What Is 1919 Clemson Tigers football team

Overview

The 1919 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson Agricultural College during the 1919 college football season. Competing as an independent, the team did not belong to any conference and scheduled a mix of regional opponents across the Southeast.

Under the leadership of head coach Edward Stewart, who was in his second and final year at the helm, the Tigers struggled to find consistency on both offense and defense. The season concluded with a 3–6–1 record, reflecting a challenging campaign marked by close losses and limited scoring.

• Edward Stewart served as head coach in 1919, finishing his two-year tenure with a 6–9–1 overall record after the season.
• The team played its home games at Riggs Field, a small on-campus stadium that had been in use since 1915.
• Clemson faced opponents such as Davidson, Furman, and North Carolina, all of which were regional programs with similar independent status.
• The Tigers were outscored 97 to 87 over the course of the season, indicating a defensive struggle despite modest offensive output.
• One of the highlights of the season was a scoreless tie against The Citadel, a rivalry game that ended in a defensive stalemate.

Season Performance

The 1919 season was defined by inconsistency, with Clemson winning just three games and failing to secure a winning record. The team faced scheduling challenges common to independents, lacking the structure of a formal conference.

• September 27, 1919: Clemson opened the season with a 14–0 win over Guilford College, showing early promise with a strong defensive performance.
• October 4: A loss to Davidson (14–0) revealed offensive shortcomings, as the Tigers failed to score for the second consecutive game.
• October 11: Clemson lost 13–0 to North Carolina, continuing a trend of being shut out while allowing double-digit points.
• October 25: A rare offensive spark came in a 20–7 win over Furman, marking the team’s highest point total of the season.
• November 8: The Tigers tied The Citadel 0–0, a result that preserved their unbeaten streak against their in-state rival despite lackluster offense.
• November 27: The season ended with a 20–7 loss to South Carolina, continuing a losing streak in the Palmetto Bowl rivalry.

Comparison at a Glance

Comparing the 1919 season to other years highlights Clemson’s transitional phase in early 20th-century college football.

The 1919 season stands out as one of the more difficult in Clemson’s early football history, with the team’s six losses being the most in a single season up to that point. While the program had seen better results in 1917 and 1918, the post-World War I transition and coaching instability contributed to the downturn. The data shows a program still developing its identity before joining the Southern Conference in 1922.

Why It Matters

The 1919 season is a footnote in Clemson football history but offers insight into the challenges of early 20th-century college athletics. It reflects the growing pains of a program before conference affiliation and national recognition.

• The season illustrates the instability of coaching in early college football, with Stewart departing after two seasons.
• Playing as an independent limited Clemson’s ability to build consistent rivalries or secure postseason opportunities.
• The low-scoring games were typical of the era, when offenses relied on running plays and field position.
• Riggs Field, though primitive, was a key part of Clemson’s football identity and hosted games through the 1940s.
• The tie with The Citadel preserved an unbeaten streak that would later become a point of pride in the rivalry.
• This season preceded Clemson’s entry into the Southern Conference in 1922, marking a shift toward structured competition.

While not a standout year in terms of wins, the 1919 season contributes to the broader narrative of Clemson’s football evolution from a regional independent to a national powerhouse.