Clemson Football: Throwback Thursday – Randy Scott
By John Chancey
In this edition of Throwback Thursday John Chancey looks at Clemson football linebacker great Randy Scott.
Randy Scott – Linebacker 1975-78
- RTR 200 Ranking: 184
- First-team All-ACC in 1977 and 1978
- 382 tackles (8th best all-time)
- 41 tackles for loss
Randy Scott played high school football for Waycross High School, which was in Waycross, Georgia. He played four seasons for the Bulldogs. Scott’s senior year in high school was plagued by injuries, but nonetheless Clemson offered him a scholarship.
Randy Scott came to Clemson football as a running back, but despite his diminutive size made his mark at linebacker
Originally projected as a running back, he instead lined up at linebacker and made an immediate impact. He played linebacker at 5′-11″ and 212 pounds, not uncommon in 1970’s but quite uncommon today. He arrived at Clemson to play for head Coach Red Parker, but soon would be playing for Charley Pell.
In 1976, Scott became the first sophomore in Clemson history to be named a team captain, and he remained captain through the rest of his college career. In three seasons from 1976-78, Scott had 41 tackles for a loss, which was a school record at the time. He was named as a first-team All-ACC player as a junior and a senior. As a senior in 1978, he helped lead a defensive unit that was the best in the ACC, only allowing 254.2 yards per game. They also led the conference in forced turnovers, interceptions, passing defense and points allowed.
Nicknamed “Mudbone” by his teammates, Scott (#35) capped his career in the 1978 Gator Bowl against Woody Hayes and the Ohio State Buckeyes, which became famous as Hayes’ last game on the sideline. It was also the first game for new head coach Danny Ford, Scott’s third head coach at Clemson during his college career. He had 13 tackles that day, with two of them for a loss. He had one sack, one pass deflected and one fumble recovery.
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After his football career, Scott became an educator. He was named Florida Teacher of the Year in 2002.