RUSTON ? Former Louisiana Tech signal caller Matt Dunigan is one of five men who will be inducted into the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame this Friday as part of the 2006 Class.

Dunigan, who played for the Bulldogs from 1979 through 1982, played 14 seasons in the CFL, starring for six teams including the Edmonton Eskimos (1983-1987), BC Lions (1988), Toronto Argonauts (1989-1991), Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1992-1994), Birmingham Barracudas (1995) and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1996).

Known throughout Canada as much for his charitable ways off the gridiron in every community where he played, Dunigan made his mark on the playing field becoming the only quarterback in CFL history to lead five different teams to winning records.

A quarterback by trait, Dunigan developed a reputation early in his playing career as a fierce competitor.

?Matt was one of the toughest athletes I?ve ever seen,? said O.K. Buddy Davis, who covered him for the Ruston Daily Leader during his Louisiana Tech days. ?He was a linebacker in a quarterback?s uniform. He was unbelievably tough. He had no fear; he?d rather run over you than around you. He was also a very smart player.?

It was that mentality and toughness that bled over to his professional career. Dunigan began his CFL career in 1983 at Edmonton as a backup to another Hall of Famer in Warren Moon.

After one year of learning as Moon?s backup, Dunigan took over the reins and never looked back. Those in the CFL quickly learned what Louisiana Tech fans knew ? Dunigan was one tough hombre.

?A lot of people have said that for the last 23 or 24 years in Canada,? Dunigan said. ?That?s just the way I perceived the game was suppose to be played. It was kind of like playing kill the guy with the ball in the front yard as a kid.

?Why did you play that hard? It?s your buddies and you didn?t want to be embarrassed. I just shed the label of quarterback and did whatever was necessary to be successful. I tried to make the best of every situation and had a blast doing it.?

In only his first year as a starter in the league, Dunigan won the Molson Toughest Yard Award in 1984, given to the player that best exemplified heart, desire, determination, toughness and the will to win by going the extra yard.

The award was just the start. For four consecutive seasons with Dunigan at the helm, Edmonton saw its record improve. That run was capped by an appearance in the 1986 Grey Cup (a loss) and winning the 1987 Grey Cup title.

Dunigan?s ability to run and throw proved instrumental in his success in Canada. When he retired, he ranked second in completions (3,057), attempts (5,476), passing yards (43,857) and passing touchdowns (306).

He still holds the professional football record for most passing yards in a game with 713 in Winnipeg?s 50-35 win over Edmonton on July 14, 1994.

When he wasn?t torching opponents through the air, Dunigan proved dangerous on the ground, rushing for 5,031 yards and 77 touchdowns in his career.

?I think the Canadian game was more suited for his style of play because of his versatility of throwing and running,? Davis said. ?He was more of a free-wheeler. Not that he couldn?t have done it in the NFL, but the Canadian game fit his game better.?

Dunigan was named divisional All-Star five times and CFL All-Star three times.

Signed by Louisiana Tech out of Lake Highlands High School in Dallas, Dunigan impressed the Bulldog coaches, especially EJ Lewis, who was instrumental in signing the strong-armed youngster.

?The big thing was he had such a strong arm,? Lewis remembered. ?He came out of a winning program. I met his family, and had a chance to visit with them in their home. I knew he would be a good fit because they were such good people.

?Once he made a visit on campus, it was all over after it. (My wife) Patsy was working in admissions and she took his family and him around the campus, and they really enjoyed it.?

Dunigan remembers that visit even today.

?Once I met Patsy Lewis I signed on the dotted line because I knew I was going to Louisiana Tech,? Dunigan said.

During his playing days in Ruston, Dunigan etched his name in the Bulldog record books while his style of play drew Tech fans to love him.

Almost 25 years after he walked off the muddy field of Joe Aillet Stadium for the final time after Tech lost 17-0 to Delaware in the quarterfinals of the Division I-AA playoffs during a cold, wet December day, Dunigan still ranks among the all-time greatest to play the position at Louisiana Tech.

Despite the pass-happy ways of more recent Bulldog quarterbacks like Jason Martin, Tim Rattay and Luke McCown, Dunigan ranks No. 4 in the Bulldog career record books in attempts (1,103), completions (550), passing yards (7,042) and touchdowns (40).

However, according to Dunigan, it?s not all of the yards and touchdowns that he has passed for over his career that have gotten him into the class of 2006 ? with Bobby Jurasin, Allen Pitts, Victor Spencer and Henry Williams. Instead, it?s all of the people who have helped shape his life.

?I get the sense and feel that it?s just not me,? Dunigan said. ?It?s everyone I represent and everyone who had an influence on me. That?s what I?m tickled about. I take every person and every experience into the (Canadian Football) Hall of Fame with me because they are a representation of my life of football.?