Latest in a series of "Where Are They Now?" features on members of the Colgate athletics family. Click Here for previous profiles.
 
HAMILTON – Ryan Vena still relishes the chance to prove his critics and naysayers wrong.
 
He thrived on that mentality at Colgate in the late 1990s and he's still doing it today. All he needed – then and now – was a chance.
 
"I always played with a chip on my shoulder," said Vena, who went from a mostly unrecruited quarterback to the Patriot League's three-time MVP. "I was told by countless people that I couldn't do it. I was too small or too this and too that.
 
"I always asked, 'Who is the coach who's going to give me the opportunity?' Every time a coach has given me an opportunity – i.e. Colgate, which gave me an opportunity to come in and start as a true freshman – I've been successful."
 
Vena today lives in Blackwood, New Jersey, working in the health care sales industry. But he also moonlights as offensive coordinator of the Trenton Freedom of the Professional Indoor Football League.
 
"I had people tell me I shouldn't be a coach in this league because of this or that, but I got this opportunity and have been very successful," he said. "It's a combination of my want-to, my drive, my love for football – especially indoor football.
 
"I've just been very blessed."
 
Immediate Dividends
Vena helped change a Colgate football culture that was riding a tough set of rails. One could argue the program was completely off the track.
 
When Vena walked onto campus in 1996, the Raiders were 14-40-1 the previous five years, including an 0-11 mark in 1995. Dick Biddle took over as head coach for the 1996 season and, after an 0-4 start, inserted Vena behind center.
 
Click!
 
Colgate reeled of six straight victories before losing the finale at Bucknell in the de facto Patriot League championship game, 28-27, in overtime when the Raiders went for two and the win.
 
"They had a pretty bad history the previous couple of years before we got there," Vena said of his recruiting class. "They saw something in me in practice, initially; that's what originally sparked it.
 
"I do remember being on the scout team the first couple of weeks and some of the older guys were upset because I was going so hard in practice. I really didn't know a different way to go."
 
Vena was named Patriot League MVP that rookie season – joining Herschel Walker of Georgia and Stanford Jennings of Furman as the only Division I freshmen to win top conference football honors. He went on to guide the Raiders to NCAA playoff appearances each of his final three seasons.
 
All-Time Leader
When he graduated, Vena was the Patriot League's all-time leader in total offense with 9,435 yards. Colgate went 30-12 in his starts and Vena stood second all-time in passing at Colgate with 7,427 yards, 12th in rushing with 2,008 yards and first in passing touchdowns with 61.
 
Overall, Vena held 13 Colgate records. He was elected to the Colgate Athletics Hall of Honor in 2008.
 
"I was learning from some amazing coaches," Vena said. "At the time, Fred Dunlap was my coach as offensive coordinator and Dan Hunt became my quarterback coach later on. Those two guys were very instrumental, along with Mike Foley being my offensive coordinator later down the road.
 
"And Coach Biddle having the guts to start a true freshman, it paid off. They were great coaches with a lot of winning tradition and history behind them at Colgate."
 
Upon graduation, Vena moved on to a 10-year career in the top two levels of professional arena football. His combined numbers were 11,906 passing yards, 221 touchdowns against 64 interceptions and 708 rushing yards.
 
Vena credits the same formula for his pro success as proved true in college.
 
"It's because I've had great coaching and great teammates, along with the drive I had as a football player," he said. "I've now transferred that over to the coaching side and I still have that same sense of pride and winning mentality.
 
"I love coaching the kids and I love putting together a great team. We ended up winning our division this year and went all the way to the conference championship. For an expansion team, with a bunch of players who had never played together, we did a great job and it was awesome."
 
Family Addition
Vena's roll continued last month off the field, celebrating not only his first wedding anniversary but also the birth of his first child, Jianna. Vena is married to the former Janine Verdecchio of Washington Township, New Jersey.
 
"It's a pretty awesome feeling and it was an awesome moment," Vena said of Jianna's arrival. "It was a whirlwind of a week, but it was great."
 
Looking back, Vena's most memorable games as a Raider included games from all four seasons. Coming to mind first was the 44-27 win over Brown in his debut start, snapping the team's 16-game losing streak.
 
"To get the win for those seniors and those guys who hadn't won a game in a couple of years, that was amazing," Vena said. "To play for the championship that same year, my freshman year, against Bucknell and losing in overtime – we went for the win and went for two. That was very memorable.
 
"Another standout game was when we came back to beat Lehigh my senior year when we were down 17-0 and ended up winning 28-24. I've watched that game over and over and over."
 
The New Jersey native recalls the special unit that walked off the field that day.
 
"The type of team and the coaching we had on the field that day was just phenomenal. The memories I have of the football team, my teammates and all my coaches are something I'll have forever. I've stayed in touch with many of those guys through the years and can't thank them enough for how much they have been a part of my life.
 
"I loved every minute of being at Colgate. Being a part of student life and living on campus – it truly is an amazing place."