I will always have unending affection for Pat Dye. If you're an Auburn man and you remember Pat becoming our head football coach after 5 depressing years and so many years of losing to Alabama you'll understand my feelings. Pat Dye was one incoming Auburn coach that you KNEW was going to win from day one.
In the book Dye claims he's over the bitterness of his resignation the night before the Alabama in 1992 and the ignominy of leaving Auburn on probation. He thinks he did nothing wrong except he was in charge when probation came. He thinks people from the other institution in the state was supporting Eric Ramsey. I have no doubt this is true.
The Coach takes some digs at Terry Bowden. He thinks he would have coached that 1993 team to an undefeated season also. He says that once Bowden got thru his players the toughness of the players disintegrated. Bowden never intended to run the football and he did Stephen Davis a disservice in 1995 when he talked him into returning for his senior season and then didn't give him the football.
He talks about his divorce from Sue. She wanted to move to Atlanta and he wanted to stay in Auburn, so they split. I like Dye for his love of Auburn and for staying in Auburn after he stepped down as coach in 1992.
Pat Dye is friends with Harper Lee. Who would have thunk it?
No matter what he says, I think Pat Dye must still have bitterness in his heart.
When Coach Dye first came to Auburn Bobby Lowder paid half his salary. This deserves to raise more than a few eyebrows.
Pat Dye says he has found peace and happiness at age 74 living in rural Notasulga, Alabama. That's quite a feat in itself.
1 comment:
I agree that Bowden probably did not want to run. I heard on a podcast or from War Eagle Sports Radio that in 1997, we won the West and did not have much of a running game. Craig carried the team.
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