Re: Hill Watch...122 days!!!

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122 Seasons Ago - Clemson Football Finished 4-1-1 in 1903

Apr 30, 2025, 1:51 AM

The Heisman era continues for one more season!

I know this post is a long one: But there is a LOT to be said during the Heisman era!

If you prefer the TLDR Version:
1. There was never a dull moment in the Heisman era
2. The Heisman era was an adventure filled with:
- Great football on the field
- Unusual events off the field!

Overview:

According to Wikipedia:

“Led by John Heisman in his fourth and final season as head coach, the Tigers compiled an overall record of 4–1–1 with mark of 2–0–1 in SIAA play.

The team competed in an early conference championship game, tying the Cumberland Bulldogs, 11–11; in the contest. The Tigers thrashed Georgia Tech, 73–0, leading to Heisman's job offer at Tech. Clemson played all its games on the road.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1903_Clemson_Tigers_football_team

Of note:

According to Wikipedia:

“For the 1903 season, point values were different from those used in contemporary games. In 1903 a touchdown was worth five points, a field goal was worth five points and a conversion (PAT) was worth one point.

The team's captain was Hope Sadler.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1903_Clemson_Tigers_football_team

According to ClemsonTigers.com:

“Oct. 10, 1903 – Clemson beat Georgia 29-0. In the first 10 minutes, Clemson fumbled the ball three times. After the game, the Georgia team made a deal with the Clemson team. They would give the Clemson team a bushel of apples for every point Clemson would defeat Georgia Tech above the score Clemson made against Georgia. The score turned out to be Clemson 73, Georgia Tech 0. Apples were plentiful around Clemson that winter – 44 bushels.

Oct. 17, 1903 – Clemson defeated Georgia Tech 73-0. Clemson rushed the ball 55 times for 615 yards, still a school record, while Tech ran the ball 35 times and collected 28 yards. The second half was shortened to 15 minutes.

Oct. 28, 1903 – The Tigers defeated NC State 24-0 in Columbia, S.C. at the fairgrounds. One incident that delayed the start was the fact that the sideline spectators in their eagerness to see each play crowded in front of the grandstand and on the field. Twenty-minute halves were played, because the field had to be given to the racing association at 12:45 p.m. Even the short halves could not be played out and the time limit was up when 16 minutes of the second half had been played. Heisman married Evelyn Barksdale in Columbia after the game.

Nov. 26, 1903 – One day after Georgia Tech’s deadline for its offer had expired, John Heisman wired Georgia Tech President Lyman Hall that he would accept its offer of $2,250 per year plus 30 percent of net gate receipts at home games to coach its athletic teams.”

https://clemsontigers.com/clemson-football-historical-timeline/

Tigernet adds the following to the NC State and marriage all in one day story:

“Heisman was an innovator in his private life as well. On Oct. 28, 1903, Heisman coached the Tigers to a 24-0 win over NC State in the morning, then married Evelyn Barksdale in the early evening. He is the only Clemson coach to win a game and win a lady’s hand in marriage on the same day.”

https://clemsontigers.com/landmark-events-in-tiger-history-hiring-of-john-heisman/

After the 24-0 beatdown, something tells me that not very many NC St fans showed up for Coach Heisman’s wedding later that same day.

Also of Note:

According to some crazy website called TigerNet, Clemson played in its first postseason game in 1903:

“On November 24, 1903 Clemson's participated in its "First Bowl Game" as Clemson and Cumberland met on this date for the Championship of the South. The contract for the game was drawn up just two weeks before the game was to be played. Cumberland who had earlier defeated Auburn, Alabama, and Vanderbilt was considered to be champion of the southern states of Louisiana , Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky. While Clemson was considered to be the best team in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. The game was played on a neutral site, Montgomery,AL. Cumberland and Clemson fought to a 11-11 tie. In this game, John Maxwell scored as a result of a 100 yard kickoff return. After the news came back to Clemson that the game ended in a tie, the students and the local towns people built a bonfire and paraded around the campus.”

https://www.tigernet.com/football/history/heisman.jsp#:~:text=Heisman%20coached%20the%20Tigers%20in,later%20University%20President%2C%20Walter%20Riggs

Clemson QB John Maxwell:

Clemson RB Fritz Furtick:

Clemson Fullback John Hanvey:

1903 Clemson football team:

Head Coach John Heisman compiled a record of 19-3-2 in his four seasons at Clemson. Three losses in four seasons – Outstanding job, Coach!!!

Results:

October 10 at Georgia
W 29–0
October 17 at Georgia Tech
W 73–0
October 28 vs. North Carolina A&M* (Columbia)
W 24–0
November 14 at North Carolina*
L 6–11
November 21 at Davidson*
W 24–0
November 26 vs. Cumberland (TN) (Montgomery, AL)
T 11–11

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1903_Clemson_Tigers_football_team

FWIW:

Going through the Heisman years is SO much fun!!
- An undefeated 6-0 season (including 4 shutouts) in 1900
- A 122-0 pasting over Guilford in 1901 (Clemson’s largest margin of victory ever)
- Riots in Columbia in 1902
- A great Heisman-designed prank at Ga Tech’s expense in 1902
- A 73-0 beatdown over Ga Tech in 1903
- After shutting out NC St, the Head Coach gets married that same day in 1903
- First ever postseason game in 1903
- An overall record of 19-3-2 in four seasons (.833 winning percentage)

What a wild ride! The Heisman years had to be a great time for Clemson fans of that time!!

Unfortunately, 1903 marked the end of the Heisman regime at Clemson. It really wasn’t until the Josh Cody era in the late 1920s before Clemson football again ascended to greatness.

I have to assume that for many years afterward Clemson fans referred to the Heisman era as the “Glory Days.”

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Clemson: Academic Excellence! Athletic Excellence!

Hill Watch...122 days!!!