1953 Clemson Tigers football
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
Record3–5–1 (1–2 ACC)
Head coach
CaptainDreher Gaskin, Nathan Gressette
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1952
1954 →
1953 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Maryland + 3 – 0 – 0 10 – 1 – 0
No. 18 Duke + 4 – 0 – 0 7 – 2 – 1
South Carolina 2 – 3 – 0 7 – 3 – 0
North Carolina 2 – 3 – 0 4 – 6 – 0
Wake Forest 2 – 3 – 0 3 – 6 – 1
Clemson 1 – 2 – 0 3 – 5 – 1
NC State 0 – 3 – 0 1 – 9 – 0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll[1]

The 1953 Clemson Tigers football team was an American football team that represented Clemson College in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 1953 college football season. In its 14th season under head coach Frank Howard, the team compiled a 3–5–1 record (1–2 against conference opponents), finished sixth in the ACC, and was outscored by a total of 172 to 139.[2][3] The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.

End Dreher Gaskin and tackle Nathan Gressette were the team captains.[4] The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Don King with 706 passing yards and 243 rushing yards and Dreher Gaskin with 30 points scored (5 touchdowns).[5]

Three Clemson players were named to the 1953 All-South Carolina football team: Dreher Gaskin, Nathan Gressette, and Don King.[6]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 19 8:00 p.m. Presbyterian*
W 33–715,000[7]
September 26 2:00 p.m.at Boston College*
T 26–2610,960[8]
October 3 2:00 p.m. No. 3 Maryland
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Clemson, SC
L 0–2025,000[9]
October 9 8:15 p.m.at Miami (FL)*
L 7–3927,300[10]
October 22 2:00 p.m.at South Carolina
L 7–1435,000[11]
October 31 2:00 p.m. Wake Forest
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Clemson, SC
W 18–018,000[12]
November 7 2:30 p.m.at No. 6 Georgia Tech*
L 7–2035,000[13]
November 14 2:30 p.m.at The Citadel*
W 34–138,336[14]
November 21 2:00 p.m. No. 14 Auburn*dagger
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Clemson, SC (rivalry)
L 19–4520,000[15]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[16]

References

  1. ^ "1953 Atlantic Coast Conference Year Summary". sports-reference.com. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  2. ^ "Clemson 1960 Football Media Guide". Clemson University. 1960. pp. 15, 48. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  3. ^ "1953 Clemson Tigers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 3, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ 1960 Media Guide, p. 15.
  5. ^ Clemson 1960 Football Media Guide, pp. 40-42.
  6. ^ Clemson 1960 Football Media Guide, p. 23.
  7. ^ "Rain bogs new T, but Clemson beats PC, 33–7". The State. September 20, 1953. Retrieved January 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Clemson comes back, ties Boston College". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. September 27, 1953. Retrieved January 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Maryland blanks Clemson in ACC contest, 20–0". Durham Morning Herald. October 4, 1953. Retrieved January 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Miami U. rips Clemson, 39–7". The Tribune. October 10, 1953. Retrieved January 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Jim Anderson (October 23, 1953). "Carolina Captures Thriller From Clemson, 14-7". The Greenville News. pp. 1, 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "King's tosses get Clemson 18–0 decision". Daily Press. November 1, 1953. Retrieved January 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Georgia Tech trims Clemson 20–7". Florence Morning News. November 8, 1953. Retrieved October 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Clemson defeats Citadel". Tampa Sunday Tribune. November 15, 1953. Retrieved January 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Auburn gains 45–19 nod over Clemson". Tampa Sunday Tribune. November 22, 1953. Retrieved October 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Clemson Football Media Guide - 1953". Clemson University. 1953. p. 35. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
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