Q: What is your favorite TV show?
A: "The Unit" was when it came on — I liked watching
that one.
Q: What is your favorite meal?
A: Baked wings. (Wife) Erlene's baked wings.
Q: If you could go on a vacation anywhere in the
world, where would you go?
A: Jamaica.
Q: How did you propose to your wife?
A: I was a GA (Graduate Assistant) at Clemson and I
did it over the phone and then did it in person.
Q: What made you decide to play your collegiate
football at ECU?
A: My parents and Coach (Pat) Dye.
Q: What was your favorite class at ECU?
A: It was a Special Education class under Dr.
Richards. He had a big impact on me and still does, on how I teach
and how I coach.
Q: What made you decide you wanted to become a
football coach?
A: My dad was a coach, and I knew I wanted to teach,
and coaching is teaching.
Q: How is it different walking into Dowdy-Ficklen as
a coach compared to your playing days?
A: When you played, you could do something about it
physically. As a coach, you can only do something about it mentally.
Q: If you could instill one character trait into all
of your players, what would it be?
A: Never quit, never give up, never surrender.
Q: How has slimming down affected your lifestyle?
A: I'm moving around better. I'm able to sit with you
right now without worrying about my hip killing me, and my mind is
clear.
Q: One of the things you do as a part of staying in
shape is walking around the outskirts of campus. Why that route?
A: I like walking outside to clear my mind — no
music. I don't really want to walk (with a) partner. It's my chance
to think about things and go through the day, decisions that have to
be made, or will be made, and right now during the season, the game
plans.
Q: On game days, you wear a wristband with writing on
it. Care to comment on what that means to you?
A: It means a lot. It's to my Mom and ... my Mom and
Dad are on there. My Mom is very special to me — she's the rock of
my family and my Dad is too.
Q: Any possibility of a black uniform in the near
future for the Pirates?
A: Not to my knowledge. We're just going to stay with
tradition right now. I keep getting asked that question and I'm not
sure.
Q: If you could describe the atmosphere on game day
in Dowdy-Ficklen in one word, what would it be?
A: Electric. Nowhere else can it be found, anywhere
in the country.
Q: What do you think East Carolina would bring to the
table to a major conference such as the ACC or SEC?
A: They would be getting a dream. They would get a
great university with great professors, teachers and researchers, a
great athletic program from top to bottom and, of course, the best
group of supporters, alumni and fans they could ever find.
Couldn't agree more, coach.