William W. Budness
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Sport:
Football |
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Year
Graduated: 1965
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Year
Inducted: 1978 |
A former all-pro linebacker with the Oakland Raiders, Bill
Budness has been regarded as one of the finest linebackers
ever to wear the Scarlet and White for Boston University.
A 1954 graduate of the School of Education, "Billy Bud"
earned first team All-New England and All-East honors his
senior year in addition to being named to both the AP and
UPI All-America third teams.
He also placed 11th in the balloting by the U.S. National
Football Writers Association for the "Most Outstanding
Major College Lineman" in the country.
Although playing on a losing team his senior year, Budness
was credited with 91 tackles in eight games and was favorably
compared by the pro scouts of the day to LeRoy Jordan of Alabama.
His coach, Steve Sinko, pulled all stops in describing Bill's
ability. "He is the greatest linebacker I've ever coached,"
Sinko said, "and the best I've ever seen at Boston University."
Before turning pro as a third round draft choice with the
Raiders, Budness captained the North's defensive unit in the
annual North-South All Star Game. Named the winner of the
"Agganis Award" as football's most valuable player
in 1963, Budness was also voted to Boston University's Post-War
All Time Football team in 1964 in a poll conducted among former
Terrier football players. Eight other members of that All
Star team have previously been elected to the Hall of Fame.
