Randy Scott Experience: 1975-78

Honors and awards seem to follow Randy Scott wherever he goes. The former Clemson football star and two-time All-ACC selection was recently named the 2003 Burdines Florida Teacher of the Year.

After his career on the gridiron, Scott turned to the classroom and the sidelines. These days he teaches seventh grade at P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School in Gainesville, FL and coaches the varsity football and basketball teams. His teaching methods involve energetic, hands-on activities and are one of the reasons for his recent honor as the Teacher of the Year. For example, he created a rap song for students to remember the bones in the human body, and through one of his units, students decreased the levels of pollution at a hazardous creek on the campus of the school. The curriculum received one of 50 National Service Learning awards. Because of the success of the program, Scott was invited to share the series at conferences in Washington, D.C and San Francisco.

He is very involved with his students and encourages educators, parents, administrators and community members to work together to better their education system. He also takes part in the Parent Educational Empowerment Program Services; the Tutoring After-School Cooperatively Force; and the Science, Engineering, Communications, Mathematics Enrichment Consortium. Scott also organizes monthly cookouts to bring parents, administrators and community and business leaders together.

As a member of the Tigers, Scott was a standout on defense. The linebacker led the team in tackles in 1976 and 1977 with 130 and 133, respectively. He followed those seasons with 134 in his senior campaign in 1978, second on the team after Bubba Brown's 170 that year. He led the team in tackles for loss in 1976, 1977 and 1978, the first Tiger linebacker to lead the team in that category three years in a row and one of just two to accomplish that feat today. Anthony Simmons is the other.

The Waycross, GA native recorded 41 tackles for loss during his career, a school record at the time. He is still ranked among the top 10 for tackles and tackles for loss during a career at Clemson. Scott led the team in takeaways in 1976 and recovered fumbles in 1978. Affectionately known as "Mudbone" for his style of play, Scott was a first-team All-ACC selection in 1977 and 1978. He was elected to be a permanent team captain when he was only a sophomore, the school's first sophomore to be honored with that leadership distinction.

Scott and his wife Teresa reside in Gainesville and have five children, three of whom are adopted. Their son Ian, a defensive tackle, was selected by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Another son, Alik also plays for the University of Florida.

Scott is currently working on his Ph.D. at the University of Florida in Curriculum Educational Leadership, where he also earned his Master's Degree.