In the Arena

by Pat Dye, John Logue

autobiography

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

276 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1992

Reviews

[Gunnar Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coach Dye, although a sporadic writer, was a high quality man. As someone who wasn’t born early enough to see him coach, I now understand why he was able to impact so many of his players and produce winning teams. He embodied the underdog and believed that mental toughness, hard work, and character will always prevail over natural talent. The book reads more like an oral history and overflows with stories about his experiences growing up in South Georgia, playing at the University of Georgia, working as an assistant at various universities—including Alabama under Bear Bryant—and, finally, coaching at Auburn. Included are thoughtful, genuine reflections on the character of Bo Jackson, hunting trips with Bear Bryant and his intimidating nature, as well as several other key figures in college football and Auburn history scattered throughout. There’s a lot to learn from Coach Dye and the book captures much of it in a unique way.

Side note: I enjoyed reading about the history of the adoption of the Wishbone in the college game (as a former 3rd grade quarterback who operated in the Wishbone) and Dye’s reasoning behind transitioning from the Wishbone to the I-Formation in ‘85 (Bo’s Heisman year).

Good stories:

Coach Dye was the primary recruiter for Wilbur Jackson of Ozark, the first African American football player at Alabama. He began recruiting Wilbur at his segregated school even before Coach Bryant gave him permission to do so.

Before the 1982 Iron Bowl, Coach Dye and Coach Bryant were talking at midfield before the game. The Bear said, “Pat, I’m thinkin’ about gettin’ out.” Coach Dye replied, “Well, if you’re gonna get out, if you promise to get your ass out, I’ll let you beat me one more year.” Auburn won the game with the notorious “Bo over the top” play and The Bear retired the following offseason.

Good quotes:

“If you ain’t good enough for other folks to brag on you, you ain’t good enough to say anything about yourself.”

“Whatever gets written about me, I don’t think I’m going to stop standing up for what I believe in. I’d rather you not like me for what I am than like me for something I’m not.”

“Bitterness is something I try to keep out of my life. I don’t believe it hurts anybody but yourself.”

“It’s amazing what you can see in a man’s eyes. Fear. Confidence. Determination. I doubt there are many players who aren’t afraid. We deal with fear every day. That’s where courage comes in. Nobody says that courage is the absence of fear. Courage is mastering fear.”