This book attempts to keep all stories as accurate as possible. In instances where memory must serve, the tales are simply as accurate as the memories of those involved.

The bulk of items in this book come from BYUs golden football era, from the late 1970s through the early 1990s. It is neither a chronological compilation nor a comprehensive effort. It is merely a recounting of legendary stories surrounding BYU footballan oral history of the players, coaches and plays that made up the program.

Tales from the BYU Cougars Sideline is what you might hear if you went to dinner with Chuck Cutler, Danny Plater, Robbie Bosco, Max Hall, Val Hale, or LaVell Edwards.

Its tales from the sidelines, but also the locker rooms, press boxes, airlines and team hotels.

At best, its a mostly humorous insight into the inner workings of a major college football program. At very least, you can amaze your friends with your knowledge of BYU minutiae.

Brad Rock
March 2013

BYU football, for all intents and purposes, was built by LaVell Edwards. He was BYU football. Yet as prominent as he became, not everyone knew him.

For a time he was retained by a housing development in the St. George, Utah area to act as a spokesman/representative. The company used Edwards in its ads, and he occasionally made appearances at the model homes to help convince buyers this was the place to live.

The developer called Edwards to say a retired couple was about to buy a house, but he wanted to impress them by having Edwards present. The coach said he would be there on the appointed day.

When the couple arrived at the model home, Edwards spoke amiably with them. The developer made it a point to let the couple know he and the coach were friendsnothing like bringing out high-powered people to close a deal.

As the couple walked out, the wife turned to her husband and said, Think of it! Were going to be living just down the street from Frank Layden!

* * * * *

Not everyone cared who LaVell was, either.

Long ago, Edwards and a friend named Cy Kimball were in San Francisco, where they hailed a cab. As the car moved toward its destination, the driver began making small talk, asking where they were from.

Kimball told him they were from Utah. Do you know who this guy is? he said, pointing to Edwards.

LaVell Edwards struck a familiar pose on the sidelines for 29 years. (Photo by Mark Philbrick, BYU Photo)

No.

Its LaVell Edwards.

No response.

Youve never heard of him?

Nope.

Hes coach of the BYU football team, said Kimball emphatically.

The cab driver thought for a moment, then in unimpressed cabbie fashion, replied, Yeah, well, hes not very big in San Francisco.

* * * * *

Occasionally he wasnt even very big in Utah County.

Edwards regularly attended the LDS temple, even during his busy years as a coach. One day he showed up to attend a session at the Timpanogos Temple in Utah County. A woman at the reception desk saw Edwards and said, You look really familiar.

Oh? said Edwards.

Yes. I think I know you. Did you go to Ogden High School?

No, said Edwards.

Did you work at the Depot in Ogden?

No.

How do I know you? she continued. I know I know you from somewhere. Youre real familiar. What do you do for a living?

Well, said Edwards, somewhat embarrassed, Ive coached a football game or two at BYU in my time.

Then she knew. Oh, my goodness! My nieces husband just got a job with you! Im so sorry!

* * * * *

Edwards wasnt one to endure extreme temperatures if he didnt have to. Some years it was a running joke among players to see how quickly he would call off practice if rain, sleet or snow loomed.

Jim McMahon was among the most avid at monitoring how quickly they would finish. On a cold day, he would say in the huddle, Hes gonna call practice in two more plays.

Maybe it would be three plays. Perhaps one. But sure enough, not long after, practice would end.

Which probably explains why he liked playing in the San Diego Holiday Bowl so much.

* * * * *

Edwards developed a close relationship with Grant Teaff, the respected coach of the Baylor Bears. Teaff sent Edwards a pair of Dallas Cowboy-colored, gray-and-blue cowboy boots as a gift one year.

Edwards wore his boots into a staff meeting, telling everyone where he got them. He always sat in the same chair, tipping it back so he could rest his feet on the table. But now he had new boots to show off.

In the middle of the discussion, the chair flipped out from under him. Down went the coach.

All you could see were those new boots sticking up above the table, said Garth Hall, a former BYU assistant coach.

Edwards jumped up, righted the chair, patted his stomach and hitched his pants in the old familiar gestures.

Nobody even laughed.

Everyone was in so much shock, so surprised, that we decided we better not say anything. But I was busting a gut trying not to laugh, said Hall.

* * * * *

BYUs coaching staff was noted through the Edwards years as being cohesive and stable. In fact, much of the Cougars success has been credited to his ability to keep most of his staff intact.

That, however, doesnt mean it was a Sunday school.

There were egos. There were personality conflicts. There were flat-out bad feelings, at times.

Not to mention times when they didnt accomplish much.