Sept. 26, 2002
Cullowhee, N.C. - Clyde Simmons, a former Catamount All-America football player and 15-year NFL veteran, will be inducted into the Western Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 12, joining previously announced honorees Keith LeClair, Lori Lyons Wilson, Thomas "Bubba" Wilson and Paul Jones.
Simmons was originally scheduled to be inducted into the WCU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998, but was unable to be attend until this season. The Wilmington, N.C., native was named first team All-America by both the Associated Press and the American Football Coaches Association in 1985 after leading the Cats with 97 tackles from his defensive end position. Among those 97 stops, he had 23 tackles for loss, including eight sacks, with three fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and four pass breakups. Simmons ended his WCU career with 47 tackles for loss, which ranks second behind his teammate Louis Cooper (48), and 23 sacks, which is third on the WCU all-time list.
Simmons was additionally a key contributor on Western's 1983 team, which played for the NCAA I-AA national championship. A sophomore on that team, he registered 97 tackles. He also logged 10 tackles for loss, including six sacks, in '83. During Western's playoff run, Simmons returned Tiger Greene's blocked punt 60 yards for a touchdown in the Cats' 28-21 quarterfinal win at Holy Cross. Simmons ended his career on a high note with an impressive performance on what was Bob Waters Field Dedication Day, leading WCU to a 35-30 win over VMI.
After his time in Cullowhee, Simmons spent the next 15 years as a standout defensive end in the National Football League. He began his career in 1986 with the Philadelphia Eagles after being a ninth-round draft pick by the club. He played eight years with the Eagles (1986-93), making two trips to the Pro Bowl and leading the NFL in sacks in 1992 with 19. Simmons then followed his coach, Buddy Ryan, to the Arizona Cardinals, where he played from 1994-95. In 1996, he played the first of his two seasons in Jacksonville. During that '96 season Simmons helped the Jaguars to a 9-7 record, their first playoff appearance and a spot in the AFC title game. He ended his career by playing one season in Cincinnati (1998) and two in Chicago (1999-2000).
Simmons, who returned to WCU to complete his degree requirements in May of '96, ranks as one of the NFL all-time leaders in sacks with 121.5.
The induction ceremony will be held Saturday, Oct. 12, at 10:30 am, prior to the WCU-Georgia Southern football contest, on the concourse of the Ramsey Center, overlooking Whitmire Stadium/Waters Field. The induction ceremony is open to the public.
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