Prioleau named Tech's ACC Legend for 2012

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Led by two members of the College Football Hall of Fame in former Miami defensive end Ted Hendricks (Miami Springs, Fla.) and former Duke guard Mike McGee (Elizabeth City, N.C.) and former ACC Players of the Year Frank Quayle (Garden City, N.Y.) of Virginia and Torry Holt (Gibsonville, N.C.) of NC State, the ACC Monday announced its Class of 2012 Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship Game Legends.

The Legends will be honored at this year’s Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship Game weekend. They will be honored at the ACC Night of Legends sponsored by the Belk Bowl on Friday, Nov. 30, and on Dec. 1, during ceremonies at Bank of America Stadium for the 8th Annual Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship, which will be nationally televised with either a 7:45 pm (ESPN) or 8 p.m. (ABC) kickoff.

The group of 12 former gridiron standouts from current ACC schools includes three former ACC Football Players of the Year, six consensus first-team All-Americas, seven first-team All-Americas, and 10 players who combined for 84 years in the National Football League. Eleven of the Legends were drafted into the NFL, including eight first- or second-round draft choices.

A total of six of the 12 honorees were members of the ACC’s 50th Anniversary team which selected the league’s Top 50 players of its first 50 years in 2003.

Two of the honorees, McGee (1960) and Quayle (1969), were also named the winner of the ACC’s McKevlin Award which is presented annually to the Conference’s top overall athlete.

In all, the collection of players combined for three national championships, six ACC Championships, 10 NFL Super Bowl appearances and nine NFL Super Bowl titles.

Joining this quartet are Boston College offensive guard Bob Hyland (White Plains, N.Y.), the Eagles first lineman to be taken in the first round of the NFL Draft; Clemson tight end Bennie Cunningham (Seneca, S.C.), a consensus first-team All-America for the Tigers in 1974; Florida State linebacker Sam Cowart (Jacksonville, Fla.), a consensus first-team All-America for the Seminoles in 1997; and Georgia Tech safety Ken Swilling (Toccoa, Ga.), a consensus first-team All-America for the Jackets’ 1990 National Championship team.

Completing the ACC Football Legends Class of 2012 are Maryland’s Chet “The Jet” Hanulak (Hackensack, N.J.), an All-America running back off the Terrapins’ 1953 National Champions; North Carolina’s Dre’ Bly (Chesapeake, Va.), a two-time consensus first-team All-America and one of the top cover cornerbacks in league history; Virginia Tech defensive back Pierson Prioleau (Alvin, S.C.), an All-America defensive back for the Hokies in the late 1990s and Wake Forest’s Ed Stetz (Johnstown, Pa.), two-time All-ACC linebacker and defensive stalwart for the Demon Deacons’ 1970 ACC Championship team.

Prioleau (1995-98) was one of the leaders of the salty Virginia Tech defenses of the mid-to-late1990s. He lettered four times for head coach Frank Beamer, helping Tech to a 26-12 four-year record that included four consecutive bowl games. A three-year starter, he totaled 237 career tackles and had two returns for touchdowns. He was named first-team All-Big East in 1997 and earned third-team All-America honors (The Sporting News) that year. As a senior, he led a defense that led the Big East in scoring defense, allowing just 12.9 points per game. A fourth-round selection of the San Francisco 49ers in the 1999 NFL Draft, Prioleau played 12 seasons in the National Football League for San Francisco, Buffalo, Washington, Jacksonville and New Orleans. He was a member of the Saints’ championship team in Super Bowl XLIV. Prioleau was also a first cousin of former ACC Legend and Georgia Tech All-America Joe Hamilton. A native of Alvin, S.C., he currently lives in Radford, Va.

