LaVell 1 of 14 placed in Hall

NEW YORK — In the National Football Foundation's equivalent of a trilogy, longtime Brigham Young University coach LaVell Edwards is now officially a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

Edwards, who retired after the 2000 season with a 29-year record of 257-101-3 for a .716 winning percentage, was among the 14 inducted in Tuesday night ceremonies.

The foundation announced the 14 selections back in April, inducted them in a lavish, black-tie-only affair at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel and will enshrine them next August in festivities at the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind.

In presenting Edwards' name at the ceremonies, former Baylor coach and executive director of the American Football Coaches Association Grant Teaff called Edwards "an icon in coaching." Teaff went to say "Edwards' success and longevity is seldom paralleled in our profession."

Edwards becomes the fifth member of the BYU football program earning a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame. He was preceded by four All-America Cougar quarterbacks — Gifford Nielsen, Marc Wilson, Jim McMahon and Steve Young.

Just as memorable for Edwards was a reception held the night before at the Marriott Marquis at Times Square. Cramming the ballroom were a host of former BYU players; Pres. Cecil O. Samuelson and other university and athletics department officials; current and former college coaches in town for the induction ceremonies who stopped by; major BYU donors from the East Coast; and local area LDS Church representatives.

Among the two-dozen-plus former players were Hall members Young, McMahon and Nielsen as well as a strong contingent from the Philadelphia Eagles — head coach Andy Reid, Chad Lewis and Reno Mahe. Others included Lee Johnson, Jim Hermann, the Oates brothers and Jason Buck — Edwards said he was surprised to see Chris Farasopulous from the coach's early career years in the '70s.

"There's a lot of talented people in this room," said senior associate A.D. Peter Pilling, who along with other university and athletics officials are mired in a search for a new BYU football coach. They used Monday's reception to get perspective from former players, Reid and even Danny Ainge, the former BYU basketball standout and current Boston Celtics general manager.

Added fellow senior associate A.D. Tom Holmoe: "These are the guys, the ones whose brains you want to pick."

Reid recalled Edwards' first bowl victory after several tries, the 1980 Holiday Bowl, kidding his former coach "that up to that point, he had had as much success in bowl games as I have had at NFC championships.

"I remember standing by him after the game in the tunnel at Jack Murphy Stadium, and he said, 'You know, if I had any brains, I'd retire.' "

McMahon remembered regular Monday morning meetings between the coach and the Cougars' bad-boy QB. "We had our run-ins early on, but a lot of that was people who were out to get me," he said, calling Edwards "a great organizer."

Said Young: "He's a phenomenally gifted, people-skilled coach who could see things in people that they might not see inside themselves — he certainly saw something in me."

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