In the summer of 1990 he was inducted into the gator bowl hall of fame. Clemson confirms iconic howards rock was vandalized. Even when the university built a new locker room on the. Dec 15, 2012 although lsu s tiger stadium was constructed nearly 20 years earlier, the death valley nickname was first applied to clemson s memorial stadium in reference to howard s rock, which was plucked for the dessert sands of the actual death valley in california. One year after vandalism, tradition still lives sports. It is howards rock, a pinkish brown hunk of quartz that has been the touchstone for clemsons football team since 1966. After a careerending injury, howard joined the staff at clemson college and became head coach in 1940. Howard s rock is touched by clemson tiger football players as they enter the. Clemson football rubbing the rock a clemson tigers site. As a junior at clemson in 1967, fernandez was in the crowd when the clemson team rubbed howard s rock for the first time. Discover the latest buzzworthy books, from mysteries and romance to humor. Howard was not only track coach from 1939, but served as baseball coach in 1943 and his 123 record that year is still among the best percentages for a season in clemson history.
Aug 26, 2019 clemson university rubbing howards rock. At clemsons stadium, a rock meets a hard place the new. Most clemson fans have attended a game at memorial stadium, seen highlights of a young terry kinard, and remember where they were when the tigers won the 1981 national championship. In march 2007 we proposed the scroll of honor memorial to the university. Plus, check out our large selection of official gear for men, women, and kids, exclusive items, and more. Jun 12, 20 and before you ask, no, we have no clue where harvey updyke was involved. Earlier today, twitter chatter began to surface that the famed howards rock at clemsons memorial stadium was. Aug, 2017 greatest football coaches in clemson history. Calhouns daughter, anna maria, and eventually settled at her family plantation in south carolina. But only real fans know who gave frank howard howards rock, can name the father of clemson football, or know all the words to the tiger rag. According to the official clemson history books, mcmillan had visited. Here is another tradition that is unique to clemson university but that takes place at home games.
The two teams first met in 1900, some 116 years ago with clemson winning the inaugural game 350. College footballs most iconic symbol feature september 9, 2016 7. On campus, howard s rock is guarded like it s the hope diamond. A short history of alabama vs clemson touchdown alabama. Jun, 20 howard s rock, the iconic fixture clemson players rub prior to running down the hill during the football team s entrance into memorial stadium, was vandalized on june 2 or june 3, according to a. Howard s rock is the rock the tigers touch as they run down the hill.
The rock is the center of a longstanding tradition where players touch it before running down the hill in the east end zone at each home football game. Jun 20, 20 the tigers have rubbed howard s rock before every home game since 1966, when a clemson alum brought the stone to death valley, s. Howards rock, college football symbol, vandalized and broken. While there s no debate about the origins of the death valley title in clemson, there is still some murkiness around its roots in baton rouge. Rock solid tradition clemson tigers official athletics site. Police said that a portion of howard s rock, which sits on a hill above memorial death valley stadium on clemson s south carolina campus, was broken off sometime june 2 or 3. Larry burton clemson formed its first football team in 1896, four years after alabama fielded their first team in 1892. Jun 28, 20 the clemson university police department arrested 18yearold micah rogers of pisgah forest, nc for the june 2 vandalism of college football icon howard s rock, capt. May 27, 2019 a history of clemson memorial stadium and the scroll of honor with video. Little did the 1942 edition of the tiger football team know that an.
One afternoon in the spring of 1966, frank howard was cleaning up his clemson office when he came across this big rock an alumnus picked up in death valley, california. Howards rock at clemson football stadium vandalized, damaged. At clemsons stadium, a rock meets a hard place the new york. A heated lsuclemson debate who plays in the real death valley. Howard coached the clemson tigers for 30 years, amassing the 15th most wins of any college football coach. Its been 50 years since howards rock debuted at clemson s death valley, but a paleontologist discovered the rock isnt what it was thought to be. Its been 50 years since howards rock debuted at clemsons death valley, but a paleontologist discovered the rock isnt what it was thought to be. Howard march 25, 1909 january 26, 1996 was an american college football player and coach. So that large chunk of white flint, howards rock, joins the worlds vast. Howard s rock is a large piece of white flint that is displayed in clemson universitys memorial stadium. Clemson was founded in 1889 through a bequest from thomas green clemson, a philadelphiaborn, europeaneducated engineer, musician and artist who married john c.
Howard stepped onto the rolling hills of clemson in 1931 fresh from the varsity football. While theres no debate about the origins of the death valley title in clemson, there is still some murkiness around its roots in baton rouge. Jun, 20 howard s rock, which has sat on a pedestal at the top of a hill above the east end zone of clemson s death valley since 1966, was vandalized on june 2 or 3, according to a report obtained from the. Youve already learned about what tigers fans do to show their support at away games. But only real fans know who gave frank howard howard s rock, can name the father of clemson football, or know all the words to the tiger rag. Clemson university football college football teams clemson tigers tiger girl tiger love clemson south carolina cincinnati bearcats cbs sports death valley.
