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Nov. 12, 1997
Hall of Fame Inductees
Four former Clemson student-athletes will be inducted into the Clemson athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday at halftime of the Clemson vs. North Carolina football game. Three of the former athletes enhanced the heritage of Clemson's football program, while one was a member of two Clemson College World Series baseball teams. Here is a rundown on their careers at Clemson.
Ben Anderson
Football, 1970-72
Ben Anderson might be the most successful walk-on in Clemson athletic history. By success we are talking during his time at Clemson, and in his current employment as University General Counsel for his alma mater. Anderson started 33 consecutive games for the Tigers between 1970-72. He intercepted nine passes in his career still tied for 13th best in Clemson history. And, he recorded that total in three years, as freshmen were not eligible during his playing days. He was named first-team Academic All-ACC all three years he played for Hootie Ingram's Tigers and was a second-team Academic All-American in 1971. On the field, he led the team in tackles in 1971 and 1972 and was voted the team's top defensive player in 1971. Anderson might have the greatest combination of athletic and academic awards of any Clemson athlete. Upon the completion of his career he was awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship in 1973 and was the winner of the Jim Weaver Award, presented by the Atlantic Coast Conference to the outstanding student-athlete in the league, regardless of sport. That's not all! At graduation exercises in 1973, Anderson was the recipient of the Norris Medal, emblematic of Clemson's best all-around graduating senior student. No, not student-athlete, best all-around student. In addition to his athletic accomplishments, Anderson found time to serve on many student committees and was President of Tiger Brotherhood. But, that's not all! In 1973 he was the recipient of the Frank Howard Award, presented each year to the athlete bringing the most honor to Clemson University. Additionally, he was the 1973 Ferris Mobley Award for the highest scholastic average by a senior athlete and won the first James F. Byrnes American Government Award, which is presented for excellence by the Political Science department.
Jeff Bostic
Football, 1977-79
Jeff Bostic was a key cog in the resurgence of Clemson football in the mid-seventies. During his career Clemson played in three bowl games, the 1977 and 1978 Gator Bowls and the 1979 Peach Bowl. That 1977 Gator Bowl appearance was the first bowl game for the Tigers in 18 years. Clemson has been to 14 bowl games in the last 20 years, so you can see the impact the 1977 team had on the history of Clemson football. Bostic was a three-year starter on the offensive line, two years at center and one year at offensive guard. He also handled the deep snapping and was named first-team All-ACC in 1979. Bostic teamed with his brother Joe, to anchor the Clemson offensive line in 1977 and 1978, the greatest offensive line brother combination in Clemson history. In fact, Joe was inducted into the Hall of Fame last year. Jeff Bostic was honored along with his brother as starters on Clemson's Centennial Team last year. Both brothers went on to NFL careers. Jeff had a celebrated career with the Washington Redskins, playing 14 years in the league (1980-93) as a member of the team's famous "Hogs" offensive line. He got his pro career off to a big start when he signed with the Redskins on a Sunday and served as the snapper the next night on ABC's Monday Night Football against rival Dallas. He did well and soon moved into the starting lineup as the center. Jeff, a native of Greensboro, NC, played in four Super Bowls and won three with the Redskins, the only former Clemson player with three Super Bowl Championship rings. He also played in the Pro Bowl in 1983. He was a common denominator on the offensive line that protected four Redskins quarterbacks, Joe Theismann, Jay Schroeder, Doug Williams and Mark Rypien. No one is better qualified to recount the career of Jeff Bostic than his coach of many years with the Redskins, Joe Gibbs. "We were having our first mini-camp and he was standing to the side in street clothes and I asked someone, 'Who's that?' A deep snapper holding out? Little did I know I was looking at our center for the 1980s. Guys like Jeff Bostic kept me in football. His quickness was always underrated, but his heart made him special."
