University of North Texas Athletics
Green Gang: The Legacy Of Riley
1/5/2011 12:00:00 AM | Return to Play
By Steven Bartolotta, January 5, 2011, 1:15 p.m.
Nearly four years ago when Riley Dodge committed to North Texas, I became the self-appointed President of his fan club. Four years later while that time is up, I'm still running for a second term.
With the news that Dodge is transferring, it marks the end of an era. It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone either. His father was let go by the same university that he was the starting quarterback for. In this case, blood is slightly thicker than scholarship paper.
The debate years from now about Riley will be was a really a D-I QB? Looking back in hindsight, the answer is probably no. No doubt he was and still is a great D-I athlete, just ask the King of Burnt Orange if he thinks so.
Riley unfortunately became the "Super Dave" of quarterbacks in football. Every part of his body seemed like it was subject to an injury, every time he stepped onto the field.
But he never let that stop him from playing. Even when it seemed like he shouldn't have. He was as tough a QB that will ever play for North Texas. His production was too shabby either.
The underlying problem though for Riley as a QB, was his size. There was a time not so long ago, Riley could have played at the D-I level just fine as a QB. But these days college athletes are built more like gladiators than they were back then. If your under 6-foot these days and playing QB at the D-I level, make sure your parents have a great insurance policy.
Wherever he ends up he will be successful at QB, RB, WR, or anything else. Despite what happened here, record wise, Riley is a winner. The Dodge haters out there will harp on his father's record just for attention and because they can't see the bigger picture.
Riley didn't fail at North Texas, he's just moving on, and sometimes that isn't a bad thing in all cases.
I'm sad that he's leaving, he was everything we want in a student-athlete at North Texas... and he was a pleasure to work with. I will continue to run the Denton chapter of his fan club no matter where he lands and I'm looking forward to a better second term.
