Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Before former coaching colleagues Kyle Whittingham and Kalani Sitake were chums while leading rival college football programs, two of the state of Utah’s all-time coaches filled their shoes.
Former Utah coach Ron McBride and legendary BYU coach LaVell Edwards hope what has turned into an occasionally toxic rivalry can cool off now, too.
“I liked this guy even when he was coaching at the wrong school, and we were facing each other,” Edwards joked, before sincerely adding, “Ron and I have been great friends at that time, and since then we’ve had a great time together.”
McBride and Edwards appeared on KSL SportsBeat to talk about their shared affinity for golf, including a special Legends golf tournament designed to bring some iconic names from the two schools together for a golf tournament benefitting the Haloti Ngata Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club.
“When they were having the battle between the basketball schools, I said maybe we ought to do something to bring the two sides together in a ‘love you man’ type thing,” McBride said. “It’s just Utes and Cougars playing golf together and enjoying the game together.
“It took off from there, and it’s grown out of proportion. We’re full, and I’ve got people calling me from all over the country who want to play.”
The charity event seems a perfect fit for the two coaches, even if they were best known for leading two rivals.
“The thing about LaVell all those years is that he never turned down any chance to help people,” McBride said. “Even if he had to drive to Salt Lake, or whatever he had to do, that’s just what he did.
“Even though he was riding the high horse at that time, he never acted like he was on the high horse. He was just LaVell being LaVell.”
Click the video above for the complete interview of two of the state’s best friends.
