Auburn Legend Pat Dye Reportedly Hospitalized and Battling Coronavirus
By Michael Luciano
One of the great coaches in SEC history is facing a battle tougher than any football game, as he finds himself fighting against the coronavirus.
Pat Dye, who helped turn Auburn football into one of the SEC's most consistent winners in the 1980s, has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and is currently in an Atlanta hospital.
Auburn coaching legend Pat Dye was diagnosed with COVID-19 last week and hospitalized in Atlanta.
— Auburn Gold Mine (@AUGoldMine) May 21, 2020
He returned Auburn to national prominence when he posted a 99-39-4 record with four SEC titles from 1981-92. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005. pic.twitter.com/Lfdcak2qb4
Dye, 80, was once a head coach at East Carolina and Wyoming, but his best days in college football came from 1981 to 1992, where he served as Auburn's football coach and athletic director.
Dye went 99-39-4 at Auburn, finishing in the top 10 in the AP Rankings six times and winning six bowl games along the way. Dye's best team was in 1983, when the Tigers rode his trademark run-heavy offense to a 11-1 record and a Sugar Bowl win against Michigan. The New York Times ranked Auburn No. 1 overall, but they finished third in the AP Poll behind Miami and Nebraska.
Dye helped restore Auburn's status as a contender within the SEC, all the while sending players like Bo Jackson, Kevin Greene, and Steve Wallace to the pros.
Auburn legend Pat Dye was diagnosed with COVID-19 last week and is in the hospital. pic.twitter.com/p7pv9aRbrh
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) May 21, 2020
Given how deadly this virus can be for those 80 years old and over, this is an extremely serious matter. Our best wishes go out to Dye's family and the Auburn community in this trying time.