FRISCO — Dallas Burn legend Mark Dodd still remembers what it felt like walking out of the tunnel at the Cotton Bowl on April 14, 1996: Unbelievable.
It was the Dallas Burn’s first game, and more than 27,000 fans had shown up. Dodd, a Dallas native, said walking onto the field that day was living out his childhood dream.
Dodd was one of six former Burn players honored Saturday at Toyota Stadium before FC Dallas beat St. Louis City SC 3-0. Dodd, the 1996 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, was joined by goalkeeper Jeff Cassar, defender Richard Farrer and midfielders Jason Kreis and Jorge “El Zarco” Rodriguez. Bevan Rhine, the wife of the late Bobby Rhine, was also in attendance and honored.
Related:FC Dallas downs St. Louis, raises money for flood relief on big night at Toyota Stadium
Sports Roundup
“My hope is that after 30 years, people actually know who the Dallas Burn, FC Dallas are,” said Kreis, who is now the director of operations and special projects at Real Salt Lake. “Coming into the league and starting the league in 1996 was a huge deal.”
The 3-0 win in front of a crowd of 11,004 was part of what FC Dallas owner Dan Hunt called the first major “alumni weekend” in FC Dallas history. It included a group dinner Friday night.
Mark Dodd(FCD Communications)
“These are still lifelong friends of mine,” Dodd said. “30 years later, and there’s something that happens when you bond with a common goal, and it’s absolutely beautiful.”
The former teammates were presented with gifts after they arrived at Toyota Stadium with their families. The first bag they opened was full of a “Legacy Kit” and FC Dallas merchandise: a scarf, socks, hats and a jersey.
The next box had FC Dallas’ newest jersey inside, an inverse of the team’s 1998 Dallas Burn home jersey. On the back, each jersey had the former player’s last name and the number they wore with the team.
“I think this is unbelievable, I really do,” Kreis said of the jersey. “I’ve looked around, obviously, seen everything that’s come out in the league this year. As far as commemorative jerseys go, whoever put this one together, top-notch. My hat’s off to that person. It is really cool.”
The former teammates rushed to put the jerseys on for the night. Then, they lit the FC Dallas shield before the current team ended a home losing streak it held since March 29.
FC Dallas downs St. Louis, raises money for flood relief on big night at Toyota Stadium
“It’s incumbent upon us to step up,” owner Dan Hunt said before FCD’s clean sheet win over St. Louis City SC.
FC Dallas launches additional initiatives to support Central Texas flood relief
FCD has scheduled a number of initiatives toward flood relief efforts for its July 19 game vs. St. Louis.
Find more FC Dallas coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.