Hendricks (1966-68), known as the “Mad Stork” for his tall (6-7), angular build and his dominating defensive play, started three seasons at defensive end for the Miami Hurricanes under coach Charlie Tate. A three-time All-America for the Hurricanes, he earned consensus, first-team All-America honors in 1967 and 1968, and led Miami to a 20-11-1 record. He ended his collegiate career as Miami’s all-time leading tackler with 318 hits in 1968. That year, he was named UPI National Lineman of the Year and finished 5th in the Heisman Trophy balloting. He went on to a spectacular 15-year NFL career as an outside linebacker playing in 215 consecutive games with the Baltimore Colts, Green Bay Packers, Oakland and L.A Raiders. During his time in the NFL, he helped lead his teams to four Super Bowl championships, was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, four times selected as an All-Pro and five times named second-team All-Pro. He was inducted into the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1987 and was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990. He was named to the NFL’s 75th Anniversary All-Time team and to the NFL’s All-Decade team of the 1970’s. He was inducted into the University of Miami Hall of Fame in 1980, to its Ring of Honor in 1997 and had his jersey number—number 89—retired, also in 1997. His philanthropic foundation—The Ted Hendricks Foundation--with goals aimed at providing assistance to local and national charities through awards, grants and scholarship programs aimed at recreational, health and educational programs for both youth and seniors, also sponsors the Ted Hendricks Award, which is presented annually to the nation’s top defensive end, but which also considers in the selection process academic and community excellence. Originally a native of Guatemala, he grew up in Miami Springs, Fla., and now lives in suburban Chicago, Ill.

McGee (1957-59) was a tenacious two-way guard for the standout Duke teams of the late 1950’s under head coach Bill Murray. In 1959, he became the first ACC player to be honored with the Outland Trophy, which is presented annually to the nation’s top interior lineman. That year, he was also voted the McKevlin Award, as the ACC’s top overall athlete in any sport. He was also named the ACC Football Player of the Year and was a first-team All-America selection by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Time and Look Magazines. The 14th overall selection of the 1960 NFL Draft, he played three seasons in the National Football League with the St. Louis Cardinals. He then began a career in coaching and served eight seasons (1971-78) as Duke’s head coach. His 37 wins for the Blue Devils is the third-most for a coach in Duke football history. After leaving Duke, he began a successful 25-year career in athletics administration serving as director of athletics at Cincinnati (1979-84), Southern California (1984-93) and South Carolina (1993-2005). While at Southern California in 1989, McGee founded the well-regarded Sports Management Institute (SMI) to create a highly-academic, graduate-level business program for athletic administrators. Inducted into the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame as a player in 1990, he was later named to the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Hall of Fame for his administrative skills in 2010. Born in Washington, D.C., he grew up in Elizabeth City, N. C., and now lives in Montrose, Col.

Quayle (1966-68), one of the top running backs in Virginia history, set more than 20 ACC offensive records in his three seasons in Charlottesville including, at the time, the single-season rushing mark of 1,213 yards in 1968. That year, he was named the ACC Football Player of the Year and, as also a standout in lacrosse, the ACC’s Athlete of the Year and winner of the McKevlin Award. His impressive 6.93 per-carry average in 1968 is still the third-best per-carry mark by an ACC back with over 1,000 or more yards in a single season. Quayle led the nation in 1966 in all-purpose yardage and he still holds the ACC all-purpose career per-game record (166.0). Quayle still ranks 16th on the ACC’s career rushing yards-per-game list, 10th in ACC career all-purpose yardage (4,981) and is 7th on the Virginia career rushing list with 2,695 yards. A two-time, first-team All-ACC honoree (1967-68), he also earned Honorable Mention All-America honors in lacrosse (1967). He was selected in the 5th round of the 1969 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos and played one season in the NFL. He returned to Charlottesville in 1973 and began an ultra-successful career in real estate. His jersey number—24—is one of just six numbers retired at Virginia. He recently retired after 29 years as the radio football analyst on the Virginia Sports Network. Originally a native of Garden City, N.Y., he currently lives in Charlottesville, Va.

