Clutch trouble

Ive driven my Trans Am for around 15k miles, and up until now I have had about 1 inch of travel on my clutch before it starts to engage, until today. Now it is all free-play untill the last inch and then it starts to disengage, but not fully. I found this out when i started it, clutch in, turn key, WOAH!! big lurch foward. i shut it off and debated driving it home or not and said to hell with it i have insurance. i was able to get home as my way home has no stops or lights, all right turns so i was able to match rpms to the gear so here was no grinding of gears. im assuming/hoping its a link or something that can be tightened.
any ideas?

Sounds to me like your slave cylinder may be crapping out on you. May want to go ahead and change your master cylinder at the same time.