Waters, Adams, Stuckey Named Permanent Captains

Dec. 8, 2006

Clemson, SC – Seniors Anthony Waters, Gaines Adams and Chansi Stuckey have been named permanent captains of the Clemson football team for the 2006 season. Head Coach Tommy Bowden made the announcement to the team prior to the beginning of practice on Friday afternoon. It was the first bowl practice for the Tigers, who are preparing to face Kentucky in the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl on December 29 in Nashville, TN.

The captains were voted on by the members of the 2006 team. The selection of Waters, who played in just one game due to a torn ACL suffered in the season opener against Florida Atlantic was unprecedented. Never before had a Clemson player appeared in just one game during a season in which he was voted one of the captains.

“The results of this vote by the team tells you all you need to know about Anthony Waters and the level of respect the players have for him,” said Bowden. “This is a well deserved honor for Anthony, one that I know means a lot to him.”

Waters was a preseason All-American and Butkus Award candidate for the 2006 Tigers after leading the Tigers in tackles in 2005 with 109. But, he suffered a torn ACL in the second half of the Florida Atlantic game on September 2. He has undergone rehabilitation throughout the year and has been omnipresent at practice and on the sidelines during games exhorting the team and tutoring the young Clemson linebackers.

Adams was a first-team All-American defensive end who leads the ACC in sacks with 10.5. He was named a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award and was a finalist for the Nagurski Award and the Hendricks Award. The senior from Greenwood was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

Stuckey was named first-team All-ACC for the second consecutive year. It marks the first time in 25 years that a Clemson wide receiver has been named first-team All-ACC in consecutive years. He finished the regular season with a team best 45 receptions for a team best 607 yards. He enters the bowl game with a streak of 30 consecutive games with at least one reception, the second longest streak in Clemson history.

Stuckey played this season as a graduate, while Adams and Waters will receive their undergraduate degrees on December 21.