At the University of Michigan, he was following in the footsteps of his father Don Dufek Sr. who had been a Wolverine team Most Valuable Player. As a graduate of Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Dufek was able to stay close to home while performing as a two-sport star at the University of Michigan, where he played for the Wolverines football and hockey teams. In football, he was a member of back-to-back Big Ten Conference championship teams at Michigan and became an All-American as well as a team captain.
Dufek, was sought after as a professional athlete in two sports: Dufek was selected by teams in the National Hockey League, World Hockey Association and National Football League. He opted for football and played his entire professional career with the Seahawks. He endured several unsuccessful seasons in Seattle, but the team made the playoffs in his final two years. In his role as a special teams player, he again became a team captain.
In a 2003 interview with the Grand Rapids Press, Dufek recalled growing up in Ann Arbor and meeting his father's Michigan teammates. "Living in Ann Arbor, and seeing all the things that embody a great university, you learned that there were highly successful people in athletics, and it just made you want to feel a part of it. Then, as you got older, and you got more deeply involved in the game yourself, you just hoped that you had a chance to play in college -- and after watching all those games at Michigan Stadium, that maybe Michigan would take a chance on you."[4]
In a 1975 interview, Dufek noted his love of both sports: "There are times when I've thought of dropping one or the other, but heck, I've been doing this since high school and it would be pretty tough to quit them both now."[17] Dufek added: "Hockey is a more relaxed thing. It's a smaller atmosphere and you have to deal with only one or two coaches. You can be more individual and flashy. Football has certain assignments and you can't really express yourself."[17] In the end, however, Dufek chose the NFL over the NHL. He explained: "I've decided to pursue professional football because I would probably have an extensive tour in the hockey minor leagues and I don't want that."[12]
Seattle Seahawks
Dufek was selected by the Seahawks with the second selection of fifth round and 126th overall selection of the 1976 NFL draft.[18] Dufek was one of the original Seahawks in 1976, the franchise's first year in the NFL,[19][20] and he played for them until 1984.[21] He was the captain of the Seahawks' special teams units in 1981 and 1982. During both of these seasons he was co-captain along with eventual Pro Football Hall of Famer and four-term representative in United States House of Representatives, Steve Largent, the captain of the offensive unit and Keith Simpson, captain of the defensive unit.[22] Over the course of his career he had three interceptions, two quarterback sacks, a fumble recovery and thirteen kickoff returns.[21]Sportswriter Richard Kucner once wrote: "Don Dufek was the kind of guy who just won't take 'No' for an answer. He was released in training camp four times during his eight-year Seahawks career. But each time, Seattle had a change of heart, bringing him back. Today, he is remembered as one of the best special teams performers the team has had."[23]
Dufek was interviewed by the Ann Arbor News in 2006 about life in Seattle. He said: "It's a bigger version of Ann Arbor. It's overcast, and it's green and clean." And there's the coffee. "It's really comical," says Dufek of all the coffee stops in Seattle. "Even the gas stations have coffee bars."[26]
Family
Dufek now lives in Ann Arbor with his wife Candi Dufek. Dufek ran his own construction company, Dufek Wolverine Construction.[27] In December 2006, the Detroit Free Press did a feature about the Dufek family and their big U-M tailgate parties. The article noted: "It's hard to get more maize and blue than the Dufek family. Candy Dufek met Donnie Dufek in the first grade in Ann Arbor, and cheered as he played under Bo Schembechler in the 1970s. Younger brother, Bill also played for U-M from 1974 to 1978, also attaining All-American status. Their younger brother Joe, however, played for Yale (as well as pro ball as a quarterback for the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers). They are the sons of legendary U-M Hall of Famer, Don Dufek Sr., who scored two touchdowns in U-M's 1951 Rose Bowl win."[28][29] Dufek has two children, Jacqueline and Frank.[27]
References
^"GVSU sports pioneer receives his due from U-M; former Michigan fullback, Grand Valley AD honored". Grand Rapids Press. December 24, 2006.
^ ab"Trojan Dave Whiteford Named On All-State Team". Traverse City Record-Eagle. December 2, 1971.
^Bell, Ken (December 8, 1971). "Second Guesses". Traverse City Record-Eagle.
^Mayo, Dave (November 22, 2003). "Unparalleled rivalry; Men with area ties helped build the tradition of UM-OSU game". Grand Rapids Press.
^ ab"1975 Football Team". The Regents of the University of Michigan. March 31, 2007. Retrieved December 31, 2007.
^UPI wire service report (December 3, 1975). "Dufek on Team". The Holland, Michigan Evening Sentinel.
^UPI wire service report (December 14, 1975). "Selmon Brothers On All-American". Cumberland Sunday Times.
^"UPI Selects 1975 All-American Team". The Coshcocton Tribune. December 4, 1975.
^"1973 Football Team". The Regents of the University of Michigan. March 31, 2007. Retrieved December 31, 2007.
^"1974 Football Team". The Regents of the University of Michigan. March 31, 2007. Retrieved December 31, 2007.
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