Former Auburn coach Pat Dye upset many Auburn fans recently when he said Auburn “could play football for another 500 years and not catch up to Alabama’s tradition.”
Dye coached Auburn from 1981-92 and was 99-39 with the Tigers. From an Auburn fan’s point of view – mine – Dye’s comments were harsh but true. He is correct in stating that Auburn’s prestige doesn’t match the 16-ish national titles Alabama claims and the Tide’s 30 conference titles.
I believe his opinion comes from the perspective of building Auburn from a solid program, which it was when he took over, to a true blue-blood program, which it was when he left following four trips to the Sugar Bowl.