LaVell Edwards Honored with FBA Champions Award

GLENDALE -- Tina Kunzer-Murphy, Chair of the Football Bowl Association and Executive Director of the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas, today announced that the 2011 recipient of the Football Bowl Association Champions Award is former Brigham Young University head coach LaVell Edwards.

The announcement of Edwards' award will be made during an on-field presentation at the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game.

"LaVell Edwards served as the BYU head coach for nearly 30 years and led the Cougars to 22 bowl appearances. It is my honor and privilege to present him with the FBA's Champions Award for his distinguished service and dedication to his university, his student-athletes and to postseason college football," said Kunzer-Murphy.

Edwards retired in 2000 after compiling 257 career wins, which still ranks sixth on the all-time coaching victory list for Football Bowl Subdivision. He finished his career with a 257-101-3 record over 29 seasons as head coach at BYU.

The Cougars made 11 appearances in the Holiday Bowl during his tenure, including a 24-17 victory over Michigan in 1984 to secure the National Championship with a perfect 13-0 record. Edwards was inducted into the inaugural class of the Holiday Bowl Hall of Fame in 1993. He also coached BYU to a 14-1 season and a Top-5 finish in 1996 after defeating Kansas State, 19-15, in the Cotton Bowl.

The coaching tree under Edwards reads like a who's who, including such well-known coaches as Mike Holmgren, Norm Chow, Brian Billick, Andy Reid and Steve Sarkisian. He coached many prominent quarterbacks such as Jim McMahon, Steve Young, Ty Detmer and Sarkisian. The Cougars ranked first in passing offense on eight separate occasions over Edwards' 28 seasons.

Prior to Edwards' final game, the football stadium at BYU was renamed LaVell Edwards Stadium in his honor. He received the Amos Alonzo Stagg Award, presented by the American Football Coaches Association, in 2003.

The Football Bowl Association Champions Award is bestowed upon an individual who has provided distinguished service to college football, with an emphasis on being a contributor to post-season football bowl games. Last year's recipient was former Pac-10 commissioner, Tom Hansen. The first recipient in 2008 was SEC commissioner, Roy Kramer.