Holt (1995-98), one of the top receivers in ACC history, was named ACC Football Player of the Year in 1998 after setting league single-season records of 88 pass receptions and 1,604 receiving yards in just 11 games. Holt’s record of 1,604 receiving yards still stands as the ACC’s single-season record and his per-game average for that year (145.8) is still the 8th-best mark in NCAA FBS history. A two-time first-team All-ACC selection for head coach Mike O’Cain, his average of 8.0 receptions per game is an ACC single-season mark and his total of 88 catches that year is still the 2nd-best in league history. In 1997, he set an ACC single-game record for most touchdown catches, making 5 against third-ranked Florida State. A consensus All-America in 1998, he ranks 2nd on the ACC’s career receiving yardage list with 3,379 yards. A first-round selection and the 6th overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams, Holt played 11 seasons in the NFL, 10 of those with the Rams. He was named to the Pro Bowl seven times and twice (2003, 2006) was named All-Pro, making 920 catches for 13,382 yards and 74 TDs. He holds NFL records for most consecutive seasons with 1,300 or more yards (6), most consecutive seasons with 90 or more catches (6). While with the Rams, he was a member of two Super Bowl teams, including helping the Rams to the championship of Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000 in which he set NFL Super Bowl rookie records for most catches (7) and receiving yards (109). A native of Gibsonville, N.C., he currently resides in Raleigh, N.C.

Hyland (1964-66) lettered three consecutive years for Boston College for head coach Jim Miller at center and offensive guard. He helped lead BC to a three-year 16-13 record and earned an invitation to the East-West Shrine Game in San Francisco. Selected in the first round and as the ninth overall pick of the 1967 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers and their legendary coach Vince Lombardi, he became the first Eagle offensive lineman to be drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft. He played 11 years in the National Football League, the first three seasons with Green Bay, and saw action in Super Bowl II. He then played one year for the Chicago Bears (1970), five with the New York Giants (1971-75), returned to Green Bay for one year (1976) before finishing his career with the New England Patriots (1977). He was inducted into the Boston College Varsity Hall of Fame in 1988. A native of White Plains, N.Y., he currently resides in his hometown.

Cunningham (1973-75) was the prototypical tight end for the Clemson football teams of coach Red Parker during the middle 1970s. He lettered three straight years for the Tigers, leading the team in pass receptions in 1973 and 1974. He was named first-team All-ACC in 1974 and 1975. A two-time first-team All-America, he earned consensus All-America honors in 1974. He completed his Clemson career with 64 receptions for 1,044 yards and 17 TDs. The 28th overall selection in the first round of the 1976 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, he played in the NFL for 10 seasons, all with the Steelers. He completed his professional career with 202 receptions for 2,879 yards and 20 touchdowns. In 1984 he was inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame. In 2003, Cunningham was the only tight end chosen to the ACC’s 50th Anniversary Team in 2003, as one of the Top 50 players in league history. He was also the recipient of Clemson’s Frank Howard Award for 1974-75, as the top student-athlete who brought honor to Clemson. A native of Seneca, S.C., he currently resides in Westminster, S.C.

Cowart (1993-97) was a hard-hitting linebacker who played on four ACC Championship teams for coach Bobby Bowden at Florida State and was a key reserve on the Seminoles 1993 National Championship squad. He led FSU in tackles as a junior in 1995 (115) and as a senior in 1997 (116) after sitting out the 1996 season with a knee injury. In 1997, he was named a consensus first-team All-America, was a finalist for both the Butkus Award and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and was named National Defensive Player of the Year by the Football News. The 1997 Florida State defense set a school record in rushing defense, allowing just 1.5 yards per rush. That year, Cowart was also honored as the winner of the ACC’s Brian Piccolo Award for Courage. The 39th selection in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills, Cowart went on to an eight-year NFL career with Buffalo, the New York Jets and the Minnesota Vikings. He started 87 NFL games, playing in 100, and made 715 career tackles. He was named All-Pro and to the Pro Bowl after the 2000 season. He was inducted into the Florida State Hall of Fame in 2011. A native of Jacksonville, Fla., he currently lives in his hometown.

