There have been nights whenever Dodge wouldnt get-off their apartment-the guy common to end conflict with people overzealous Longhorn fans. But you to definitely evening during their junior year, nearest and dearest certain your to check out a recreations club, and while the guy nursed an alcohol, the guy met an excellent UT ed Elizabeth. Age, away from Westlake, are outgoing and you can brilliant-a large brunette with a big smile. Dodge took the fresh wheel, as well as on just how, a motorist buttocks-concluded him or her. “The back was resting about back-seat,” he recalled. Thats just how Dodge found Elizabeths dad,Ebbie Neptune.
Neptune currently understood in the Dodge. Neptune taught sports in the nearby Westlake, and in Chaparral athletics hed receive their lifes objective. When the school basic rented your once the offending planner, in 1969, the team didnt keeps a home career and played all the game on the run. When framework in the long run completed towards Chaparral Stadium, he watered the lawn by hand. “Basically cannot score discharged,” the guy informed a buddy, “this is how I do want to retire.”
The guy had your face instructions job during the 1982-shortly shortly after Dodge first started their profession within UT. They wasnt a long time before Neptune is actually safeguarding Dodge at the Longhorn games; after, when several admirers heckled the new quarterback, Neptune wandered more than and you can advised him or her he didnt take pleasure in him or her having fun with such as language from the his girl date.
Immediately her uЕѕivatelskГ© jmГ©no, Dodge noticed something such as comfort with her
Prior to Dodges elder 12 months, just after the guy grabbed Elizabeth on a romantic date, the couple sat looking at UT sports job from the bonnet regarding their automobile regarding arena parking lot. That is as he requested her so you’re able to marry him. These were marry the coming year at the Methodist chapel for the campus. Dodges father conducted the service, and you may nearly every groomsman is actually a classic Jefferson Yellow Coat.
NFL teams didnt tell you much interest in an undersized quarterback such as Dodge, and since he realized he wished to mentor once graduation, Neptune delivered your into the because the a student assistant at the Westlake to have the latest 1986 year. It actually was Neptunes last season sessions the newest Chaps in advance of getting the fresh colleges sports director. Westlake got only already been increased towards says most useful section, therefore the change is actually certain to be raw. But since the Chaps shed game after game, Dodge remaining providing guidance so you can quarterbacks and you may receivers.
Neptune and you will Dodge were kindred morale: Texas Coast men, fiercely dedicated sporting events superstars just who treasured so you can laugh
Till the seasons last competition, Dodge located the 5 older captains and given her or him an individual handwritten page. “Captains, I understand it’s been a challenging and you can a lot of time season getting all to you,” it first started. “I am creating this because Ive seen it people all-year and you may it has got annoyed me to view you guys endeavor difficult video game inside and you will game out in order to developed brief during the avoid. Really, Ill inform you exactly what. They does not must be that way tonight . . . If yall leave thereon occupation tonight as a whole and you can much less 45, there clearly was [no] means might dump.”
Westlake did dump, however, those individuals captains conserved the latest page. They produced photocopies therefore all four of these could keep you to definitely. Even then, players considered there clearly was a present on the Advisor Dodge.
Following the seasons having Westlake, Dodge bounced from 1 college to another location in various assistant training gigs. Once he was 31, the guy gained his first lead coaching position, on 60 miles northeast from Austin from the C. H. Yoe High-school, in Cameron. The guy and you can Age got a couple of people at the same time, 5-year-dated Riley and you may infant Molly. Elizabeth had been finishing their benefits when you look at the studies during the College or university from North Tx, very she and you may Molly resided behind within the Denton to end brand new session when you find yourself Dodge got Riley so you can Cameron to possess spring season activities.