Northeastern University Athletics

William LaFreniere, a native of Marlboro and current resident of Northboro, has been elected to the Northeastern University Hall of Fame for excellence in the sport of football.

A 1985 graduate, LaFreniere's name can be found 27 times in the NU football record book. As a wide receiver and kick return specialist from 1978-1981 he was the most exciting player in New England. It didn't take LaFreniere long to achieve success on the gridiron. He arrived at NU having played only two years of football at Marlboro High School and one at Worcester Academy. Due to his lack of experience LaFreniere was used only on special teams his freshman year. He blossomed as a sophomore, catching 22 passes for 503 yards and four touchdowns, and returning 26 kickoffs for 603 yards, including a 102-yarder versus Springfield that remains a Husky record. For his many heroics LaFreniere was dubbed the "Flying Frenchman."

As a junior in 1980 he teamed with quarterback Allen Deary to form one of the most productive pass-catch combos in NU history. LaFreniere snagged 42 Deary passes for 882 yards and eight touchdowns. He added 598 kick return yards and 115 on punt runbacks. The total all-purpose yardage of 1602 was good for sixth in the nation and is still an NU season record.

LaFreniere was elected a captain as a senior and continued to excel. He returned 27 kicks for 697 yards and 12 punts for 166 more. He finished his career with 4,275 all-purpose yards, a school record that has now stood for nearly two decades. Also, his return averages of 13.6 per punt and 15.0 per kick have been untouchable Husky marks. However, the most remarkable statistic is that every time the "Flying Frenchman" touched the ball over his four-year career, it resulted in an average of 21 yards for Northeastern.

His collegiate career ended with many honors. LaFreniere earned All New England, All-ECAC and All America honorable mention distinction, while the football team awarded him the 1981 Zabilski Award as the program's most dedicated member.

LaFreniere would go on to play five years of semi-pro football in the Eastern Football League before becoming a member of the New England Patriots in 1987. His achievements in the EFL earned him enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the minor league category.