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Alabama Football: Auburn’s Pat Dye Agrees with Nick Saban

By Ronald Evans

Sep 17, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA; Spirit the eagle circles the field at Jordan Hare Stadium prior to the game between the Auburn Tigers and the Texas A&M Aggies. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA; Spirit the eagle circles the field at Jordan Hare Stadium prior to the game between the Auburn Tigers and the Texas A&M Aggies. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports /
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Pat Dye knew Alabama football before he made Auburn home. Dye has outlived pugnacity and health issues to become the elder statesman of Auburn football. At 77, Dye has mellowed enough to agree with Nick Saban.

Pat Dye is an anachronism, old school before that label became trendy. Dye played football at Georgia and was an Alabama football assistant for nine years.

Dye has a knack for story-telling. Like most good tellers of tales, he never lets facts encumber his message.

A brief review of Dye’s stories and quotes must include these three:

  • When Dye was hired by Bear Bryant as an Alabama football assistant, he got the job through a friend’s recommendation. Bryant wanted a young coach who could recruit. Dye was a good choice. Bryant assigned Dye the role of coaching linebackers. Dye had no experience coaching linebackers and told that to Bryant. Bryant’s response was, “well, go out there and watch the linebackers.”
  • The best Dye quote is from his initial press conference as Auburn’s head coach. Dye was asked how long it would take woeful Auburn to beat Alabama. His answer was: “60 minutes.”

It is possible to admire Dye’s coaching career and also believe that Dye’s Auburn program was one of college football’s biggest NCAA rule-breakers. According to Terry Bowden and the late journalist Paul Davis, Auburn boosters had a steady payroll for Dye’s top players. Readers who are familiar with this story will remember assistant coach Wayne Hall’s alleged role.

Enough of Auburn history. On Monday, Pat Dye spoke with Paul Finebaum. As always Dye was interesting. Taken directly from a Finebaum podcast, here are Dye’s comments.

On playing a nine-game SEC schedule

"“I agree 100 percent with Nick Saban … if (SEC teams) cannot win three SEC games, they don’t deserve to go to a bowl … (the coaches who oppose 9 SEC games) ain’t got guts enough to play 9 games in the SEC”"

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The “win three SEC games” was made in reference to all SEC teams scheduling three out-of-conference games that are almost guaranteed wins. Winning three SEC games, and add three cupcake wins would qualify SEC teams for bowls.

In typical Dye fashion, he also defended the SEC, saying last year’s SEC performance was harmed by an abnormally bad season for quarterbacks.

Always the Auburn homer, Dye also bestowed praise on Auburn freshman quarterback, Malik Willis. Dye also stated Auburn should move to the SEC East, flipping Missouri to the SEC West. Pat said the travel to games is unfair to Missou fans and families of players.

Finebaum must have been in a charitable mood. Paul did not remind Pat of the old Saban-Chizik quote.

Next: 5 Best SEC Quarterbacks not named Jalen Hurts

More on the woeful Auburn team Dye inherited. When Dye took over in 1980, Auburn had lost eight straight to the Tide. Going back to Bryant’s second Alabama season, in the ensuing 22 seasons up to 1980, Alabama and Auburn played 22 games. The Tigers won three. Dye’s record against Alabama was 6-6. No wonder they love him in Auburn.

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