Fifteen Questions Wednesday, February 20, 2013 By W.A. Myatt

Fifteen Questions for Bill Cain

By W.A. Myatt
©2013 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.

Bill Cain isn’t a common name with my generation of Pirate Nation. You have to go back a ways to find folks who remember when Mr. Cain served as East Carolina's athletic director in the late 1970’s. The Rockingham native was co-captain of the 1959 East Carolina College football team and earned All-Carolinas Conference honors. He went on to earn his master’s degree from the school and after coaching for a few years at the high school level, he returned to Pirate football as head freshman football coach in 1968.

After coaching ECU's golf and tennis teams from 1972-1975, Mr. Cain served as athletic director from 1975-1980. During his tenure, Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium underwent a major expansion, going from seating 20,000 to 35,000. He now serves as an Assistant to the Dean in the College of Health and Human Performance.

Article continues after the following picture.

Bill Cain (right) is introduced at a 1975
press conference as ECU's Director of
Athletics by Chancellor Leo Jenkins.
(Submitted photo)

After our Tuesday interview, Mr. Cain and I were talking about how things have changed during his time at ECU and he told me “If you don’t know the history of a place or an area, you’ll step all over it.”

Talking with Mr. Cain, who was inducted into the ECU athletics hall of fame in 1997, gave me an appreciation for just how far the Pirates have come in the last half-century. Progress comes mostly from focusing forward, but we should respect all the people and events which have gotten us where we are in the journey.

Q: Favorite Restaurant in Greenville?

A: That's hard to say, because my wife and I go to a lot of restaurants, but one we visit quite a bit would be Tripp's.

Q: What led you to enroll at East Carolina?

A: Well, that came from the President now of Campbell University, Dr. Jerry Wallace. He was in school here and he encouraged me to come down and I was a walk-on in football, although I wasn't very big. He and I played high school ball together so I came down, saw Coach (Jack) Boone and went out for the team.

Q: You served in the military, what impact did that have on you?

A: Well more than anything, it allowed me to gain weight and focus on what life is about and things of that nature. I think that was a growing up time for me — it came in the midway point of my college career. I went in at 160 pounds and came out at 210.

Q: What was your coach, Jack Boone, like?

A: He was probably one of the greatest gentlemen you could ever have and one of the most knowledgeable coaches. He was an X's and O's type of person, and to me, he really led me into coaching. He really was a fantastic person.

Q: What is your favorite memory of your football days for the Pirates?

A: I think coming back from service and then my last couple of years for East Carolina, serving as co-captain with Ed Emory — and Henry VanSant was also on that club and a few other guys who are still active with the Pirate Club and things like that. Playing with those guys is really the best memory I have.

Q: What made Pat Dye such a successful coach?

A: Well, Pat knew what his role was. He always made the statement that he was here to win football games and that was his main focus. He was really a fundamental coach and he would get back to the basics if our team faltered any.

Q: How have college athletics changed since your time as athletic director?

A: We all know that the players are bigger and certainly faster, stronger. I think they're coming out of high school so much better. The main focus now in each sport, whether it's tennis, or golf or whatever, those coaches really put the time and effort into what they're trying to get done.

Q: What do you think about East Carolina's move to the Big East?

A: Obviously, it's a good move. I'm hoping that we can go ahead and finalize everything for an all-sports membership. We all want to move up the ladder, and Terry (Holland) being able to get this pulled off is a real plus for him.

Q: Over the years, what has changed the least at ECU?

A: The one major thing that we've always had all along is the intensity of the university and the college, back in my day, to move forward. This intensity comes from people like (former chancellor) Dr. Leo Jenkins. We've always had that "want to exceed" attitude. We always want to improve the program and move up the ladder.

Q: If there was one thing you could change in your time with East Carolina, what would it be?

A: Well, if we could've won more games... during the 70's we won quite a few games, but still I'd give us a few more wins.

Q: If you were out recruiting a high school football prospect today, what would your pitch be?

A: Well, that's what I used to do. I sold them on the community and then the college, the students, the environment that we have here, and everything about Greenville.

Q: You're a pretty regular racquetball player. What makes the game so enjoyable for you?

A: It goes back to probably 1970 — I've been playing since then. It's certainly a way to release a lot of energy. If you're upset about something, sometimes rather than going out and vocalizing it, you just go in there and hit the ball against the wall. It's really helped me a lot.

Q: In your tenure as athletic director, Dowdy-Ficklen underwent a major expansion, boosting capacity from 20,000 to 35,000. Now that same stadium seats 50,000. How much fun has it been for you to see the stadium evolve over the years?

A: Well, I can go back to when we played over there where the 50-yard line was behind Christenbury (adjacent to the heart of the campus). To see it grow from 17,000, it's just amazing to me what we've done through the years. I'm just happy to be here and be a part of it, go to the games and be in the Pirate club. I'm just proud of it.

Q: You've seen a lot of great moments in your time with East Carolina. What would you put at the top of your list?

A: I have a lot that I could put up there, but working with (former head football coach and athletic director) Clarence Stasavich and, certainly, Dr. Leo Jenkins, I'd have to put that at the top. Very few people had that opportunity. I did and I'm very thankful for that.

Q: You've given countless hours to this university. What has ECU given back to you?

A: Education, friendship with the people I've been affiliated with, and just being at East Carolina has been a great thrill.

E-mail W.A. Myatt.

PAGE UPDATED 02/20/13 04:43 AM.