It’s been seven years since LaVell Edwards roamed the sidelines in Provo, Utah, but his influence will be highly visible next Tuesday in Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. Captivated by the passing exploits of the Cougars, Texas Tech head man Mike Leach frequented Edwards’ practices in 1982 and 1983 at BYU. He took what he learned from observing the Cougar passing game and applied it to formations and practices at Iowa Wesleyan, where he met Hal Mumme, following him to Valdosta State and Kentucky before creating a passing game at Oklahoma that got him the head job at Texas Tech and the Sooners a national title.

Now in charge of the nation’s most prolific passing offense, Leach spreads the field with his exciting brand of football while guiding the Red Raiders to four straight NCAA passing titles and three consecutive total offense titles during his tenure. Even Auburn now has an Edwards/Mumme disciple in new offensive coordinator Tony Franklin. It’s all the rage baby.

Shooting for their fifth consecutive passing title and currently ranked second in the land in total offense, that rage should be an ample test for a Virginia defense ranked 17th in the nation in total defense and 18th in scoring defense.

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