Dec. 1, 2000

By BRADY BINGHAM
Standard-Examiner staff

PROVO, Utah - Featuring more plot twists and leading characters than a Harry Potter novel, the final chapter in Brigham Young University coach LaVell Edwards' storybook career came to a close.

"I guess you could write a better script for the last year -- to win a few more games and to go somewhere. But, hey, the way we've been treated everywhere we've been, the trips we've had and what this team went through early on and the way they came back, I'm just very proud (of this team)," said Edwards, who completed his 29th and final season as coach of the Cougars.

It's hard to imagine any coach being proud of a 6-6 team that losses its chance for a bowl invitation in early November. But when you consider the 2000 Cougars were a team that broke in a new offensive coordinator, traveled to the east coast on three separate occasions and started three different quarterbacks yet was able to win its last two and three of its final four games, perhaps Edwards' pride seems sincere.

Before the playing season even began in August with a Kickoff Classic matchup against the defending national champions, BYU had already overcome en emotional off-season which included naming longtime assistant Lance Reynolds as the new offensive coordinator to replace the departing Norm Chow, a somewhat surprising retirement announcement from its beloved and legendary coach Edwards and a nail-biting quarterback controversy pitting sophomore hotshot Brett Engemann against junior good 'ol boy Charlie Peterson.

When the Cougars finally took the field to open the season against Florida State, it was Engemann who took the reigns as starter. But it was the Seminoles who knew which direction they were going as a sluggish Cougars offense failed to score a touchdown in a 29-3 defeat on the road in Jacksonville, Fla.

"They're incredible," said Engemann prophetically. "If they don't win the championship again this year, I'll be surprised."

Currently ranked No. 2 in the BCS polls, it looks like Florida State will indeed get a chance to defend its national championship.

Thirty minutes into game No. 2 -- another trip to the east coast to face the University of Virginia -- and BYU's offense failed continuously to find the end zone and trailed 21-0 to the Cavaliers at halftime.

In the second half, however, Engemann soon began to fit into the traditional roll of a BYU quarterback and threw for 318 second-half yards and two touchdowns, leading the Cougars to a come-from-behind 38-35 overtime victory.

However, as fast as BYU's season started to click, it quickly clanked.

The offense (after Engemann sprained an ankle) as well as the defense (which allowed an Air Force option quarterback to throw four touchdowns passes for the first time since 1982) played poorly in a heartbreaking 31-23 loss to the Falcons in game No. 3.

Five days later, with Peterson getting his first start under the spotlight of ESPN national television, Mississippi State spoiled BYU's home opener by scoring three defensive touchdowns and embarrassing the Cougars 44-28 in game No. 4.

BYU's peaks and valleys continued throughout the next six games with a hard-fought 10-7 win over UNLV followed by an embarrassing 42-14 defeat at Syracuse, with a dominating 38-14 drubbing of in-state rival Utah State followed by a nail-biting, last-second loss to San Diego State, and with a defense-led 19-7 victory over Wyoming followed by an emotionless 45-21 trouncing at the hands of eventual Mountain West Conference champion Colorado State.

At 4-6 and without the postseason to play for, BYU mustered up a pair of emotionally charged victories to end the season. The first was a 37-13 win over New Mexico as Cougar Stadium was renamed LaVell Edwards Stadium in the coach's final home game. The second was a magical 34-27 victory over arch-rival Utah.

Third-string quarterback Brandon Doman, subbing for the injured Peterson and Engemann, led those final two BYU victories. The junior from Salt Lake City became the third BYU signal-caller to throw for 500 yards on the season, a feat never before accomplished during BYU's pass-happy history.

With the victory over Utah in Edwards' career finale, the Cougars improved to 6-6 on the season (4-3 in the MWC) to keep the legendary coach from retiring with a losing season. Edwards leaves as the sixth-winningest coach in the history of college football, with a career record of 257-101-3. He had just one losing season (1973) since becoming head coach in 1972.

BYU's future now lies firmly in the hands of its next head coach, whoever that may be.

All indications are that current Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Gary Crowton has been offered and will accept the position of filling Edwards' shoes.

Once that coach is named, he has a long list of tough questions to face.

BYU faces a tricky quarterback controversy this spring between Engemann, Peterson and Doman.

The Cougars need to replace three seniors on the defensive line and must find answers to a porous defensive secondary which loses both senior safeties.

The team also loses three senior receivers on offense, as well as kicker Owen Pochman, who leaves holding nearly every significant record a kicker can hold at a the school.

Yet, in spite of the challenges ahead and the pressure inherent with filling a legend's shoes, BYU is listed among the top coaching jobs available in the country.

Expectations already run high for 2001.

Brady Bingham covers BYU athletics for the Standard-Examiner. He can be reached at 625-4267 or bbingham@standard.net.