Title: Vonta Leach Oral History Interview, June 30, 2020.

Identifier: UA95.18.10   (https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/62327)

Description: Video recording of Vonta Leach's interview for the "The Rise of Alpha Dog" oral history project conducted by Don Leggett. The project explores perceptions of East Carolina as an "underdog" or "alpha dog." Leach describes his education, football career at ECU and in the NFL, and his current service with the Robeson County School Board and other organizations. Leggett asks about how Leach became aware of ECU, his motivations for choosing to play for ECU, and if he is glad that he attended ECU. Leggett asks Leach if he had an impression that ECU was regarded as inferior, whether that attitude provided an advantage in any way, particularly in athletics, and whether ECU's status makes a difference. Next they discuss if ECU should give up the "underdog" role, whether the ECU community may be reluctant to move away from that perspective, what ECU would look like as an "alpha dog," if ECU can improve its status while maintaining its role in the development of eastern N.C., the role of athletics in the perception of the university, and if ECU should consciously promote the "alpha dog" attitude.