Pugh humbled by Mount Union University HOF induction

ALLIANCE — Not surprised, but definitely honored and humbled.When Dan Pugh found out he would be going into the Mount Union University M Club Hall of Fame Friday night, those were the initial thoughts of the 1998 St. Paul graduate. As a former standout running back who broke the single-season touchdowns record in any Division in 2002 — that had been held by Pro Football Hall of Famer and Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders (Oklahoma State) — one had to figure this was certainly a possibility. "A lot of people start talking it will probably happen once you find yourself a few years removed from school," Pugh said. "But life takes off, and you're off in a thousand different directions. I'm honored to be part of this class and the M Club family. It certainly means a lot."But this is a team award," he added. "It really is. To honor someone for the Hall of Fame, that is unique in itself. But this is also about team recognition, because I wouldn't be here without my family, friends, teammates, and coaches — both at St. Paul and Mount Union. I never could have gotten to this position without those who were behind me the whole time. It's special, but also a team award."One unique aspect is Pugh's uncle with the same name, is already in the Mount Union HOF as well. The elder Dan Pugh won three Ohio Athletic Conference championships in the 177-pound weight class while going 63-3 as a wrestler — and is the only Norwalk High School (1972) state wrestling champion.The induction ceremony is at 6:30 p.m. tonight at the Giese Center for the Performing Arts on campus with a reception will follow. Pugh will also be recognized at halftime of the football game on Saturday against John Carroll, which begins at 1:30 p.m. at Mount Union Stadium.Playing for arguably the greatest college football dynasty of all-time, Pugh was a main cog in the backfield for the Purple Raiders — who won three straight NCAA Division III national championships in his final three seasons at the school.As a senior in 2002, Pugh ran 384 times for 2,303 yards with 35 touchdowns in 14 games. That included scoring five TDs in one half vs. Otterbein (Mount Union record), and rushing for 254 yards against OAC rival John Carroll in the national semifinals.Just two days after being awarded the Gagliardi Trophy, which annually goes to the top all-around player in Div. III, Pugh's final Mount Union game was one for the ages.Facing Trinity (Texas) for the national championship, Pugh ran 49 times (Mount record) for 253 yards and 4 TDs. On a 1-yard TD run late in the third quarter, Pugh dove across the top of a pile of players and into the end zone — and the photo of that TD was a full two-page color centerspread in the following week's issue of Sports Illustrated.That was because the TD passed the single-season all-time mark held by football legend Sanders for a player in any of the NCAA divisions.He added another short TD run in the fourth quarter to finish with 41 total TDs for the season, while also closing with 3,192 all-purpose yards. To no surprise, Pugh also received the Stagg Bowl Most Outstanding Player award.Pugh ran for 4,514 yards in his Mount Union career, which still ranks fourth all-time in program history."There are so many memories, but the most vivid to me is that national title game as a senior," Pugh said. "It was obviously my last game there, we won with confidence and to dive over the top to beat a record by Barry Sanders and appear in Sports Illustrated ... that was a pretty special moment from a very special team."Someone who was also there in 2002 to see Pugh receive the Gagliardi Trophy and shine in his final college performance was his high school head coach — John Livengood, currently in his 28th season at St. Paul."Dan's legacy, as great as it is with all his football records and accomplishments, what people don't realize is what his character and toughness was," Livengood said. "When you saw him play, he was very stoic at such a young age. You couldn't rattle him, and he was going to give the same effort on every single play."It wasn't because he was the fastest or strongest kid on the team — he wasn't," he added. "It was because he was the toughest, most determined kid. The things Dan accomplished were also because of his character traits, not necessarily just his physical traits."At St. Paul, Pugh was twice selected to the Division VI All-Ohio first team, and is still the single-season yardage, career yardage and touchdowns leader.He helped the Flyers reach the state semifinals for the first time as a junior in 1996, rushing for 1,765 yards and 29 TDs. As a senior in 1997, Pugh ran for 2,368 yards and 34 TDs as St. Paul reached the Div. VI state championship game, falling to Delphos St. John's, 42-28.Similar to Mount, in almost poetic fashion, the final run of Pugh's St. Paul career was a 3-yard TD in that state title game."Dan was never intimidated by kids who were bigger, older and stronger than him — and again, was the toughest and most determined," Livengood said. "I think the greatest players you see at any level have a drive to be great and not let anybody down."That's the type of person Dan Pugh has always been," he added. "Not wanting to let his teammates down, I think that drove him to be great. He had those qualities you can't coach."At Mount Union, the Purple Raiders went 42-0 during Pugh's final three seasons with the program. Overall, Mount has won 13 national championships over the past 25 seasons, and played for seven others. Pugh played for Larry Kehres, and now his son Vince, is in his sixth season after taking over for his dad.Counting his final three years of high school at St. Paul, and Pugh wasn't associated with but a handful of losses."It's something I'm sure Coach K was tight-lipped about during his tenure at Mount," Pugh said when asked how the program has maintained that level of success. "You go there for education without a question, it's a terrific school, so that's a built-in selling point."As a football player at the Division III level, it's a unique culture that he built, and it's bred throughout the coaching staff and the players before me," he added. "Hopefully I continued that tradition, and it looks like it's followed after my class went through. Winning is an attitude — and you don't go there and accept winning the OAC, making the playoffs and be happy with that. You go to win a national title. Coach Kehres had you buy into that winning attitude, and it works."After his Mount career was over, Pugh had an signed as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears, and played in seven games with the Montreal Alouettes in the 2003 season in the Canadian Football League.Today, Pugh is a Senior sales executive with Newgistics. He lives in Bozeman, Montana — less than an hour north of Yellowstone National Park — with his wife, Dorsi, and three children. --------------------------------—Dan Pugh Mount glance— 5 touchdowns in one half (Oct. 5, 2002), Mount record— 49 rush attempts in a game (Dec. 21, 2002), Mount record— 384 rush attempts in a season (2002), Mount record— 2,303 rushing yards in a season (2002), fourth all-time— 507 kickoff return yards in a season (2002), Mount record— 35 rushing touchdowns in a season (2002), third all-time— 41 touchdowns in a season (2002), second all-time— 799 rush attempts in career, third all-time— 4,514 rushing yards in career, third all-time— 69 touchdowns in career, third all-time— 6,637 all-purpose yards in career, third all-time— 81 touchdowns in career, third-all-time— 486 points scored in career, third all-time— Gagliardi Trophy winner (Div. III Outstanding Player, 2002)Mount Union running back Dan Pugh runs away from Wheaton's Ty Grose during the fourth quarter of a second round NCAA Division III playoff game on Nov. 30, 2002, in Alliance.Dan Pugh celebrates on the sidelines in the fourth quarter of Mount Union's 48-7 win over Trinity (Texas) in the Division III national championship game on Dec. 21, 2002 at the Stagg Bowl in Salem, Va. A 1998 St. Paul graduate, Pugh enters the Mount Union Hall of Fame on Friday.