Greenville in Greenville County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Frank Howard

Carolina Legends

Photographed By Brian Scott, May 9, 2009

1. Frank Howard Marker

Inscription. This legendary Clemson coach was on the sidelines for 30 years as a head coach. He won over 150 games, six ACC Championships and was also Athletic Director during his time as head coach. After his retirement, Clemson named the playing surface at Memorial Stadium "Frank Howard Field."

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Sports.

Location. 34° 51.133′ N, 82° 23.533′ W. Marker is in Greenville, South Carolina, in Greenville County. Marker can be reached from North Academy Street. Marker is located in the southwest corner of the Bi-Lo Center campus. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 650 North Academy Street, Greenville SC 29601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 10 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Little Texas (within shouting distance of this marker); "Shoeless" Joe Jackson (within shouting distance of this marker); Greenville Memorial Auditorium (within shouting distance of this marker); Clayton "Peg Leg" Bates (within shouting distance of this marker); Frank Selvy (within shouting distance of this marker); Church Street (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Here Lieth the Body of Sarah M. Crittenden (about 800 feet

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away); Christ Church (Episcopal) (approx. 0.2 miles away); In 1825 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Kilgore-Lewis House (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Greenville.

Also see . . .
1. Frank Howard, The Legend. An era at Clemson University ended June 30, 1974, when Frank Howard officially retired from the payroll. (Submitted on May 20, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)

2. Frank Howard by Paul W. Bryant Museum. Seldom has one man been identified with one school as long as Frank Howard at Clemson. (Submitted on December 6, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)

3. 1989 ESPN Character Sketch of Frank Howard. A character sketch of Clemson's Frank Howard from 1989 - from ESPN and Beano Cook. Frank was inducted into the College Football Hall Of Fame that year. (Submitted on May 20, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)

4. Frank Howard. Frank J. Howard (March 25, 1909 – January 26, 1996) was an American college football player and coach. (Submitted on May 20, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)

5. Gift from Death Valley became "Death Valley" tradition.

Photographed By Brian Scott, May 9, 2009

2. Frank Howard Marker

Ohio State dots the "i." Tennessee runs through the "T." Texas A&M has midnight yell practice. Florida State has Chief Osceola, Renegade and a flaming spear. But few college football traditions generate as much excitement and pageantry as Clemson's players rubbing Howard's Rock and running down the Hill before each home game at Memorial Stadium. (Submitted on December 6, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)

6. Memorial Stadium, Clemson. Frank Howard Field at Memorial Stadium, popularly known as Death Valley, is home to the Clemson University Tigers, a NCAA Division I-A football team located in Clemson, South Carolina. Currently, the stadium is the second largest in the Atlantic Coast Conference. (Submitted on May 20, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)

7. What Death Valley really sounds like. The first parts are from ABC and their audio is not getting the crowd noise well. The second parts are from the crowd. (Submitted on December 6, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)

Additional commentary.
1. Frank Howard - Memorable Quotes
Howard had a way with words. The following are some of his memorable quotes:

"If you're going to give me 110 percent, you can rub my rock. If you're not, keep your

Frank Howard<br>(1909-1996) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott

3. Frank Howard
(1909-1996)

filthy hands off of it."

"Virginia? That's the white meat of our schedule."

"I retired for health reasons. The alumni got sick of me."

"I had a lifetime contract, but the administration declared me dead."

"I simply told Jimmy [his son] when he got out of high school I wanted him at a school where he could get a fine education and play for the best coach in the country. So he enrolled at Clemson."

— Submitted May 20, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.

2. Howard's Rock
Located in Memorial Stadium ("Death Valley", Clemson University), the Clemson Tigers run past the Rock and down to the field at the start of each home football game. This event has been described as "the most exciting 25 seconds in college football." The inscription on the rock's base reads:
From
Death Valley, Ca.
to
Death Valley
Clemson, SC
Presented to
Coach Frank Howard
and the
Clemson Football Team
by
S.C. Jones '19
September 1966.

— Submitted December 6, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.

3. Memorial Stadium ("Death Valley")
Clemson Memorial Stadium opened on September 19, 1942

Frank Howard with His Team<br>Head Coach from 1940 to 1969 image. Click for full size.

Clemson University by Helene M. Riley

4. Frank Howard with His Team
Head Coach from 1940 to 1969

with the Tiger's 32-13 win over Presbyterian College (PC). Lonnie McMillan, one of PC's coaches, is credited with naming it "Death Valley" for the many years his teams were defeated there. "Howard's Rock" was given to the coach by S.C. Jones, who picked it up in Death Valley, California. The original stadium of 20,000 seats was built with the help of scholarship athletes, including many football players, at a cost of $125,000 or $6.25 per seat. They were rewarded by Coach Howard with 50 gallons of ice cream consumed on the field at completion. Memorial Stadium was built for the future -- additions in 1958, 1960, 1978, and 1983 increased capacity to over 80,000. Cost per seat in 1983 was $866. (Source: Clemson University by Helene M. Riley (2002), pg 96.)

— Submitted December 6, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.

