Tulane's Ramsey Selected in First Round of NFL Draft
Apr 20, 2002 | Football
April 20, 2002
NEW ORLEANS - Patrick Ramsey, the Ruston native and record-setting Tulane quarterback, Saturday became the Green Wave's first NFL first-round draft choice in 41 seasons when he was selected by the Washington Redskins as the last pick in the first round, number 32 overall.
Ramsey, a 6-2, 220-pound honors graduate who left Tulane with 30 school records after a three-year career as a starter, is the first Wave player to be selected in the first round of the NFL draft since Green Wave halfback Tommy Mason was the Minnesota Vikings No. 1 overall selection in 1961. Tulane's last highest draft choice was running back Warren Bankston, who was a second round choice, at number 42, of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1969. Shaun King, Ramsey's predecessor as the Tulane starting quarterback, was a second round selection (No. 50) in the 1999 draft.
"I couldn't be more excited," Ramsey told Redskins.com from his brother's house in Ruston. "As the picks went by, I've never felt more anticipation in my life."
New Redskins Head Coach Steve Spurrier was complimentary of the Redskins' first draft choice of his coaching tenure in Washington.
"We feel Patrick has a very strong arm and can make all the throws," said Redskins head coach Steve Spurrier. "We feel like he has a chance to be a really fine player. He's a very smart young man, and we're looking forward to coaching him."
Ramsey threw at least one touchdown pass in 31 straight games during his Tulane career while completed 798-of-1,355 passes (58.9 percent) for 9,205 yards and 72 touchdowns. He is the only Green Wave player to record a 400-yard passing game, a mark he achieved four times.
"We're very happy for Patrick," said Tulane Head Coach Chris Scelfo. "He's a wonderful representative of Tulane University and of our football program, not just as a football player, but as a person. He put up some amazing numbers for us over the last three seasons and I know a lot of Tulane fans, as well as myself, will be closely following his pro career and wish him nothing but the best."
A complete bio on Ramsey is available on www.TulaneGreenWave.com by clicking on "Senior Draft Bios" on the right hand side of the page.
