SHS to retire Cunningham’s Jersey

Seneca High School will honor Bennie Cunningham with the retirement of his football jersey on October 25th during halftime of the football game against West-Oak.  A reception will be held in the Seneca High School cafeteria from 6-7pm prior to the football game.  The public is invited to attend. Bennie Cunningham graduated from Seneca High School in 1972.  He was a four-sport letterman at Seneca High, a Shrine Bowl participant, was named All-State for football, and holds the school record for most rebounds in a basketball game with 29. Upon graduation, Bennie attended Clemson University on a football scholarship from 1972-1976.  He was named All-American as a junior and Sporting News 1st Team as a senior.  He was All ACC twice and selected to multiple All-Star Games, including the Hula Bowl, Japan Bowl, and East-West Shrine Bowl.  He was inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame in 1994 and ranked as Clemson’s #15 football player of all-time in 1999.  Bennie was named to the 50th Anniversary ACC Team in 2003 and he was the only tight end named on the team. In 1976, Bennie was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the draft.  He played 10 years and earned two Super Bowl Rings, one in 1978 and one in 1979.  He played in 118 games and had 80 starts.  He had 202 receptions, 2,879 yards, and 20 touchdowns.  Bennie was elected to the Pittsburgh Steelers 75th Anniversary Hall of Fame Team in 2007.  Bennie Cunningham returned to Oconee County and has worked as a counselor at West-Oak High School.  He was inducted in the State of South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993 and SHS Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.