Patti Edwards ‘Lights The Y’ Before Utah State-BYU Rivalry Game
Sep 29, 2022, 5:48 PM | Updated: 5:51 pm
Patti Edwards (Courtesy of Jaren Wilkey/BYU Photo)
(Courtesy of Jaren Wilkey/BYU Photo)
PROVO, Utah – Patti Edwards, wife of the late LaVell Edwards, ignited energy into the stadium by lighting “The Y” prior to kickoff between the Utah State Aggies and BYU Cougars.
The No. 19 Cougars hosted the Aggies, at the venue that bears her husband’s name, LaVell Edwards Stadium, on Thursday, September 29.
Before the start of the rivalry contest, Edwards had the pregame honor to “Light the Y” logo on the mountain in the background at the home of BYU football.
The Edwards’ kids, Ann, John, and Jim, as well some grandchildren, were in attendance for the rivalry game.
Patti Edwards “lit the Y” tonight. 💙 #BYUFootball #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/6aPUVeDfVg
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 29, 2022
Before his storied coaching career, Coach Edwards played at Utah State from 1949-51. He went on to attended graduate school at BYU and entered the coaching world before becoming the head coach of the Cougars in 1972.
Edwards finished his BYU career with a 257-101-3 record. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
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In 2019, Patti Edwards was invited to speak to the Cougar football team by BYU head coach Kalani Sitake, who played for her late husband.
Sitake played for Edwards during the 1994 and 1997 thru 2000 seasons. In Edwards final season as head coach in 2000, Sitake was one of the captains of that team.
Since Sitake became BYU’s head coach in December 2015, he has continued to have a close relationship with the Edwards family.
“Throughout camp, we’ve been really trying to have an emphasis on teaching them more about LaVell and the impact he had on College Football but also the person that he was, the father and husband that he was, and the mentor and coach he was,” Sitake in 2019. “Having Patti this morning speak to the team was a really special treat for our players. They were just really excited to have her talk and she did an amazing job.”
LaVell Edwards passed away in 2016, but his legacy carries on in the BYU football program today. Sitake played for Edwards and was a member of the 2000 team in that final home game more than 20 years ago. Before Sitake’s team exits the door at LaVell Edwards Stadium, there’s a sign that reads, “Protect LaVell’s House” with Edwards’ picture next to it.
The Utah State vs. BYU game is broadcast on ESPN, KSL Sports Zone, and KSL NewsRadio.
