Editor's Note:
This sidebar is a peripheral feature of Ron Cherubini's
"Pirate Time
Machine" package on Pat Dye that was originally
published exclusively in print in the 2004 edition of Bonesville
Magazine. This is the first time the article, which is
reproduced here with permission from Bonesville Magazine, has
appeared online. |
 Coach
Pat Dye Reflects on Some of His Greatest Pirate Players
By
Ron Cherubini
©2004-06 Bonesville.net
Though he immediately wanted it on record
that EACH and EVERY player he coached at East Carolina during his tenure
were special in their own rights, former Pirates coach Pat Dye took the
time to give a thought or two on many of his former players. It should
be noted, at Coach Dye’s request, that anyone not mentioned was missed
only by accident and that he sincerely apologizes for leaving out
players…he loves them all.
“Leander Green was like Houdini
with a football. He was a great, great, great wishbone quarterback.”
“Danny Kepley was as good a linebacker
that has ever played at East Carolina and probably the best of the ones
I’ve ever coached.”
“Harold Randolph, now he was another
talented linebacker at East Carolina.”
“Cary Godette was as good a defensive end
as I have ever coached…period. And, I coached a kid named Kevin Greene
who wasn’t that bad, either. That ought to tell you how good Cary was.”
“Kenny Strayhorn was a great, great
little running back.”
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(Photos: ECU SID) |
“Mike Weaver was a great competitor for
one of those long-hair guys. Just like Clay Burnette who was
another hippie. I should say Dr. Burnette, as he is one of the finest
hearth doctors around.”
“Eddie Hicks …I’ll tell you, I don’t
think we ever saw him play in high school. I remember asking Eddie how
fast he was and then I asked him if he was scared and he said, ‘no, sir.’
And then we signed him and he turned out to be a great, great player. In
fact, he rushed for 185 yards against Virginia on just 8 carries as a
true freshman.”
“Zack Valentine was a kid we recruited to
East Carolina who was a little 185-pound kid out of high school. He
turned out to be another great one at East Carolina.”
“Terry Gallaher was just a little, old
guy who could run fast was an overachiever. That boy would go make that
catch for you.”
“Reggie Pinkney and Earnest Patterson …
we were just blessed…blessed to have those to players on the same team.”
“Jimmy Bolding was an outstanding, great
safety. You are going to have to check, but I don’t believe anyone has
broken his interception record at East Carolina.”
“Jeff Hagens and of course, Mike
Brewington were two, great local Greenville kids who were fantastic
players at East Carolina.”
“Oliver Phelps was the last of the great
little nose guards.”
“Thomas Summers was another good
linebacker for us.”
“Anthony Collins, you know, was a split
end and linebacker in high school. We moved him to runningback at East
Carolina and the rest is history as they say.”
“Willie Hawkins from Black Jack, was one
of our first signees and he was a great player.”
“Theodore Sutton was one heck… one heck of
a fullback.”
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