Clemson Tigers football, 1950–1959

The Clemson Tigers football teams of 1950–1959 represented Clemson Agricultural College in NCAA college football competition.

Contents
1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959

1950

1950 Clemson Tigers football
Orange Bowl, W 15–14 vs. Miami (FL)
Conference	Southern Conference
Ranking
Coaches	#12
AP	#10
1950 record	9–0–1 (3–0–1 SoCon)
Head coach	Frank Howard
Captain	Fred Cone
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons « 1949 1951 »

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result
September 23*	Presbyterian		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 54–0
September 30*	at #17 Missouri		Memorial Stadium • Columbia, MO	W 34–0
October 7	NC State	#18	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC (Textile Bowl)	W 27–0
October 19	at South Carolina	#12	Columbia, SC (Big Thursday)	T 14–14
October 28	at #17 Wake Forest	#16	Groves Stadium • Wake Forest, NC	W 13–12
November 4*	Duquesne	#14	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 53–20
November 11*	at Boston College	#13	Braves Field • Boston, MA	W 35–14
November 18	Furman	#11	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 57–2
November 25*	at Alabama Polytechnic	#11	Auburn Stadium • Auburn, AL	W 40–0
January 1*	vs. #15 Miami (FL)	#10	Burdine Stadium • Miami, FL	W 15–14
*Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.

1951

1951 Clemson Tigers football
Gator Bowl, L 0–14 vs. Miami (FL)
Conference	Southern Conference
Ranking
AP	#19
1951 record	7–3 (3–1 SoCon)
Head coach	Frank Howard
Captain	Bob Patton
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons « 1950 1952 »

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result
September 22*	Presbyterian		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 53–6
September 29*	at Rice		Rice Stadium • Houston, TX	W 20–14
October 6	at NC State	#18	Riddick Stadium • Raleigh, NC (Textile Bowl)	W 6–0
October 13*	at #20 Pacific	#16	Pacific Memorial Stadium • Stockton, CA	L 7–21
October 25	at South Carolina		Columbia, SC (Big Thursday)	L 0–20
November 3	Wake Forest		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 21–6
November 10*	Boston College		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 21–2
November 17	at Furman		Sirrine Stadium • Greenville, SC	W 34–14
November 24*	Alabama Polytechnic		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 34–0
January 1*	vs. Miami (FL)	#19	Gator Bowl Stadium • Jacksonville, FL (Gator Bowl)	L 0–14
*Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.

1952

1952 Clemson Tigers football
Conference	Southern Conference
1952 record	2–6–1 (* SoCon)
Head coach	Frank Howard
Captain	George Rodgers
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons « 1951 1953 »

After playing in the 1950 Orange Bowl and 1952 Gator Bowl in spite of the Southern Conference's ban on postseason play, Clemson was declared ineligible the conference championship. In part due to the ban, Clemson and six other schools left the Southern Conference to form the Atlantic Coast Conference for 1953.

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result
September 20*	Presbyterian		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 53–13
September 27*	Villanova		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	L 7–14
October 4	at #3 Maryland		Byrd Stadium • College Park, MD	L 0–28
October 11*	at Florida		Florida Field • Gainesville, FL	L 13–54
October 23	at South Carolina		Columbia, SC (Big Thursday)	L 0–6
October 31*	at Boston College		Braves Field • Boston, MA	W 13–0
November 8*	at Fordham		Coffey Field • Bronx, NY	T 12–12
November 15*	at Kentucky		McLean Stadium • Lexington, KY	L 14–27
November 22*	at Alabama Polytechnic		Auburn Stadium • Auburn, AL	L 0–3
*Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.

1953

1953 Clemson Tigers football
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
1953 record	3–5–1 (1–2 ACC)
Head coach	Frank Howard
Captain	Dreher Gaskin, Nathan Gressette
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons « 1952 1954 »

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result
September 19*	Presbyterian		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 33–7
September 26*	at Boston College		Fenway Park • Boston, MA	T 26–26
October 3	#3 Maryland		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	L 0–20
October 9*	at Miami (FL)		Burdine Stadium • Miami, FL	L 7–39
October 22	at South Carolina		Columbia, SC (Big Thursday)	L 7–14
October 31	Wake Forest		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 18–0
November 7*	at #6 Georgia Tech		Grant Field • Atlanta, GA (Clemson – Georgia Tech rivalry)	L 7–20
November 14*	at The Citadel		Johnson Hagood Stadium • Charleston, SC	W 34–13
November 21*	#14 Alabama Polytechnic		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	L 19–45
*Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.

