Columnist Steve Guiremand: Don’t overlook Edwards’ final home game at BYU

Steve Guiremand

Friday, Nov. 17, 2000 | 9:54 a.m.

Steve Guiremand covers college football for the Sun. His Around Campus column appears on Friday during football season.

With most of the nation focusing its attention on big rivalry games such as Florida vs. Florida State, Michigan vs. Ohio State and USC vs. UCLA on Saturday, the sentimental journey that is BYU coach LaVell Edwards' final season makes its last stop in Provo.

The Cougars (4-6, 2-3), who conclude their season and the Edwards era at in-state rival Utah next weekend, host New Mexico (5-6, 3-3).

"I'm sure everybody's looking at us as the lambs being led to the slaughter," New Mexico coach Rocky Long joked. "There's already been a huge emotional buildup for this game. I'm sure it will be a sellout and all (Edwards') ex-All-Americans and ex-All-Pros will be there. We'll be outnumbered tremendously, but it's going to be a very exciting and very electric situation."

As it should be.

Before Edwards took over in Provo 29 years ago as head coach, the Cougars had won just one conference title and appeared in exactly zero bowl games in their 47-year history.

Under Edwards, they won or shared 20 conference titles, appeared in 22 bowl games, won a national championship and produced a Heisman Trophy winner in Ty Detmer.

To honor Edwards, the school will have a special pregame show that will include Edwards and his wife, Patti, being escorted onto the field by team captains Setema Gali, Margin Hooks, Kalani Sitake and Jared Lee.

LDS Church president Gordon Hinckley will present Edwards with a commemorative game ball and Edwards will also conduct the coin toss using a special commemorative coin.

After the game, BYU president Merrill Bateman will present Edwards with some gifts. There also will be a video presentation on Edwards' career and a fireworks show.

Unfortunately, there will be nobody there to present Edwards with what he probably had wished for most: another bowl bid.

Still, it should be a very emotional afternoon in Provo.

Just ask Long, whose father, Rod, was a three-year letterman for the Cougars from 1948-50.

"He doesn't come to many (New Mexico) games, but he always makes the BYU game," Long said. "I don't know who he roots for."

Once around the nation

Once around the MWC