Re: Anyone old enough to remember

Frank did retire and called himself "coach Emeritus"...Then came Hootie who stayed around 3 years...I remember red's last game and he beat the crap out of USuC and I heard about his firing at the Iptay Classic at Littlejohn which was a surprise after he beat USuC so bad. hated in a way to see Red go, but he lost control of the team....Charley was a good one as far as discipline and then Danny. Keep in mind that Frank had not been to a bowl game since the Blue Bonnet Bowl in the late 50's and we were just not very competitive as it seemed like we played Alabama, Auburn and Georgia and Tech every year...but, in Frank's parting words, he said with the schedules he was leaving his successors, he would be remembered a long long time...as bad as Hootie and Red were, hatfield was worse

hartins®

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I recall the Howard situation very well, for during my

Jun 9, 2015, 8:42 PM

junior year (1967-1968,) I served as the Editor-in-Chief of "The Tiger"...at that time the main source of information and communication across the campus and within the nearby community.

Beginning that year our staff had a number of phone calls, letters and visits from alumni, fans and students who were growing restless over our lackluster years. We hadn't been to a bowl game in a long while, and the South Carolina game had become the end-all to each season.

We were cautious out of respect to Coach Howard and to what we knew would be a loudly vocal crowd rushing to his support. However, there was movement behind the scenes, so to speak, and this is what eventually led to a conversation I had with Howard...off the record...as to his future plans. He was aware of the rumblings and stated succinctly that the "alumni and big money donors" would dictate his tenure.

Later, in a meeting with Dean Walter Cox (and not relating my chat with Howard) I asked him about our program's future with Howard. Cox simply stated that he, too, was aware of dissatisfaction but that any talk of Howard's retention would kindle "too large a fire," as he put it.

"The Tiger" in those days was controlled solely and completely by its senior staff led by the Editor, and in a closed-door meeting a fiery discussion ensued as to our position, regarding Howard. We decided that any movement at the time would be premature and would provoke controversy just for the sake of controversy...a foolish concept in journalistic circles.

The facts are that Howard was confronted with a suggestion that he become the AD, thereby relinquishing HC duties and that he would be allowed to retire gracefully after a stint as AD. He saw the hand-writing on the wall in late 1969. By that time I had graduated and was on military duty in Europe. When I heard the news, I wasn't surprised...somewhat saddened, of course, but not surprised.

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Anyone old enough to remember

Correct***