William Patrick Hughes, captain of Boston University's 1969 Pasadena Bowl football team that posted a 9-1 regular season record, ranks with Bill Budness among the best players ever to play linebacker for the Terriers.
A native of Everett, Mass., Pat was a high school All-America selection under former Terrier "Moody" Sarno. He turned down scholarship offers from 72 colleges, including every Big Ten school, Notre Dame, Alabama, Boston College, and Penn State (to name just a few), in order to play at Boston University.
Although he weighed over 240 pounds, Pat never lost his speed and during the winter and spring, he worked out with the Terrier track team running the dashes, as he had done in high school where he was a consistent point winner in the 100.
In his senior year, playing on a team with Bruce Taylor and Fred Barry in the same defensive backfield, Pat was credited with 27 tackles in a single game against Delaware and 237 on the season. San Diego State coach Don Coreyell called Hughes the best linebacker he had seen all year.
Pat won All-New England honors as a junior and senior, and was selected on the AP and UPI All-East teams and on Look Magazine's District I All-America team. He was a sixth-round draft choice of the New York Giants and made the team his first season in the league. In addition to his starting position as an inside linebacker for the Giants, he captained the defensive team and called all of the defensive signals.
Following an outstanding career with the Giants, he was traded to the New Orleans Saints, where he began his ninth season as a pro.Â
