CHRONICLING ECU & C-USA SPORTS
-----
|
View
from the 'ville
Thursday,
February 16, 2006
By Al Myatt |
 |
Recuperated Dye ready to
walk the 'halls'
©2006 Bonesville.net
Former football coach Pat Dye
was supposed to be inducted into the East Carolina
sports hall of fame the weekend of the Pirates' 41-28 win over
Rice on Oct. 8 during the 2005 season.
 |
|
Pat Dye, who coached at East
Carolina from 1974-79 and in later years led Auburn to one of its
most successful eras, was honored last season by having the Tigers'
football field named after him. In 2006, he is slated to be inducted
into both the East Carolina and College Football Halls of Fame.
(Photo: Auburn) |
|
|
Dye has the best winning percentage (.727)
among ECU coaches who have directed the program for three or more seasons.
The former All-American guard from Georgia compiled a 48-18-1 record with
the Pirates for six seasons from 1974-79.
His span as ECU's coach included a Southern
Conference title in 1976, the program's only win over North Carolina in 1975
and an Independence Bowl triumph over Louisiana Tech in 1978.
His success was predicated on the talent of
his "skinny-legged boys," whose abilities were maximized within an
innovative offensive concept called the Wishbone.
"We led the nation in turnovers one year,"
said Dye of the high-risk, high-reward triple option scheme. "We felt like
it was our best chance to be physical against bigger teams.
"We could take up one defender on the read and
another on the pitch. We could block down on a defensive back and double
team on a defensive lineman. We could isolate our bigger, stronger, faster
guys at the point of attack."
Quarterbacks such as Mike Weaver, Jimmy
Sutherland and Leander Green made the offense especially fun to watch with
their decisions on the run — dive, pitch or keep. Backs such as Eddie Hicks
and Anthony Collins got the ball at full speed on the pitch.
Occasionally, ECU would cross up defenses with
the deep ball to guys like Terry Gallaher, who still holds the school
receiving record for yards in a game (218) on just three catches against
Appalachian State in 1975.
"It's the same thing Air Force has done over
the years, and now Navy," Dye said. "Teams still run the wishbone or its
variations."
Many Pirate fans still remember the high
energy attack and its effectiveness in the Dye era at ECU.
Health problems prevented Dye from making the
trip to Greenville from Auburn, Alabama, for the hall of fame inductions in
2005. Dye continues to work in fund-raising for interim president Dr. Ed
Richardson of Auburn University.
"I stayed sick all fall," Dye said Wednesday.
"I didn't go to the first ballgame at Auburn. I had a kidney stone, a
urinary tract infection and I got my prostate cleared out. ... I'm doing
fine now."
Dye, who also had a successful stint at
Wyoming before making his mark with the Tigers/War Eagles, is back on the
job at Auburn. He said he plans to return to Greenville this fall for the
Hall of Fame/Letterwinners weekend.
He also has an induction into the College Football
Hall of Fame in South Bend, Indiana, on his agenda.
Despite the hall of fames which await his
membership, Dye said the biggest honor he has been given was having the
football field at Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium named in his honor. The field
was dedicated to Dye when Auburn hosted Alabama on Nov. 19.
"I went to the pregame ceremonies," Dye said.
Auburn won its first game on Pat Dye Field,
28-18, over its archrival. It was the fourth straight Iron Bowl triumph for
the Tigers, a string which matched a run by Dye in an era which featured
Heisman Trophy back Bo Jackson.
"I talk to Bo from time to time," Dye said.
"He's in the food business. He has some sort of contract with the federal
government."
Dye's son, Pat Jr., is in business, too, as a
sports agent.
"He represents about 30 or 40 guys in the
NFL," Dye said.
Included in that group is former ECU standout
Rod Coleman, one of the best defensive lineman in the league.
Dye's return will indeed make the hall of fame
occasion at ECU special this fall. Preliminary discussions within the
athletic department have dealt with Oct.7, when the Pirates host Virginia,
or Oct. 14, when ECU meets defending Conference USA champion Tulsa, as
possibilities for the hall of fame/letterwinners weekend.
ECU students are scheduled to be on fall break
the weekend of the Tulsa game.
Whimper headed to combine
East Carolina offensive lineman Guy Whimper,
who recently "helped himself out" at the Hula Bowl, according to ECU coach
Skip Holtz, will be heading to the NFL combine in Indianapolis next week.
The combine runs from Feb. 22 to Feb. 28.
Pro day at ECU, when scouts come to time and
evaluate players in person, has been tentatively set for May 20.
Miller coaching golf — for now
Former kicker Kevin Miller, who holds the ECU
career scoring record, is interim golf coach for the Pirates and is
scheduled to guide the team until appointee Press McPhaul arrives from
Vanderbilt following the spring season.
Terry Holland made a provision that allows
Miller to leave his responsibilities as golf coach if a kicking opportunity
opens up in the NFL.
Kevin Williams resigned, effective at the end
of 2005, to become head pro at Walnut Creek in Goldsboro. Williams guided
the ECU golf program for over a decade.
Spring football
Coach Skip Holtz plans to start spring
football practice on March 2. The spring game and the Great Pirate Pigskin
Pig-Out, which will feature a carnival this year, is scheduled for the
weekend of April 8.
Send an e-mail message to Al Myatt.
Dig into Al Myatt's Bonesville
archives.
02/23/2007 12:29:53 AM
----- |
