BYU's LaVell Edwards Chases Victory No. 250
Associated Press 29Oct99 S2
By Tim Korte: AP Sports Writer

PROVO, UTAH -- A BYU win against Air Force on Saturday will give BYU coach LaVell Edwards win number 250. But Edwards doesn't think its a big deal, "I haven't even thought about it," he told the Associated Press. "It's just another game,'' Edwards said. ``The big thing is that we're in the hunt for the championship. That's the most important thing right now, and that's what we keep an eye on." But a week ago, Edwards openly discussed Florida State coach Bobby Bowden's approaching career victory #300.

Edward's records are significant. At 249 victories he is currently the coach with the seventh highest number of career wins, and he is just six wins behind the sixth place coach, Tom Osborne of Nebraska. Of active coaches, he ranks seventh in carreer winning percentage at 72.8 percent (249 of 344 games). He has lead BYU to 21 bowl games, including 17 straight from 1978-94. Only Michigan, Alabama and Nebraska have longer bowl streaks.

Players and coaches, both at BYU and elsewhere, express admiration for Edwards and his accomplishments. Ron McBride, coach of archrival Utah, says "He's a great human being. He's a great person. The things that he's done for that university cannot be measured in wins and losses. I have the utmost respect for what he's done and how he represents that school. He's got all the qualities that they want. In my opinion, he's probably the best spokesman they could have."

Last month Edwards signed a five-year contract extension, extending his 28-year coaching career and leaving him with a good shot at reaching 300 wins, close to the record. But Edwards isn't thinking about his career, "I haven't thought back on it, really. Maybe when I'm done coaching, I will. Who knows?"

Instead Edwards is focusing on tomorrow's game, which he is expected to win.