1954

1954 Clemson Tigers football
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
1954 record	5–5 (1–2 ACC)
Head coach	Frank Howard
Captain	Buck George, Scott Jackson, Mark Kane, Clyde White
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons « 1953 1955 »

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result
September 18*	Presbyterian		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 33–0
September 25*	at Georgia		Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA	L 7–14
October 2*	Virginia Tech		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	L 7–18
October 9*	vs. #14 Florida		Gator Bowl Stadium • Jacksonville, FL	W 14–7
October 21	at South Carolina		Columbia, SC (Big Thursday)	L 8–13
October 30	vs. Wake Forest		American Legion Memorial Stadium • Charlotte, NC	W 32–20
November 6*	Furman		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 27–6
November 13	at #17 Maryland		Byrd Stadium • College Park, MD	L 0–16
November 20*	at #18 Alabama Polytechnic		Auburn Stadium • Auburn, AL	L 6–27
November 27*	The Citadel		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 59–0
*Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.

1955

1955 Clemson Tigers football
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
1955 record	7–3 (3–1 ACC)
Head coach	Frank Howard
Captain	Don King
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons « 1954 1956 »

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result
September 17*	Presbyterian		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 33–0
September 24	at Virginia		Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, VA	W 20–7
October 1*	Georgia		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 7–14
October 8*	at Rice	#16	Rice Stadium • Houston, TX	L 7–21
October 20	at South Carolina		Columbia, SC (Big Thursday)	W 28–14
October 29	Wake Forest		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 19–13
November 5*	vs. Virginia Tech		Roanoke, VA	W 21–16
November 12	#2 Maryland		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	L 12–25
November 19*	vs. #12 Alabama Polytechnic		Mobile, AL	L 0–21
November 26*	at Furman		Sirrine Stadium • Greenville, SC	W 40–20
*Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.

1956

1956 Clemson Tigers football
ACC Champion
Orange Bowl, L 21–27 to Colorado
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
Ranking
AP	#19
1956 record	7–2–2 (4–0–1 ACC)
Head coach	Frank Howard
Captain	Charlie Bussey
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons « 1955 1957 »

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result
September 22*	Presbyterian		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 27–7
September 29*	at #19 Florida		Florida Field • Gainesville, FL	T 20–20
October 6	at NC State		Riddick Stadium • Raleigh, NC (Textile Bowl)	W 13–7
October 13	at Wake Forest		Bowman Gray Stadium • Winston-Salem, NC	W 17–0
October 25	at South Carolina	#20	Columbia, SC (Big Thursday)	W 7–0
November 3*	#16 [[{{{school}}}|Virginia Tech]]	#13	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 21–6
November 10	at Maryland	#11	Byrd Stadium • College Park, MD	T 6–6
November 16*	at #8 [[{{{school}}}|Miami (FL)]]	#13	Burdine Stadium • Miami, FL	L 0–21
November 24	[[{{{school}}}|Virginia]]		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 7–0
December 1*	[[{{{school}}}|Furman]]		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 28–7
January 1*	vs. #20 [[{{{school}}}|Colorado]]	#19	Burdine Stadium • Miami, FL	L 21–27
*Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.

1957

1957 Clemson Tigers football
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
Ranking
Coaches	#18
1957 record	7–3 (4–3 ACC)
Head coach	Frank Howard
Captain	John Grdijan, Leon Kaltenback
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons « 1956 1958 »

Clemson played its last game against Presbyterian College; Presbyterian was Clemson's season-opening game from 1930 until 1957.

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result
September 21*	[[{{{school}}}|Presbyterian]]		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 66–0
September 28	at [[{{{school}}}|North Carolina]]		Kenan Memorial Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC	L 0–26
October 5	#13 [[{{{school}}}|NC State]]		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC (Textile Bowl)	L 7–13
October 12	[[{{{school}}}|Virginia]]		Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, VA	W 20–6
October 24	at [[{{{school}}}|South Carolina]]		Columbia, SC (Big Thursday)	W 13–0
November 2*	at [[{{{school}}}|Rice]]		Rice Stadium • Houston, TX	W 20–7
November 9	Maryland		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 26–7
November 16	at #11 [[{{{school}}}|Duke]]	#14	Duke Stadium • Durham, NC	L 6–7
November 23	Wake Forest		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 13–6
November 30*	at [[{{{school}}}|Furman]]		Sirrine Stadium • Greenville, SC	W 45–6
*Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.