It was still called deaf valley by most fans throughout the 1970s and 80s. Howards rock is named for legendary clemson coach frank howard who spent 30 years as head coach for the tigers. Clemson one year ago thursday night, the rumors quickly confirmed as truth spread on social media like wildfire. Lsu, clemson football both claim death valley the washington post. Clemson one year ago thursday night, the rumors quickly.
Frank howard howards rock, can name the father of clemson football, or. Howards rock, once a doorstop, is now a centerpiece of clemson lore. Clemson and lsu, which will play monday for the college football playoff. Clemsons original colors were red and blue, but they changed in 1896 thanks to the schools first football coach, walter merritt riggs. Jun, 20 howard s rock, the legendary clemson university good luck stone that the football team rubs before games, was vandalized earlier this month, the school announced wednesday. Howard s rock, the iconic symbol of college football at clemson university, was defaced and vandalized last week, according to reports. Clemson football the story of howards rock youtube. Jan 03, 2020 howard s rock, once a doorstop, is now a centerpiece of clemson lore.
Part of the tradition comes after unknown parties vandalized the rock prior to the 1992 south carolina clemson game. Whether youre a diehard fan from the danny ford era or a new supporter of dabo swinney, this book. A history of clemson memorial stadium and the scroll of honor. Lsu s use of the nickname came along quite by accident. American college sports traditions page 28 history a2z. Visit the official site for clemson athletics with news, information, videos and more for clemson football, basketball. Vandalism of clemson tigers howards rock has no place in the. Legendary football coach frank howard told his players if they gave 110 percent, they could receive the privilege of rubbing the rock.
Framed coach dabo swinney howards rock autograph replica print clemson tigers. On clemsons howard s rock tradition team news clemson has been getting a lot of crap because of the most exciting 25 seconds in college football which is a term coined by brent musburger, we just embraced it, the buses we use and because we worship a rock. The clemson football team had its first spring practice session wednesday afternoon. Rubbing the rock and running down the hill at clemson. Heres a look at some early returns from the practice. The tigers have rubbed howard s rock before every home game since 1966, when a clemson alum brought the stone to death valley, s. Apr 21, 2010 the official video played on pawvision before the clemson tigers run down the hill. He gave the rock to howard some years before as a gift, thinking it was pretty cool for clemson to have a rock from the real death valley in clemson s death valley. Its about our love for clemson and all the memories we have shared with our grandfather, our dad, our brothers, our classmates and our friends.
Before the start of each game, the players gather around howards rock and rub it for good luck. Howards rock is a large piece of white flint that is displayed in clemson universitys memorial stadium. Not all ruined keepsakes make such a graceful comeback. Credited with building the team into a national icon, he retired in 1969 and died in 1996. Jan 03, 2016 a short history of alabama vs clemson by. Traditions about clemson university, south carolina.
Visit the official site for clemson athletics with news, information, videos and more for clemson football, basketball, baseball, soccer. On june 2, 20, howard s rock was again vandalized when the case containing it was broken and a portion of the rock was removed by an apparent fan of the tigers, who was eventually arrested following a police investigation. While howard, jones, and willimon will always be remembered as the masterminds of the what is known today as howard s rock, fernandezs name will now also be forever linked with the rock s storied history. Order yours today to receive your howard s rock replica hat before the 2015 football season. Search the worlds most comprehensive index of fulltext books. In the hearts of clemson fans, well, they should feel lucky.
The rock, which players would rub for good luck before entering memorial stadium, was missing a piece when officials discovered it. Howards rock at clemsons memorial stadium has been vandalized. Howard held the line coaching post until neely went to rice university as head coach in 1940. Clemson fan arrested for howards rock vandalism, police. Clemson players now gather at the top of the hill, rub the rock and run onto the field to the wild cheers of fans. Howard s rock is a large piece of white flint that is displayed in clemson university s memorial stadium. Howards rock clemson tigers official athletics site. Come on, you know coach frank howard would approve. Clemsons sacred stone clemson tigers refuse to run down the hill above memorial stadium until theyve rubbed howards rock, the mojogiving stone placed there a halfcentury ago by legendary coach frank howard. Clemsons good luck charm howards rock is vandalized. Rock death valley was created by former clemson university students who want you to show your spirit and rock death valley this season.
A heated lsuclemson debate who plays in the real death. The story of the rivalries, traditions, and scandals of the first two decades of the atlantic coast conference hardcover by. Clemson howards rock clemson tigers official athletics site. See howards rock just isnt about college football or clemson football and what happens on saturday afternoons in the fall. Clemsons howards rock isnt what it was thought to be.