​BYU’s head football coach Kalani Sitake talks briefly with former head coach LaVell Edwards, following a press conference in Provo Monday, Dec. 21, 2015.
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Scott G Winterton
Editor’s note: Fifth in an occasional series exploring LaVell Edwards’ legacy of leadership.“The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” MichelangeloLaVell Edwards and the great sculptor Michelangelo shared a gift. The latter could look at a slab of marble and envision David, while Edwards could stare into the eyes of a teenager and see potential greatness and help them reach it.Michelangelo shaped his works of art with a hammer and chisel. Edwards was masterful at persuasion and leadership. He shaped his quarterbacks by knowing what to say and when to say it.After BYU’s 1-3 start in 1975, Edwards made a quarterback change. He saw enough promise in sophomore Gifford Neilsen to give him a shot, and he broke the news to him during a Sunday drive to Salt Lake City to attend his weekly television show.“I want to let you know that we have coaches on our staff that do not want you to play, but you are starting,” Edwards told Neilsen. “You are now the starting quarterback. It’s not the popular decision, but I’m sticking with you.”
BYU coach Lavell Edwards talks with Gifford Neilsen, right, as Jeff Nilsson listens in on April 10, 1976.
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Deseret News archives
Fueled by those words of confidence, Nielsen won his first start against Air Force (28-14) the following Saturday. A year later, he was named first team All-American, and in 1994, Nielsen became the first BYU player to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.Playing for the injured Nielsen, Marc Wilson made his first start at BYU against Colorado State on Oct. 15, 1977. Standing 6-feet-5 and brandishing a rifle arm, Wilson set a WAC record with seven touchdown passes in a 63-17 victory. The following week, he threw a WAC-record seven interceptions against Wyoming. “LaVell was exactly the same guy,” Wilson said. “He didn’t treat me any differently from one week to the next, whether I threw seven touchdowns or seven interceptions. He treated me exactly the same and part of that was, I think LaVell knew