Q: What is
your favorite TV show?
A: "The Unit" was when it came on — I liked watching that one.
Q: What is
your favorite meal?
A: Baked wings. (Wife) Erlene's baked wings.
Q: If you
could go on a vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: Jamaica.
Q: How did you
propose to your wife?
A: I was a GA (Graduate Assistant) at Clemson and I did it over the
phone and then did it in person.
Q: What made
you decide to play your collegiate football at ECU?
A: My parents and Coach (Pat) Dye.
Q: What was
your favorite class at ECU?
A: It was a Special Education class under Dr. Richards. He had a big
impact on me and still does, on how I teach and how I coach.
Q: What made
you decide you wanted to become a football coach?
A: My dad was a coach, and I knew I wanted to teach, and coaching is
teaching.
Q: How is it
different walking into Dowdy-Ficklen as a coach compared to your
playing days?
A: When you played, you could do something about it physically. As a
coach, you can only do something about it mentally.
Q: If you
could instill one character trait into all of your players, what
would it be?
A: Never quit, never give up, never surrender.
Q: How has
slimming down affected your lifestyle?
A: I'm moving around better. I'm able to sit with you right now
without worrying about my hip killing me, and my mind is clear.
Q: One of the
things you do as a part of staying in shape is walking around the
outskirts of campus. Why that route?
A: I like walking outside to clear my mind — no music. I don't
really want to walk (with a) partner. It's my chance to think about
things and go through the day, decisions that have to be made, or
will be made, and right now during the season, the game plans.
Q: On game
days, you wear a wristband with writing on it. Care to comment on
what that means to you?
A: It means a lot. It's to my Mom and ... my Mom and Dad are on
there. My Mom is very special to me — she's the rock of my family
and my Dad is too.
Q: Any
possibility of a black uniform in the near future for the Pirates?
A: Not to my knowledge. We're just going to stay with tradition
right now. I keep getting asked that question and I'm not sure.
Q: If you
could describe the atmosphere on game day in Dowdy-Ficklen in one
word, what would it be?
A: Electric. Nowhere else can it be found, anywhere in the country.
Q: What do you
think East Carolina would bring to the table to a major conference
such as the ACC or SEC?
A: They would be getting a dream. They would get a great university
with great professors, teachers and researchers, a great athletic
program from top to bottom and, of course, the best group of
supporters, alumni and fans they could ever find.
Couldn't agree
more, Coach.