Frank Howard
Howard in 1955
Biographical details
Born(1909-03-25)March 25, 1909
Barlow Bend, Alabama, U.S.
DiedJanuary 26, 1996(1996-01-26) (aged 86)
Clemson, South Carolina, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1928–1930Alabama
Position(s)Guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1931–1939Clemson (line)
1940–1969Clemson
Baseball
1943Clemson
Track & field
1931–1939Clemson
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1940–1971Clemson
Head coaching record
Overall165–118–12 (football)
12–3 (baseball)
Bowls3–3
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
2 SoCon (1940, 1948)
6 ACC (1956, 1958–1959, 1965–1967)
Awards
2× ACC Coach of the Year (1958, 1966)
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1989 (profile)

Frank J. Howard (March 25, 1909 – January 26, 1996) was an American college football player and coach. He played college football for Alabama. After a career-ending injury, Howard joined the staff at Clemson College and became head coach in 1940. Howard coached the Clemson Tigers for 30 years, amassing the 15th most wins of any college football coach. He led Clemson to ten bowl games, an undefeated season in 1948, and several top-20 rankings during his tenure as head coach. During his stay at Clemson, Howard also oversaw the athletic department, ticket sales, and was an assistant coach for the baseball team. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, the South Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame[1] and the Clemson Ring of Honor. The playing surface at Clemson's Memorial Stadium is named after him.

Coaching career

In 1963, after Maryland announced that African-American wide receiver Daryyl Hill was to play, Clemson threatened to leave the conference. Howard vowed that his team would not allow any black to play in their stadium, although Hill did end up playing in the scheduled game.

In the early 1960s,however, Howard allegedly showed compassion to the local community including those at segregated African-American school that he could not recruit. One of the football players was future Michigan State University All American and All Pro George Webster. As a junior at Westside High in Anderson, S.C. Webster suffered a knee injury. The injury could have spelled the end of his career, but then-Clemson coach Frank Howard helped Webster. Michigan State teammate Jim Summers of Orangeville, S.C., tells the story.

“Frank Howard made sure that operation at Clemson University’s medical facility,” Summers said. “George was probably the first black person to spend any sustained time on that campus. If it wasn’t for segregation, George probably would have gone to Clemson, Frank treated him so well.” George Webster was drafted 3rd in the 1967 NFL draft after winning two national championships.

Head coaching record

Football

Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Clemson Tigers (Southern Conference) (1940–1951)
1940 Clemson 6–2–16–01st
1941 Clemson 7–25–13rd
1942 Clemson 3–6–12–3–19th
1943 Clemson 2–62–3T–7th
1944 Clemson 4–53–13rd
1945 Clemson 6–3–12–1–14th
1946 Clemson 4–52–3T–10th
1947 Clemson 4–51–312th
1948 Clemson 11–05–01stW Gator11
1949 Clemson 4–4–22–2T–7th
1950 Clemson 9–0–13–0–12ndW Orange1210
1951 Clemson 7–33–15thL Gator20
Clemson Tigers (Independent) (1952)
1952 Clemson 2–6–1
Clemson Tigers (Atlantic Coast Conference) (1953–1969)
1953 Clemson 3–5–11–26th
1954 Clemson 5–51–25th
1955 Clemson 7–33–13rd
1956 Clemson 7–2–24–0–11stL Orange19
1957 Clemson 7–34–3T–3rd18
1958 Clemson 8–35–11stL Sugar1312
1959 Clemson 9–26–11stW Bluebonnet1111
1960 Clemson 6–44–24th
1961 Clemson 5–53–3T–3rd
1962 Clemson 6–45–12nd
1963 Clemson 5–4–15–2T–3rd
1964 Clemson 3–72–47th
1965 Clemson 5–54–3T–1st
1966 Clemson 6–46–11st
1967 Clemson 6–46–01st
1968 Clemson 4–5–14–1–12nd
1969 Clemson 4–63–3T–3rd
Clemson: 165–118–12102–48–5
Total:165–118–12
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

  1. ↑ "Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and Museum - Birmingham, Alabama". Ashof.org. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
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