#35, the greatest Cavalier ever
The Matador would like to pay special tribute to Virginia great “Bullet Bill” Dudley who sadly passed away today in a Lynchburg hospital. Dudley was a legend on the gridiron and was arguably the greatest player to ever wear the orange and blue. He was a record setting Cavalier finishing 5th in the 1941 Heisman race. That season, he was a consensus All-American scoring 18 TDs, 23 PATs, and 1 FG. He was the first Cavalier to have his number retired (#35) and the first to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
After college, Dudley joined the Air Force and then returned to football a few years later. He was the #1 pick in the 1943 NFL draft for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He went on to Pro Football Hall of Fame career.
His legacy will always be remembered and it will continue to be honored annually through the Dudley Award which is given every year to the best college football player in the state of Virginia.
