There were evening when Dodge wouldnt log off their flat-the guy prominent to quit confrontation with people overzealous Longhorn fans. But one evening during his junior year, family unit members persuaded your to go to a recreations pub, even though the guy nursed a beer, he satisfied a great UT ed Elizabeth. Elizabeth, from Westlake, is outgoing and you can brilliant-a taller brunette which have an enormous smile. Dodge grabbed the fresh new controls, and on just how, a drivers rear-ended him or her. “The rear are sitting about back seat,” he remembered. That is just how Dodge found Elizabeths dad,Ebbie Neptune.
Neptune currently know about Dodge. Neptune taught activities at regional Westlake, along with Chaparral athletics hed discover their lifes goal. If the college or university first hired him due to the fact offending coordinator, for the 1969, the group didnt features a property job and you can played most of the game on the road. Whenever construction eventually completed for the Chaparral Arena, the guy watered new turf yourself. “Basically don’t get discharged,” he told a friend, “this is how I want to retire.”
He had your head training work into the 1982-not long once Dodge first started his occupation in the UT. They wasnt well before Neptune try defending Dodge in the Longhorn online game; immediately following , when several admirers heckled the fresh new quarterback, Neptune moved more and you can informed him or her the guy didnt delight in them playing with such as for example words throughout the their girl date.
Straight away, Dodge thought something like serenity with her
Just before Dodges elder season, once the guy took E from a romantic date, the couple sat looking on UT sporting events community regarding the bonnet away from their car on stadium parking lot. Thats when he requested this lady so you’re able to get married him. These were marry next year at the Methodist chapel towards campus. Dodges father presented this service membership, and you will just about any groomsman is a vintage Jefferson Purple Coat.
NFL communities didnt tell you far interest in an undersized quarterback such Dodge, and since he understood he wanted to mentor just after graduation, Neptune brought your into the since the a student assistant on Westlake having the 1986 season. It absolutely was Neptunes last season coaching the brand new Chaps ahead of to get the newest schools sports director. Westlake got simply already been elevated to your says better office, while the changeover is actually sure to be raw. However, just like the Chaps missing games after-game, Dodge kept giving advice to help you quarterbacks and you may receivers.
Neptune and you can Dodge was kindred comfort: Colorado Coastline people, increasingly devoted sporting events celebs whom appreciated so you can laugh
Until the seasons latest tournament, Dodge discover the 5 elder captains and you can passed him or her just one handwritten page. “Captains, I understand it has been an arduous and much time season to have everybody,” they began. “I will be writing this because Ive observed this class all year and it’s got troubled us to see you people struggle hard game from inside the and you may online game away merely to come up short during the end. Better, Ill show what. They does not must be this way tonight . . . In the event that yall walk out thereon career this evening all together and not as forty five, you will find [no] way you’ll dump.”
Westlake did treat, however, men and women captains stored the brand new page. It generated photocopies so most of the five ones keeps one to. Even so, participants believed there is certainly a present on Coach Dodge.
Adopting the 12 months which have Westlake, Dodge bounced from just one university to the next in various assistant instructions gigs. Once he had been 31, he generated 1st lead courses standing, on the 60 miles northeast regarding Austin at the C. H. Yoe Twelfth grade, within the Cameron. He and Elizabeth got one or two pupils by then, 5-year-dated Riley and you may newborn Molly. Elizabeth had been finishing this lady experts into the knowledge from the University out-of North Texas, thus she and Molly existed behind into the Denton to finish the new session when you find yourself Dodge took Riley to Cameron to own springtime activities.