Swilling (1988-91) a hard-hitting safety and one of the leaders of Georgia Tech’s 1990 National Championship team, lettered for years for head coach Bobby Ross. A 3rd-team All-America as a sophomore in 1989, he earned consensus first-team All-America honors in 1990 as the Jackets were named national champions by the UPI Coaches poll. A two-time first-team All-ACC selection (1989-1990), he keyed Tech’s defense from his free safety position and led the ACC in pass interceptions with five in 1990. He led Tech to a 16-game non-losing streak, including a stretch in the 1989 and 1990 seasons where the Jackets won 18 of 20 games. He completed his career with 13 career interceptions, returning them for 239 yards, including two for touchdowns. The 13 picks are tied for the 5th-best total for a Tech player. As a sophomore in 1989, he became the first ACC player to return an intercepted conversion attempt—a 99-yard return versus Duke--for a two-point defensive conversion. That same year he had interception returns for TDs of 72 and 95 yards. He finished his career with 267 tackles, the second-highest total by a defensive back in Tech history. A seventh-round selection in the 1991 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns, he played one season in the NFL with Cleveland. He was named to the ACC’s 50th Anniversary team in 2003 and was inducted into the Georgia Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. A native of Toccoa, Ga., he currently resides in Atlanta.

Hanulak (1951-53), one of the most explosive runners of his era, set an ACC single-season record for highest per-carry rushing average in the league’s first season in 1953 that still stands today. Hanulak averaged 9.78 yards per carry (minimum of 65.0 yards per game) that year in leading Maryland to a 10-1 record and the Terps first National Championship (both AP and UPI) in football. Nicknamed “Chet the Jet” for his outstanding speed, Hanulak led the ACC in rushing in 1953 with 753 yards in his only season in the league. He still holds the Terrapin record for career yards per carry (8.13) and ranks 20th on the Terps career rushing list with 1,544 yards. A three-time letterman for Maryland (1951-52-53), he earned second-team All-America (International News Service) and first-team All-ACC honors in 1953. The 24th overall selection in the second round of the 1954 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns, he played two seasons in the NFL with Cleveland in 1954 and 1957. A two sport (baseball) standout for the Terps, he was inducted into the Maryland Sports Hall of Fame in 1994. A native of Hackensack, N.J., he currently resides in Salisbury, Md.

Bly (1996-98) is the only player in North Carolina history to be named a three-time, first-team All-America. He was a first-team All-America as a redshirt freshman in 1996 (AP, Walter Camp) and earned consensus All-America honors in 1997 and 1998 for head coaches Mack Brown (1996-97) and Carl Torbush (1998). One of the best cover corners in ACC history, Bly led the nation and set an ACC single-season record with 11 interceptions in his freshman season of 1996. The record stood until this past season when NC State’s David Amerson topped it. He still shares, with Amerson, the ACC mark for most interceptions per game in a season (1.00) and his 20 career interceptions, at the time an ACC record, still ranks second on the ACC career list. A three-time letterman, he helped lead the Tar Heels to a 28-8 mark during his time in Chapel Hill. A three-time first-team All-ACC selection, Bly was the 41st overall selection in the second round of the 1999 NFL draft by the St. Louis Rams. He went on to an 11-year NFL career with St. Louis, Detroit, Denver and San Francisco. While with St. Louis, he helped the Rams to win Super Bowl XXXIV and reach Super Bowl XXXVI. He was twice named to the NFL’s Pro Bowl (2003, 2004) and earned All-Pro honors in 2003. In his 11 years in the NFL, he totaled 419 tackles and 43 career interceptions. In 2003, he was named to the ACC’s 50th Anniversary Football team. A native of Chesapeake, Va., he currently resides in Charlotte, N.C.

Stetz (1969-71) was one of the most productive linebackers in Wake Forest history and, pound-for-pound, one of the most prolific tacklers in ACC lore. Stetz set single-season school records for the Deacons in career tackles (460), single-season tackles (203) and career solo tackles (271), despite a playing weight of just over 200 pounds. When Stetz completed his career in 1971, the 460 tackles were also an ACC career record. The lynchpin of Wake defenses of 1969, 1970 and 1971, he helped the Deacons to their first ACC football title in 1970 for head coach Cal Stoll. He still ranks 16th on the ACC career tackle list and also holds the Wake Forest single-game record for tackles with 29 hits against Clemson in 1971, as well as the season mark for tackles per game of 18.5 in 1971. He was twice named first-team All-ACC in 1970 and 1971 and played in the Blue-Gray All-Star game. A native of Johnstown, Pa., he currently resides in his hometown.