Frank Howard Field
Frank Howard Field is the name of the grass playing surface of Clemson University's Memorial Stadium. It is dedicated to long-time Tiger coaching legend Frank Howard, the "Baron of Barlow Bend", who led the football program from 1940 to 1969. He had been a line coach from 1931 to 1939.
In 1942, Howard oversaw the construction of the original portions of Clemson Memorial Stadium, and is said to have placed a plug of tobacco in each corner of the facility during the concrete pour.
Upon his retirement from the university payroll June 30, 1974 at the mandantory age of 65, the Clemson Board of Trustees moved to honor him by naming the playing surface in Death Valley for him.
Dedication Ceremony[edit]
Dedication ceremonies were held on November 16, 1974 during halftime of the game with Virginia, which Clemson won, 28-9.
At a practice for the Virginia game performance, Clemson band director, Dr. Bruce F. Cook, warned Tiger Band that the halftime activity was likely to drag on and on because once Coach Howard got started, he was noted for "going on and on." Upper classman baritone player Marshall Raines then affected his best Barlow Bend drawl and stated the Howard philosophy, "Ah don't know about all these new-fangled plays. They should do what Ah do - up the middle, up the middle, pass, punt."
