LaVell Edwards shifted BYU's financial model by betting on the pass

LaVell Edwards fundamentally restructured the economics of BYU football in the late 1970s by abandoning a dominant rushing program for a high-volume passing attack. This strategic pivot moved the team away from a ground-based model that featured Pete Van Valkenburg, then the nation's leading rusher. Edwards, who had served as a defensive coordinator, identified that teams relying on the forward pass created tactical problems that his disciplined, quick route runners could exploit. He believed that quickness could counter speed and that the program would always have access to large offensive linemen and quarterbacks capable of throwing.

The transition required hiring specialized offensive talent to execute the new vision. Edwards brought in coaches including Dave Kragthorpe, Doug Scovil, Mike Holmgren, and Norm Chow to manage the passing game. This delegation of authority allowed Edwards to focus on leadership and personnel identification rather than play-calling. Marc Wilson, a BYU Hall of Fame quarterback from 1977 to 1979, noted that the offensive genius resided with those specific hires. Wilson stated that LaVell knew how to identify people with talent and teach them to reach their full potential, creating a stable environment where the staff could innovate without interference.

The new system produced a lineage of elite quarterbacks who sustained the program's success. Gary Sheide was the first throwing quarterback under Edwards, followed by Gifford Nielsen, Wilson, Jim McMahon, Steve Young, Robbie Bosco, Ty Detmer, John Walsh, and Brandon Doman. This roster depth contributed to a 1984 national championship under Bosco. Steve Young, who played from 1980 to 1983, described the experience of throwing on third-and-three and at the goal line as unprecedented in college football. The strategy allowed the Cougars to frustrate defenses that were not prepared for such aggressive aerial play.

Edwards maintained his leadership style through critical game moments by trusting his quarterbacks' instincts. During a September 8, 1979, game against No. 14 Texas A&M, the Cougars trailed 16-17 with seconds remaining. After a touchdown, Edwards called a timeout and asked Wilson which play he wanted to run. Wilson suggested a pass that had received minimal practice. Edwards accepted the choice, operating on the philosophy that a quarterback's belief in a play increases its chance of success. Wilson faked a handoff to fullback Mike Lacey and threw a short pass for a two-point conversion, securing an 18-17 victory.

The program's transformation occurred within a specific financial and cultural context. In 1971, when President Dallin H. Oaks hired Edwards, the average U.S. home price stood at $25,200 and the federal minimum wage was $1.60 per hour. Edwards' hiring process was informal; Oaks simply asked him if he wanted the job, and Edwards was instructed to inform the sports information office of his appointment. Twenty-nine years later, in 2000, President Gordon B. Hinckley announced the renaming of Cougar Stadium as LaVell Edwards Stadium following a victory over New Mexico.

President Jeffrey R. Holland, who led BYU from 1980 to 1989, observed that Edwards lacked a personal ego, which allowed him to credit his staff for the offensive success. Holland noted that Edwards' highs were not too high and his lows were not too low, a stability that helped manage the team through its decades of success. The coach's ability to remain grounded while executing a radical tactical shift defined his tenure, which ended with him as the winningest coach in BYU history.

The legacy of this strategic shift is documented in the book 'The Leadership Legacy of LaVell Edwards,' co-authored by Dave McCann and Dr. Mark D. Ogletree. The work details how Edwards managed the transition from a running game to a passing attack, emphasizing the importance of hiring the right experts and maintaining a supportive leadership environment.