Honorary Captains for Clemson-Georgia Tech

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Clemson, SC—Gary Barnes, John Johnson and Jim Riggs will serve as Clemson’s honorary captains for Thursday evening’s game against Georgia Tech at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM and all three will be on hand for the coin toss. All three went on to play in the National Football League after their Clemson career.

Barnes lettered three years under Frank Howard, 1959-61. He made first-team All-ACC as an end in 1959, his sophomore year, when he helped the Tigers to a 9-2 record and a win over seventh-ranked TCU in the first Bluebonnet Bowl. He went on to be a third-round draft choice of the Green Bay Packers and played on their NFL World Championship team of 1962. He played five years overall in the NFL, including 1966 with the Atlanta Falcons. He scored the first touchdown in the history of that franchise.

Johnson was a member of the winningest class in Clemson history. He and the other seniors on the 1990 team posted a 40-8 record in their four years, four straight 10-2 seasons. Johnson was one of the top tacklers on the 1989 and 1990 teams and made second-team All-ACC each year. A second-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers, Johnson played five seasons in the NFL, including three with the 49ers.

Riggs was a two-time first-team All-ACC tight end for Clemson in 1985-86. He was a key player on Clemson’s 1986 ACC Championship team. A fourth round selection of the Cincinnati Bengals, Riggs played seven years in the NFL. He played in one Super Bowl with the Bengals against the 49ers

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