Howard's Rock image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, May 29, 2009

5. Howard's Rock

Memorial Stadium ("Death Valley") -<br>From Rear Patio of Student Union image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, May 29, 2009

6. Memorial Stadium ("Death Valley") -
From Rear Patio of Student Union

Clemson Memorial Stadium Arial View image. Click for full size.

Clemson University by Helene M. Riley, circa 1949

7. Clemson Memorial Stadium Arial View

Memorial Stadium ("Death Valley") Main Gate -<br>Frank Howard Field image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, May 29, 2009

8. Memorial Stadium ("Death Valley") Main Gate -
Frank Howard Field

Memorial Stadium ("Death Valley") -<br>Underneath the North Stands image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, May 29, 2009

9. Memorial Stadium ("Death Valley") -
Underneath the North Stands

Memorial Stadium ("Death Valley") -<br>West Stands image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, May 29, 2009

10. Memorial Stadium ("Death Valley") -
West Stands

Memorial Stadium ("Death Valley") -<br>South Stands image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, May 29, 2009

11. Memorial Stadium ("Death Valley") -
South Stands

Memorial Stadium ("Death Valley") -<br>North Stands image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, May 29, 2009

12. Memorial Stadium ("Death Valley") -
North Stands

Billy & Betty Poe Gate -<br>Memorial Stadium Gate 1 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott

13. Billy & Betty Poe Gate -
Memorial Stadium Gate 1

The Billy & Betty Poe Gate is
named in memory of
William M. "Billy" Poe, class of
1946, by his wife, Betty, for his
outstanding contributions to
Clemson University and
Clemson Athletics.

Fatz Cafe Gate -<br>Memorial Stadium Gate 5 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, May 29, 2009

14. Fatz Cafe Gate -
Memorial Stadium Gate 5

In Honor of
William H. Burton, Jr.
1916-1989

The Norville Family Gate -<br>Memorial Stadium Gate 6 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, May 29, 2009

15. The Norville Family Gate -
Memorial Stadium Gate 6

The Norville Family Gate,
is named in honor of
E. Mitchell Norville '80 Family
for their support of
Clemson University Athletics.

The Winkopp Gate -<br>Memorial Stadium Gate 9 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, May 29, 2009

16. The Winkopp Gate -
Memorial Stadium Gate 9

The Winkopp Gate is named
for the contributions
Tom Winkopp
Realtor/Developer, LLC has
made to Clemson University
and Clemson Athletics.

The John Holcombe Family Gate -<br>Memorial Stadium Gate 10 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, May 29, 2009

17. The John Holcombe Family Gate -
Memorial Stadium Gate 10

John Holcombe Family Gate,
is named for the John
Holcombe Family in honor of
their contributions to
Clemson University Athletics.

The Benton Family Gate -<br>Memorial Stadium Gate 11 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, May 29, 2009

18. The Benton Family Gate -
Memorial Stadium Gate 11

Benton Family Gate
Mr. & Mrs. James C. Benton
Given by Sons
Lawton and Carson Benton.

The D. Ray Cash Family Gate -<br>Memorial Stadium Gate 12 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, May 29, 2009

19. The D. Ray Cash Family Gate -
Memorial Stadium Gate 12

This gate is named
in honor of the
D. Ray Cash Family
for their many
contributions to
Clemson University and
Clemson Athletics.

The Williams Family Gate -<br>Memorial Stadium Gate 13 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, May 29, 2009

20. The Williams Family Gate -
Memorial Stadium Gate 13

The Williams Family Gate,
is given in honor of
Rodney Williams, former
Clemson Quarterback
and donor to the
football program,
by Dot and Gene Williams.

The Creel Family Gate -<br>Memorial Stadium Gate 16 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, May 29, 2009

21. The Creel Family Gate -
Memorial Stadium Gate 16

The Creel Family Gate,
is named
in honor of the
Jim & Carolyn Creel Family
for their many contributions
to Clemson University
and Clemson Athletics.

IPTAY Center Dedication Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, May 29, 2009

22. IPTAY Center Dedication Plaque

[Top Plaque]: IPTAY Center
Dedicated May 18, 2007
This plaque acknowledges with grateful appreciation
the generous contributions of thousands of friends
and Alumni of Clemson University
who have supported IPTAY since 1934.

IPTAY Center Entrance -<br>Located in the Northwest Corner of Memorial Stadium image. Click for more information.

Photographed By Brian Scott, May 29, 2009

23. IPTAY Center Entrance -
Located in the Northwest Corner of Memorial Stadium

The Tiger Cub -<br>Dedication Plaque Reads image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, May 29, 2009

24. The Tiger Cub -
Dedication Plaque Reads

A Gift from the
Harvey Graham Family
of Loris, S.C.

Sculptor - Zan Wells
of Greenville, S.C.

The Tiger Cub image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brian Scott, May 29, 2009

25. The Tiger Cub

Credits. This page was last revised on December 13, 2019. It was originally submitted on May 20, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 4,007 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 20, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 4. submitted on December 6, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 5, 6. submitted on July 9, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 7. submitted on December 6, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 8. submitted on July 9, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25. submitted on December 6, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.