University of Richmond Athletics
Eric Ward Named Finalist For 2009 Dudley Award
12/04/2009 | Football
Dec. 4, 2009
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Richmond senior QB Eric Ward has been named one of three finalists for the Dudley Award, presented annually to best Division-I football player in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The award will be presented by the Touchdown Club of Richmond Tuesday night.
Ward joins fellow seniors - Virginia Tech LB Cody Grimm and James Madison DE Arthur Moats - as the other finalists. The Atlanta, Ga. native is looking to become just the second-ever Spider to win the award, joining DT Marc Megna (1998).
The Dudley Award is voted on by a panel of journalists and is named for former University of Virginia star Bill Dudley, the No. 1 pick in the 1942 draft.
Ward, who is 41-11 in his career as Richmond's starter and owns every career passing record at the school, has guided the Spiders through the most-successful four-year run in team history. The senior has won two CAA Football Championships (2007, 2009) and helped the Spiders capture the 2008 National Championship.
He ranks 32nd all-time in FCS history with 10,122 yards of total offense.
Ward and fourth-seeded Richmond (11-1) host Appalachian State Saturday at 7 p.m. at UR Stadium in the NCAA Quarterfinals. In the two previous playoff meetings versus the Mountaineers, Ward is averaging 164.5 yards passing, 87.5 yards rushing and has collected a total of six touchdowns.
Past winners of the award include Virginia TB Tiki Barber (1996), Virginia Tech LB Vince Hall (2006) and Virginia DE Chris Long (2007). Megna, James Madison QB Rodney Landers (2008) and Emory and Henry QB Cary Perkins (1992) are the only non-FBS players to win the award.
Tuesday's awards banquet at the Richmond Convention Center begins at 7 p.m., with a social hour at 6. Tickets are $40 each or $375 for a table of 10. For more information, please contact Mike O'Toole at 658-8503 or dudleyaward@comcast.net.
