Memorial Stadium, Boston College, and Clemson's Football History

Although Boston College only joined the ACC in 2005, they had quite an impact on the history of Clemson football. This week, Clemson history extraordinaire Sam Blackman took Clemson Sports Talk back on a journey to 1939. It all started with a question from Lawton Swann about an article Blackman wrote about Memorial Stadium turning 75 on September 19th. 

"Back in 1939, Clemson was having a great season. They had lost just one game, and Banks McFadden was leading the way, he was a tailback in the single-wing offense," said Blackman. "They (Clemson) got invited to the Cotton Bowl, but there were rumors that our Coach Jess Neely was going to go to Rice. There was some talk then that they were going to build a stadium...They were hoping this new stadium talk would influence Neely to stay, but he went on to Rice."

What happened after Neely left was one of the most important moves in Clemson and Atlantic Coast Conference football history, as Blackman explains. 

"Coach (Frank) Howard said he was promised a job if Neely was to leave, so that's the reason he stayed. And of course Howard made a wonderful coach and figure here at Clemson," Blackman stated. "He was one of the founding fathers of the Atlantic Coast Conference. I think he and a few other coaches and athletic directors came up with the idea of the Atlantic Coast Conference."

Blackman credits that 1939 season and the Cotton Bowl match-up with Boston College for helping Clemson rise in the college football world. 

"I'll be honest with you, without that Cotton Bowl, being able to go and play Boston College...that was such a stepping stone for Clemson. It showed IPTAY starting to take hold. IPTAY was formed in 1934, and being able to have scholarship athletes, being able to give athletes scholarships to attend Clemson, really helped out and helped out a lot of people. I would say that was one of the first fruitions," continued Blackman. "Clemson defeated Boston College 6-3, and like I said, that really put a stamp on Clemson's athletic program." 

As you make your way to the game, stop and reflect on the 75 year history of Memorial Stadium and the many wonderful memories she's witnessed through the years. Enjoy our guests from New England and remember the importance of that first meeting between these two teams 78 years ago in the Cotton Bowl.

In a blink of an eye, Memorial Stadium will face her centennial celebration and I hope to see the Tigers and the Eagles square off that day for old times' sake.

Note: Sam Blackman in his 29th year in the Clemson Athletic Communications Office as a full time employee. In 1999 and again in 2013, Blackman co-authored a book entitled Clemson, Where the Tigers Play, a comprehensive history book on Clemson Athletics. 

Listen to "Sam Blackman 9-20-17" on Spreaker.