East Carolina University, like the University Of Cincinnati, has often served as a stepping-stone for many successful collegiate coaches. Former St. Louis Cardinal receiver Sonny Randle had a successful three-year run, concluding with a 9-2 record in 1973. This led to his hiring as the head coach at the University Of Virginia. Succeeding Randle was former Bear Bryant Alabama assistant Pat Dye who steered ECU from its Southern Conference role to that of a major independent. Taking over this successful team for the 1974 season, Dye installed the Wishbone offense and maintained the "Wild Dogs" defense, led by sophomore defensive end Cary Godette and Danny "Captain Crunch" Kepley, the 6'1", 210 pound middle linebacker. Dye took ECU to a solid 7-4 record in a year where the Pirates completed a total of 24 passes for the entire season! In 1975 they went 8-3 against progressively tougher competition and Dye established himself as a coach on the rise. Godette went on to Honorable Mention All American honors in 1976 and has been an assistant defensive line coach at numerous universities, the Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers, and is currently on the Rutgers staff. This ECU helmet is simple yet elegant in its color combination and immediately recognizable logo.