2008 Clemson Hall of Fame Inductees

May 8, 2008

Clemson, SC – Three-time football All-American Anthony Simmons and former Lady Tiger basketball coach Jim Davis are among eight members of the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame class of 2008. Charlie Bussey, Executive Director of the Clemson Letter Winners Association made the announcement on Thursday.

Four female student-athletes are also members of the class, the most in history. The new female inductees include former rowing All-American Lucy Doolittle, former swimming All-American Ruth Grodsky, former track All-American Angel Fleetwood and former All-ACC basketball player Itoro Umoh. Also joining the hall are former football star Willie Underwood and multi-sports star Billy Wingo, who played football and baseball during the 1970s.

The eight members of the class will be inducted into the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, September 12 and will be honored at halftime of the Clemson vs. NC State football game on Saturday, September 13.

Simmons was a three-time All-American for the Tiger football team between 1995-97, just the second ACC player in history to be a three-time AP All-American. He was named to the ACC 50-Year Anniversary football team in 2002.

Davis coached the Clemson women’s basketball team to the NCAA Tournament in 14 of his 18 years, and had 11 top 25 seasons. Underwood was a four-year starter in the secondary who is most remembered for his two interceptions and 17 tackles against South Carolina in 1980 when he led the Tigers to a 27-6 victory, a win that propelled the Tigers into the National Championship season of 1981. Wingo was a starter in football and baseball in the 1970s and earned All-ACC honors on the diamond twice.

Doolittle was Clemson’s first rowing All-American and was named to the ACC 50-Year Anniversary team in 2002. Umoh was the starting point guard on Clemson’s two ACC Championship teams in 1995 and 1998, while Grodsky was a six-time All-American in swimming in the 1980s. Fleetwood was an All-American on the track and in the classroom during her career with the Clemson program.

More Complete Details of Clemson Hall of Fame Class of 2008:

	Jim Davis, Women’s Basketball Coach, 1987-2004 Led the Lady Tigers to 355 victories in 552 games during an 18-year tenure as head coach. The only men’s or women’s basketball coach in Clemson history to lead Clemson to an ACC Tournament championship, he won the titles in 1995 and 1999He brought the program into national prominence and left as the winningest coach in Clemson history, regardless of sport. 16 Postseason Appearances in 18 years14 NCAA Tournament Appearances in 18 years11 Top-25 Seasons11 Seasons with 20+ Wins4 NCAA Sweet 16 Appearances1 NCAA Elite Eight Appearance51 Wins Against top 25 Ranked Competition, 16 All-ACC Players Coached4 ACC 50-Year Anniversary Performers100% Graduation of Four-Year Players

	Lucy Doolittle, Women’s Rowing, 1998-2002 Clemson’s first All-American in rowing, she was a two-time selection in 2001 and 2002Named to the ACC 50-Year Anniversary team in 2002, one of just three Clemson student-athletes in all sports named to the team while still a Clemson student.Three-time All-Region Selection, the first three-time selection in Clemson history.Her all-region selection as a sophomore in 2000 was also a program firstFour-time member of the ACC Academic honor roll.Participated in Nation Team identification Camp at Princeton in 2001.Member of the 2001 ACC Crew of the YearGraduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and a minor in Elementary Education

	Anthony Simmons, Football 1995-97Just the second ACC player in history to be named an AP All-American in three different seasonsEarned third-team All-America honors as a freshman and sophomoreFirst-Team All-America as a junior, he turned pro prior to his senior year.First team AP All-American in 1997Clemson’s first defensive player named to first team since 1982. Finished his career second in Clemson history in career tackles with 486Led the ACC in tackles in 1996 and 1997One of 10 semifinalists for the 1997 Butkus AwardFirst-team All-ACC for three straight years, joining Levon Kirkland and William Perry as three-time selections from Clemson..Had 52 tackles for loss in his career, third best in Clemson history.Had 25 tackles for loss in 1997 to lead the ACCClemson’s top Tackler in 28 of his 36 gamesHad streak of 17 straight games with at least one tackle for loss to end his career, a Clemson record.Two-time recipient of Banks McFadden Award as the top college player in South CarolinaSet Clemson single season tackle record with 178 in 1996, a record that was broken by Keith Adams in 1999ACC Rookie of the Year in 1995National Freshman-of-the-Year by UPI in 1995First Round draft choice, the #15 selection of the entire draft by the Seattle Seahawks in 1997Named to ACC’s 50-Year Anniversary team in 2002.Played seven years in the NFL with Seattle Seahawks

	Willie Underwood, Football 1977-80Will forever be remembered for his performance against South Carolina in 1980 when he had a career high 17 tackles and two interceptions for 101 return yards. It is still one of just two games in Clemson history in which a player has had over 100 yards in interception returns in the same game.Underwood was named National Defensive Player of the Week by Sports Illustrated for that performance.That win over South Carolina at the end of the 1980 season jump started the Tigers toward the national championship of 1981.Underwood was more than just a one-game wonder, he played for four consecutive years and never missed a game. He played in 47 straight games, the last 23 as a starter.

	Ruth Grodsky, Women’s Swimming, 1985-88Six-time All-American in her four yearsCommon denominator on three Clemson top 20 teams.Three-time All-ACC, 1986, 1988 and 1989Eight-time ACC Champion, four individual events and four relaysNamed to ACC 50-Year Anniversary team

	Itoro Umoh-Coleman, Women’s Basketball, 1995-99Named to ACC 50-Year Anniversary basketball team.First-team All-ACC in 1999.ACC Tournament MVP in 1999.Three-time All-ACC Tournament selection1999 Honorable Mention All-American by the Associated Press.Participated in the WBCA All-Star Game in 1999.Ninth in career points, third in assists, and third in steals all-time at Clemson

	Billy Wingo, Football and Baseball, 1973-77In the early years of freshman eligibility, Wingo lettered in baseball and football for four consecutive years.Three-year starter in football from 1974-76. Arrived at Clemson originally as a walk-on but earned a scholarship shortly after his arrival.Second on the team in punt returns and kickoff returns as a freshman in 1973.Starting cornerback on Clemson’s 7-4 team of 1974.Starter at defensive back in 1974, 1975 and 1976 on the gridiron.In baseball, a three-year starter and four year letterman from 1974-77.Set school record for runs scored with 114 and stolen bases with 41, records that were later broken when teams played longer schedules.First-team All-ACC in 1975 and 1977Started for Tigers in 1976 and 1977 College World SeriesHad just three errors for the entire 1977 season as the starting second baseman

	Angel Fleetwood, Women’s Track, 1989-92Two-time All-AmericanNinth in nation in 400 meters in 1992Four-time ACC ChampionMember of All-ACC team in 1990, 1991 and 1992Academic All-American in 1992Earned undergrad and master’s from ClemsonNamed to ACC 50-year Anniversary Team