1958

1958 Clemson Tigers football
ACC Champion
Sugar Bowl, L 0–7 vs. LSU
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
Ranking
Coaches	#13
AP	#12
1958 record	8–3 (5–1 ACC)
Head coach	Frank Howard
Captain	Bill Thomas
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons « 1957 1959 »

Coach Frank Howard's 100th win came September 27 against North Carolina. Clemson also played its first game against #1 ranked team when the played LSU in the Sugar Bowl.

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result
September 20	[[{{{school}}}|Virginia]]	#18	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 20–15
September 27	[[{{{school}}}|North Carolina]]		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 26–21
October 4	at Maryland	#10	Byrd Stadium • College Park, MD	W 8–0
October 11*	at [[{{{school}}}|Vanderbilt]]	#8	Dudley Field • Nashville, TN	W 12–7
October 23	at [[{{{school}}}|South Carolina]]	#10	Columbia, SC (Big Thursday)	L 6–26
November 1	Wake Forest	#19	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 14–12
November 8*	at [[{{{school}}}|Georgia Tech]]	#17	Grant Field • Atlanta, GA (Clemson – Georgia Tech rivalry)	L 0–13
November 15	at [[{{{school}}}|NC State]]		Riddick Stadium • Raleigh, NC (Textile Bowl)	W 13–6
November 22	[[{{{school}}}|Duke]]	#16	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 34–12
November 29*	[[{{{school}}}|Furman]]	#12	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 36–19
January 1*	vs. #1 LSU	#12	Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA (Sugar Bowl)	L 0–7
*Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.

1959

1959 Clemson Tigers football
ACC Champion
Bluebonnet Bowl, W 0–7 vs. [[{{{school}}}|TCU]]
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
Ranking
AP	#11
1959 record	9–2 (6–1 ACC)
Head coach	Frank Howard
Captain	Paul Snyder, Harvey White
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons « 1958 1960 »

The annual game against South Carolina was played on Thursday at the State Fair for the final time. Clemson's 300th win came in the Bluebonnet Bowl against TCU.

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result
September 19	at #12 [[{{{school}}}|North Carolina]]	#18	Kenan Memorial Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC	W 20–18
September 26	at [[{{{school}}}|Virginia]]	#5	Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, VA	W 47–0
October 3*	at #7 [[{{{school}}}|Georgia Tech]]	#6	Grant Field • Atlanta, GA (Clemson – Georgia Tech rivalry)	L 6–16
October 10	[[{{{school}}}|NC State]]		Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC (Textile Bowl)	W 23–0
October 22	at [[{{{school}}}|South Carolina]]	#17	Columbia, SC (Big Thursday)	W 27–0
October 31*	at [[{{{school}}}|Rice]]	#12	Rice Stadium • Houston, TX	W 19–0
November 7	[[{{{school}}}|Duke]]	#10	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 6–0
November 14	Maryland	#11	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	L 25–28
November 21	Wake Forest	#19	Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC	W 33–31
November 28*	at [[{{{school}}}|Furman]]	#14	Sirrine Stadium • Greenville, SC	W 56–3
December 19*	vs. #7 [[{{{school}}}|TCU]]	#11	Rice Stadium • Houston, TX (Bluebonnet Bowl)	W 23–7
*Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.

References

• Games: Bourret, Tim. "2010 Clemson Football Media Guide". Clemson University. p. 202. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/clem/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/football_media_guide_2010.pdf. Retrieved 11 August 2011. 
• Games: Howell, James. "Clemson Historical Scores". Division I-A Historical Scores. Archived from the original on 12 July 2011. http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/Clemson.htm. Retrieved 11 August 2011. 
• Coaches & captains: 2010 Media Guide, p. 198

Clemson Tigers football Venues Bowman Field (1900–1914) Riggs Field (1915–1941) Memorial Stadium (1942–present) Bowls & rivalries Bowl games Georgia Tech South Carolina Textile Bowl (NC State) Culture & lore The Tiger "Tiger Rag" Clemson University Tiger Band Clemson–South Carolina football brawl People Head coaches NFL draftees Seasons 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 National championship seasons in bold