Dye tested positive for the coronavirus and was admitted to the hospital in May for kidney-related issues. The former coach showed no signs of the respiratory ailment, according to his son Pat Dye Jr., Mark Schlabach of ESPN reported.
The Georgia native had led the team for 12 of his 19 years as a Division I head coach, from 1981 to 1992. He played for Wyoming and East Carolina before concluding his career with a 153-62-5 record.
He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and had a field named in his honor at Jordan-Hare Stadium in 2005.
Having won four conference titles and at least eight games in nine straight seasons, Dye helped Auburn become a consistent force in the SEC. Between 1982 and 1990, he had a 6-2-1 record in the bowl.
The program had not participated in a bowl game for seven years prior to that time.
Because of his accomplishments while on the team, he was able to win three SEC Coach of the Year titles.
“People will talk about all of the games Coach Dye won, all of the championships and bowl games, but his greatest contribution is the difference he made in the minds of his players and the people who worked for him,” stated former Auburn sports director David Housel, according to John Talty of AL.com. “I am a member of that group. He made an impression.
When he got to Auburn, the school was in dire need of guidance and leadership. He provided Auburn with that guidance and leadership, and Auburn will always be better for it.
Before Dye was appointed head coach, he played college football for Georgia. He also served as an assistant coach for Alabama for nine years under the legendary Bear Bryant before taking a job as head coach at East Carolina in 1974.
He had gone to his property in Notasulga, Alabama, and taken a break from coaching.
READ MORE
AFL 2024: ESSENDON WISHES TO PROVIDE OUT-OF-CONTRACT STARS WITH A SENSE OF WORTH
Zach Merrett, the captain of Essendon, claims that his teammates who are not under contract “wouldn’t be human” if they weren’t thinking about their futures in 2024.
With many well-known players among the half of the playing roster who do not have contracts for 2025, Essendon captain Zach Merrett says the Bombers will ensure that their out-of-contract teammates feel “valued and supported” going into the 2024 season.
The Bombers have 22 players who have not committed past 2024, including the vital fivesome of Andrew McGrath, Archie Perkins, Sam Durham, and Jake Stringer. Merrett mentioned that some players might think about their contract situation all season long.
He said teammates accepted the “reality” that players would decide on their futures later in the season, given the increasing number of factors influencing player mobility. He nevertheless conveyed confidence that the team would sign players this year.
It is accurate. Well, I don’t think I would
“I think that if more player movements happen, maybe even mid-season trading next year, everyone just accepts that this is the reality of the strange life we will lead. It’s a natural phase that our industry goes through.”Without a doubt, in the big picture, it matters. But all you have to do is sort it out on the inside, making sure they know you value them and want them to do their best.
“We’ll be motivated as a group because, as everyone knows, guys who play well and win more games tend to hang around and play more games together.”
Merrett said that Stringer was in a “great spot” this summer and that if he could get better at running after a dismal 17-game 2023 season, he could still be a “special” player. This week, Stringer announced that he will remain at Essendon past the next season.
“I think Jake is one of those guys you look at all around the league.”
He is the kind of player that, in my opinion, every club wants, but you have to be able to do it consistently. Over the past four or five years, we’ve seen players who can really win games step up when the stakes are high, such as Dustin Martin, Christian Petracca, and Jordan de Goey.
Regardless of whether the Bombers finished in the top eight, Merrett acknowledged that their miserable finals run will be a talking point this season. However, he took solace in the rival coaches’ claims that there wasn’t much separating them from the top clubs.
