Clemson Football Information

Aug. 30, 2006

Clemson, SC-Clemson Head Football Coach Tommy Bowden said after practice Wednesday that one of his defensive starters won’t play, and another might not play in Saturday’s season opener against Florida Atlantic at Clemson Memorial Stadium.

The sister of starting linebacker Antonio Clay died in an automobile accident Tuesday night and he has left the team for an undetermined amount of time. Yoshanda Sanders, 22, of Jeffersonville, GA died a one-car auto accident in Jeffersonville Tuesday according to the Macon Telegraph’s website.

“Antonio and his family are certainly in our thoughts and prayers,” said Bowden.

Bowden also said that starting cornerback C.J. Gaddis would not play against Florida Atlantic due to academic reasons. It is a one-game suspension.

Bowden said Maurice Nelson would likely start at Clay’s linebacker position and that Chris Chancellor was a leading candidate to start in Gaddis’s position.