It took a little longer than expected, but Bud Dupree finally became a professional football player tonight, selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 22nd pick in the NFL Draft.
Dupree was projected by some to go as high as sixth, but as the minutes ticked by, Bud remained on the board, slipping past the New York Jets, the Atlanta Falcons, the New Orleans Saints, and yes, the Cincinnati Bengals, to many UK fans’ chagrin. The outcome may not have been exactly what Bud wanted–that red and black ensemble screamed his home state Falcons–but when his name was called around 10:30 PM, Bud’s smile said it all: he had finally achieved his dream.