Patulski was a star athlete at Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse, New York, where he was a three-year letterman in football, basketball, and track and field.
[1] In 1991, Patulski was voted to the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame for his activities as a high school athlete.
Patulski was named to Football News sophomore All-America squad in 1969 and was an honorable mention All-American in 1970.
[3] Patulski started every game in his collegiate career, and totaled 186 tackles, 40 for losses; broke up 10 passes; recovered five fumbles and returned one blocked punt 12 yards.
His play versus Michigan State prompted the head coach Duffy Dougherty to hail him as Notre Dame's "finest defender".
He lined up against St. Louis all-pro and Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive tackle Dan Dierdorf.
The Bills considered Patulski expendable when they acquired Sherman White from the Cincinnati Bengals, who was selected second overall in the 1972 draft out of California.
Saban, grousing at his perceived lack of meanness (as per the perception of what was thought of for a defensive end) was quoted in later years as saying that "In tough situations, he would take the easy way out.
He was honored on June 19, 2014, with an induction into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in Troy, Michigan.
The practical joke led the News to commission a guest column from the real Patulski following the Bills' win over the Patriots on October 2.
[14] The News then profiled Patulski a month later, in which his relatively disappointing career was largely blamed on two factors: he was in an unusually weak draft class, and his quiet personality clashed with the style of Bills coach Lou Saban.