Cavalier Grid Great Joe Palumbo Named ACC Football Legend
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Former Cavalier football star Joe Palumbo is one of 12 players chosen as the Atlantic Coast Conference’s 2007 ACC Football Championship Game Legends class, ACC Commissioner John Swofford announced Wednesday.
One of only six Cavaliers to have his jersey number (48) retired, Palumbo is considered one of the greatest defensive players in school history. A three-year starter at defensive guard, he helped lead Virginia to a 23-5 record during his career from 1949-51. Twice during his career, the Cavaliers were ranked in the nation’s Top 20 in defense as UVa recorded seven shutouts.
As a senior in 1951, Palumbo earned first-team All-America honors in leading UVa to an 8-1 campaign and a No. 13 national ranking. He was elected in the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1999. Palumbo currently resides in Charlottesville.
Joining Palumbo in this year’s Legends Class are Georgia Tech’s George Morris, an all-America linebacker for the Yellow Jackets’ 1952 National Championship team are Pro Football Hall of Farmer Jim Kelly of Miami, Duke’s Clarkston Hines, the 1989 ACC Athlete of the Year; Florida State’s Leroy Butler, a consensus All-America defensive back in 1989; Boston College’s Pete Mitchell, a consensus All-America in 1994; Clemson’s Jerry Butler, a 1978 consensus All-America wide receiver, and NC State’s Dennis Byrd, a unanimous All-America defensive end for the Wolfpack’s 1967 team; Wake Forest quarterback Norm Snead, a second-team All-America in 1960; Maryland’s Dick Shiner; a two-time All-ACC quarterback (1962-63); North Carolina’s Harris Barton, a first-team All-America in 1986; and Virginia Tech’s Antonio Freeman, who completed his career in 1994 as the school’s all-time leading receiver.
Palumbo and Morris are the only members of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame being honored this year.
The ACC Football Legends will be honored at this year’s Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship weekend in Jacksonville, Fla., on Nov. 30-Dec. 1.