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When I was coaching at ECU, my wife Tracey, decided she would cook for the offensive lineman. It was not without mistakes. I told her she would be cooking for tall men that weighted 300 lbs. plus and as tall as 6’ 8” but she had cooked for them before. They were used to her fixing cornbread every Sunday while they reviewed film from the previous game on Saturday.

She was prepared for a home cooked meal. They were used to cafeteria food, so she cooked BBQ chickens with all the sides. 12 whole chickens cut in half! And when I got in line there wasn’t any chicken left, nor were there any sides left! They ate all the chicken and boiled potatoes with the string beans. They even carried some home with them plus some cake! But that didn’t bother Tracey.

She learned her lesson. The next time she was prepared. She had 44 halves plus pulled pork with all the sides. She learned her lesson and still, they took some home or to the dormitory. Tracey cooked for them every year Ruffin O’Neil was the head coach. I even had the seniors down when Shane Carden was the leader.

They would ask me when were we going back to the river. Every year when summer camp started the offensive linemen would ask me that question! She learned her lesson the first time and from then on, she would prepare more than enough for them to take back to the dorm.

They loved Mrs. Tracey! She would have neighbors and family members help her out. That is how many people it took to feed 15 offensive linemen!

They were polite and friendly and well mannered! At times neighbors would say they are the nicest boys. Well, they didn’t see them on game day because they played to win. That was the way Ruffin trained them. He trained them well.

They were the best of times with the best of friends and in the best of places, Washington, NC! The Original Washington.

Harold Jr.