David Treadwell
Football, 1985-87
David Treadwell holds a special place in the hearts of all Clemson football fans for his last second field goals that beat Georgia in consecutive seasons, 1986 and 1987. Both field goals came in the last 10 seconds of the game to beat Clemson's main rival of the 1980s, 31-28 in 1986 and 21-20 in 1987. Six times in Treadwell's career he made field goals inside the last three minutes of games that won or tied games for the Tigers. His kicks were significant reasons Clemson won the ACC Championships of 1986 and 1987. He was also the starting kicker in 1985 and in his first game as a starter, booted a field goal as time ran out to beat Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. Like Ben Anderson, Treadwell came to Clemson as a walk-on. He spent the 1984 season learning from All-American Donald Igwebuike. Little did Igwebuike know that he was being watched by a future All-American. Today, Igwebuike ranks first and Treadwell second in Clemson history in career field goal percentage. Igwebuike made 74 percent of his field goals, and Treadwell connected on 71 percent. During the 1989 NFL season they were both ranked among the most accurate field goal kickers in the NFL. Treadwell, a native of Jacksonville, FL, connected on 47-66 field goals in his career and was 92-93 on extra points. He was 17-24 on field goals as a sophomore, 12-20 as a junior and 18-22 as a senior. His .818 field goal accuracy in 1987 remains third best in Clemson history. He is still the number-four scorer in Clemson football history with 233 points. He once made 63 consecutive extra points, third longest streak in Clmeson history. That senior season was certainly memorable and gratifying for Treadwell because he was named a first-team consensus All-American, the only consensus All-America kicker in Clemson history. He was also a first-team Academic All-ACC selection that year. He has continued to excel academically, as he recently earned his Law degree from the University of Denver. Treadwell worked on that Law degree in the offseasons during a six-year NFL career. He had his best year in his first season when he was chosen to the Pro Bowl and made the NFL All-Rookie team as a member of the Denver Broncos. He played in Denver between 1989-92 and retired after two seasons with the New York Giants. Five years into his career he was the third most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history.
Neil Simons
Baseball, 1977-80
There are many facts about Neil Simons's career that qualify him for the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame, but one stands out. Simons remains the only four-time first-team All-ACC baseball player in Clemson history, and is one of just three players to do it in the history of the league. Chris Cammack of NC State reached the accomplishment between 1968-71, and Brick Smith of Wake Forest did it between 1978-81. Like the other recipients in this Hall of Fame class, Simons was not highly recruited out of high school. But, he hit .376 in 1977 as a freshman, leading the team and nearly leading the entire ACC. He was a key reason Clemson advanced to the College World Series that season. He batted .556 in the 1977 Atlantic Regional and was then 5-15 in the College World Series He also led the ACC in triples that season and had a near flawless season as Clemson's starting centerfielder. Simons hit .335 for his career, including .355 as a junior and .317 as a senior. He tied a school and ACC record when he banged out six hits in a 22-7 victory over Georgia in the fourth game of his senior year. His greatest individual single game acclaim came during Clemson's incredible 41-9 victory at NC State in 1980. Simons had four hits, including three home runs and drove in a still ACC record 10 runs. For his accomplishment he was featured in "Faces in the Crowd" in Sports Illustrated later the Spring. He was also an outstanding fielder. During the ACC Tournament of 1980 he robbed a North Carolina player of a home run that would have won the game for the Tar Heels. Instead it won the ACC championship for the Tigers. Even though the Tigers played fewer games in the 1970s than they do today, his legendary numbers still rank among the best in Clemson history. He still ranks seventh in at bats (805), fifth in runs scored (195), sixth in hits (270), seventh in triples (14), second in walks (180), 11th in RBIs (164) and sixth in total bases (408). He struck out once every 18.7 at bats, still the second toughest player to strike out in Clemson history. "Neil Simons was the epitome of the team player," said former Clemson coach Bill Wilhelm. This team attitude contributed to a successful four-year era for the Tigers. During Simons career Clemson advanced to the College World Series twice and to the NCAA Regional four times. Clemson was ranked in the top 10 in the final poll three of the four years and won three ACC Championships. Simons was a 14th-round draft pick of the Houston Astros after the 1980 season. He played in the minors for four years, hitting a high of .325 one season. But, after four years, Simons decided to retire and is now a successful financial analyst near his hometown of Silver Spring, MD.
  
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