Defensive End
No. 85
Notre Dame
"A starter at left defensive end in 10 of 14 games last fall, Patulski had a slow start but played extremely well from mid-season on. He blocked a punt against the Jets at Orchard Park. Named NFL Defensive Player of the Week by the AP after the Bills 24-17 victory over the Colts in Baltimore, Walt won recognition for a performance that included three pass deflections, five unassisted tackles, two assists and a quarterback sack; he also harried David Lee into a poor punt that set up the Bills' tying touchdown and deflected the pass Dwight Harrison intercepted and returned for the winning score.
Walt was the first player picked in the 1972 college draft, earned a regular berth as a rookie and became stronger as the season progressed. He had a bone spur removed from under his kneecap following the '72 season.
A consensus All-America for Ara Parseghian at Notre Dame, Patulski was voted winner of the Lombardi Award as the outstanding college lineman of 1971 and was UPI's choice as Lineman of the Year. He started every game in three varsity seasons with the Irish, played in the Cotton and Hula Bowls and won the outstanding defensive lineman award in the Hula Bowl. Walt set an Irish record for tackles-for-losses and had eight stops for 42 yards-in-losses against LSU in 1971, a game Notre Dame won 3-0.
Management was his college major and he hopes for a future career as an investment broker. Walt is honorary chairman of the 1974 Multiple Sclerosis Appeal in Western New York. Golf, tennis, pool and cards are his sparetime pursuits."
-Buffalo Bills 1974 Yearbook
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