Carson Earns Prestigious Clemson Honor

May 10, 2002

Clemson, SC – Chad Carson, a three-time Academic All-American and All-ACC linebacker on the gridiron, was one of two recipients of the prestigious Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award on Friday. The announcement was made at Clemson’s Commencement at Clemson Memorial Stadium.

The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award is given “in recognition of the recipient’s influence for good, excellence in maintaining high ideals of living and genuine and disinterested service to others.” The award, named in honor of the first president of the New York Southern Society, was established by an agreement between Clemson University and the New York Southern Society. It is awarded annually to two students and one non-student during the university’s spring commencement ceremony.

Carson is the fourth Clemson football player in history to win the award. The other are Joe Bowen (1956), Jim Sursavage (1970) and Warren Forney (1995).

Carson graduated magna cum laude Friday with a bachelor of science in biological sciences and a minor in German. Carson was a three-time Academic All-American at Clemson, joining teammate Kyle Young as the only three-time selections in Clemson sports history. He was an Academic-All ACC selection for three years and was the only Division I football player to be named a finalist for a Rhodes Scholarship in 2001.

In terms of community service, Carson served on the ACC Student-Athlete Advisory Board, the Clemson Student-Athlete Advisory Board and was an officer in LIFE Line, a football leadership and community service organization.

On the field, Carson led the Tigers in tackles this year with 137 and he finished 19th in the nation in tackles per game. He concluded his career fifth in school history in total tackles. He was a three-year starter on the football field, helping the Tigers to bowl games in 1999, 2000 and 2001.

Carson was one of two students to receive an Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award on Friday. The female student recipient, Camilla Jones of Parkland, Fla., graduated Magna Cum Laude in December with a bachelor of science degree in psychology and a minor in religion. All Clemson students are eligible for the award.