A Super Bowl-winning running back coach returned to Uniontown for a party with some hometown friends.
It was Feb. 4 when the Indianapolis Colts defeated the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI, and members of the Curry Dyson VFW Post 3514, in Uniontown, were all gathered to watch and root for the Colts to win during a Super Bowl party.
The reason they abandoned the Steelers' black and gold for the Colts' blue and white for one night was Eugene Huey, the Colts' running back coach, who grew up in Uniontown and helped to pay for that party at the Legion hall.
"That was such a nice gesture," said Chuck McLee, a trustee at Post 3514. "He was thinking about his hometown and his hometown friends."
Huey, 59, lives in Indianapolis with his wife, Dyan Huey, and their two children, Laura Elizabeth and Aaron Bennett. But he made a special trip to Uniontown after a flattering invitation.
McLee and other members at the post decided that a nice thank-you for Huey's generosity would be to throw him a victory party attended by childhood friends, including classmates and fellow basketball and football teammates who played with a man who eventually made an impression in professional football.
According to the Indianapolis Colts, Huey started coaching at his alma mater, the University of Wyoming, as a graduate assistant in 1970. Named head freshman coach in 1972, he later moved to the University of New Mexico in 1974 as the receivers coach.
In 1976, Huey coached receivers at the University of Nebraska. He continued until joining the staff at Arizona State University in 1987. He moved to Ohio State University in 1988, where he remained as an assistant until 1991 when he joined the Colts.
Huey achieved the honor of having the longest tenure of any position coach in that franchise's history, serving 240 regular-season games, the most among the 120 Colts assistant coaches in club history.
Huey's other achievements in the football world include setting 13 receiving records as a wide receiver and defensive back at Wyoming. He also was the only player in Western Athletic Conference history to win all-conference offensive and defensive honors. He was a D5-69 choice of the St. Louis Cardinals and had two years of NFL experience with Minnesota and San Diego.
Of course, the Super Bowl win this year also ranks high on Huey's resume.
"It means I still have a job," he joked on the night of his celebration.
"I'm blessed to be here tonight," Huey said. "The hometown has given me a chance to see the people I normally don't get to see."
The night for Huey was filled with familiar faces, friendly trash-talking among old teammates, and the presentation of a trophy.
"It's always good to come home," Huey said.
