While line coach in 1939, the Tigers' record (8-1) was good enough to merit a trip to Dallas where Clemson met undefeated Boston College under the late Frank Leahy in the 1940 Cotton Bowl. The 1948 mark of 10-0 carried Clemson to the 1949 Gator Bowl and two years later, a 9-0-1 record sent the Tigers to Miami's Orange Bowl(1950). The Country Gentlemen were champions on their first three bowl ventures. Boston College fell 6-3 Missouri was nipped in the Gator, 24-23 (Howard says this is the best football game he ever witnessed), and Miami felt the Tiger claws, 15-14. The total point spread in these three bowl wins was five points.
The Gator Bowl beckoned the Tigers again in January, 1952, and by being conference champions in 1956, Clemson played in the '57 Orange Bowl classic again. Miami downed Clemson,14-0 in the second Gator Bowl trip and Colorado led Clemson, 20-0, then trailed 21-20, before finally defeating the Tigers, 27-21, in the second Orange Bowl. The Tigers then played in the 1959 Sugar Bowl and held No. 1-ranked Louisiana State to a standstill before losing, 7-0.
The invitation to play in the first Blue bonnet Bowl in Houston in December 1959 was the eighth bowl that Howard had been a part of either as a player, assistant coach or head coach. It was the seventh bowl trip for a Clemson team and the sixth in 12 years. Howard says that Clemson's 23-7 triumph over seventh ranked Texas Christian in the Bluebonnet Bowl was the best performance he had ever witnessed by a Clemson team. Clemson was the first school to play in two bowls in the same calendar year.
The Tigers' victory over TCU was their fourth success in seven post-season appearances. In all seven Clemson was the established underdog.
Howard served on the coaching staff of the Blue-Gray game in Montgomery, Ala., in 1941, 1952, 1959, and 1966; was on the East staff of the annual East-West game in San Francisco, CA, in December, I960, and again in December, l962; and was named coach of the South squad in Miami's l96l and l969 North-South game. He coached in the 1970 Hula Bowl, which was his ninth postseason all-star game. While still in active coaching Howard served as one of the rules committee members for A period of three years.
A Single Wing expert for 22 seasons (including nine as a line coach), Howard changed to the T-formation and its many variations in 1953. Still another major change in the offense was installed in 1965 with the "I" and pro-type set. In his 13 seasons as head coach using the single wing, Clemson won 69, lost 47 and tied 7. In 12 years of "T" teams, the Tigers won 71, lost 47 and tied 4. While using the "I" in his last five years of coaching, Clemson re-corded a 25-24-1 record.
In his 30 years of coaching Howard won 165, lost 118 and tied 12. That victory total is still among the top 40 coaches in the history of the game.
In addition to heading up the Clemson football program Howard also had the job of directing Clemson's entire athletic program, and at the same time raising all the required scholarship funds. The athletic department was always on a sound financial footing under the guidance of Howard. |
