The success of any football program comes down to which team controls the line of scrimmage. Few have been such an integral part of ISU success and one of those was Richard Dawson.
Dawson, a student-athlete at Indiana State University from 1981-1984, was a four year starter for the ISU football team at guard and center. He was a member of the Division I-AA playoffs team in 1983 (9-4) and 1984 (9-3). The 1984 team was inducted into the ISU Hall of Fame 11th Class on Sept. 7, 2002.
He was named first team All-Missouri Valley Conference by United Press International and second team All-MVC by the Associated Press in 1983. He was also named All-Missouri Valley Conference in 1984. Dawson signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1985.