The Details: Riva Wants To 'Go Out With A Bang'
November 19, 2014 | Football, General
By Mason Kelley
GoHuskies.com
Ben Riva walked over wearing a pair of sweats and a jersey. Another day. Another practice spent on the sideline.
But when the offensive tackle started talking about his final year with Washington, an injury riddled senior season spent doing more watching than playing, he cracked a smile.
“This is definitely not the way I expected my senior year to go,” Riva said. “But there's nothing I can do about it.”
After missing four of the Huskies' first five games of the season with a knee injury, it would be understandable if frustration got the best of Riva. After returning to the lineup against Cal only to break a bone in his ankle on Washington's second offensive play, he has every right to be disappointed. After being limited to a few plays last week at Arizona, he should be angry.
His body betrayed him.
But when Riva talks about his season, he isn't upset. He envisioned a much different scenario, but he isn't angry.
“I'm just happy to be here. There are a lot of people who would kill just to stand here at practice every day and help guys out.”
“It gets frustrating, but why get frustrated about something that is out of your control?” Riva said. “I just live in the now and move on.”
Instead of focusing on things out of his control, Riva's goal is to get the most out of the final two Pac-12 games of his college career.
“I just want to end on a high note, get out there and bust it for the last two games, go out with some good memories and hang it up,” he said.
Instead of spending his days in the dumps, wallowing in self-pity, he is enjoying every opportunity to spend time with his teammates. Even though he could only play sparingly against Arizona, he celebrated the opportunity to be back in uniform.
“I'm just happy to be here,” Riva said. “There are a lot of people who would kill just to stand here at practice every day and help guys out.”
While he hasn't been able to contribute as much as he would like on Saturdays, Riva has been an invaluable asset for his teammates.
“I feel bad that he's not playing, because it's his senior year and he should be out there with us,” left tackle Micah Hatchie said. “But he's doing his part in the film room, studying the tapes, helping us out. He's giving us details of what we need for the game plans.”
Riva has never been a player interested in individual accolades. An integral part of the offensive line for three seasons – both on the field and in the locker room – his focus has always been Washington wins.
“I've started a lot of games,” Riva said. “I have nothing to be sad or upset about. Yeah, my senior year didn't go the way I wanted it to, but that's life.”
When the season ends, Riva will put away his pads for good. He isn't interested in an NFL career. His body has been through enough.
“I don't think it's meant to be,” Riva said. “It wouldn't be the same as this, so I don't want to do it. I'm going to use my degree, work for a little bit and go to grad school.”
With two Pac-12 games and a potential bowl trip remaining, there are only a few precious weeks remaining in Riva's college career. All he wants is for his body to give him a few more successful Saturdays.
This week's game against Oregon State provides his final opportunity to play at Husky Stadium, one last chance to run out of the tunnel and through the smoke. His expectations are simple.
“I'm going to leave it all out there,” he said. “I'm going to take as many people down with me as I can and go out with a bang.”
To sign up for e-mail alerts for each posting of The Details, click here. To contact Mason Kelley, click here.
