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Willie Anderson, a former Clemson football standout and national championship-winning assistant coach, died Wednesday in Sumter, South Carolina, the school announced Friday. He was 72. A cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
Anderson made history as the only person in Clemson football to earn first-team All-ACC honors as a player and later serve as a full-time assistant on a national championship staff. Anderson played at Clemson from 1972–74, starting 31 of 33 games at middle guard and linebacker. His final game in a Tigers uniform — a 39–21 victory over rival South Carolina in 1974 — became one of the most memorable performances in program history. He tallied 21 tackles, including 17 solo stops. The 21 tackles still stand as the most in a single game by a Clemson defensive lineman.
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Anderson signed a free-agent deal with the then-Oakland Raiders before continuing his professional career with the Birmingham Vulcans of the World Football League. He played the 1975 season with the Vulcans, contributing to a league-best 9–3 finish in what would be the franchise’s…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/willie-anderson-former-clemson-football-standout-and-national-championship-winning-assistant-dies-at-72/
Author : Cody Nagel
Publish date : 2025-07-19 16:11:00
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