1939 Clemson Tigers football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1939
| team = Clemson Tigers
| sport = football
| image = 1939 Clemson Tigers football team (Taps 1940).png
| image_size = 285
| conference = Southern Conference
| short_conf = SoCon
| APRank = 12
| record = 9–1
| conf_record = 4–0
| head_coach = Jess Neely
| hc_year = 9th
| captain = Joe Payne
| stadium = Riggs Field
| champion = Cotton Bowl Classic champion
| bowl = Cotton Bowl Classic
| bowl_result = W 6–3 vs. Boston College
}}
{{1939 Southern Conference football standings}}
The 1939 Clemson Tigers football team was an American football team that represented Clemson College in the Southern Conference during the 1939 college football season. In their ninth and final season under head coach Jess Neely, the Tigers compiled a 9–1 record, outscored opponents by a total of 165 to 40, and defeated Boston College in the 1940 Cotton Bowl Classic.{{cite web|title=2016 Media Guide|url=https://issuu.com/clemsontigers/docs/2016_guide|website=clemsontigers.com|publisher=Clemson Athletics|access-date=June 23, 2017|pages=200–208|format=PDF|date=2016}} The 1940 Cotton Bowl was Clemson's first bowl game.
Joe Payne was the team captain. The team's statistical leaders included tailback Banks McFadden with 581 passing yards, fullback Charlie Timmons with 556 rushing yards, and wingback Shad Bryant with 32 points scored (4 touchdowns, 8 extra points).{{cite web|title=Clemson 1960 Football Media Guide|publisher=Clemson University|year=1960|pages=40–41|url=https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1076&context=fball_media}} McFadden remained with Clemson for more than 40 years as a coach and administrator and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1959.
Five Clemson players were named to the All-Southern team: tailback Banks McFadden; wingback Shad Bryant; center Bob Sharpe; end Joe Blalock; and tackle George Fritts.Clemson 1960 Football Media Guide, p. 22.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1939
| poll = AP
| rank = y
| attend = y
| source = y
|September 23||{{cfb link|year=1939|team=Presbyterian Blue Hose|title=Presbyterian}}
|September 30|at|Tulane
|October 7|vs|NC State||American Legion Memorial Stadium|Charlotte, NC (rivalry)|W 25–6|15,000|{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-mfadden-brillian/137144445/|work=The Charlotte Observer|title=M'Fadden brilliant in Tiger rout|date=October 8, 1939|accessdate=December 20, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 19|at|South Carolina ||Carolina Municipal Stadium|Columbia, SC (rivalry) |W 27–0|20,000|{{cite news|title=Tigers Smother Gamecocks 27-0 In Gridiron Classic|newspaper=The Times and Democrat|date=October 20, 1939|page=7|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36738361/tigers_smother_gamecocks_270_in/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 28|at|Navy
|November 3|at|George Washington
|November 11||Wake Forest ||Riggs Field|Clemson, SC |W 20–7|12,000|{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/florence-morning-news-clemsons-tigers-c/137144698/|work=Florence Morning News|title=Clemson's Tigers claw Demon Deacons, 20–7|date=November 12, 1939|accessdate=December 20, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 18|at|Southwestern (TN)
|November 25 |at|Furman|15|Sirrine Stadium|Greenville, SC |W 10–7|16,000|{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109390673/clemson-tigers-overpower-furman-for-143/|work=The Index-Journal|title=Clemson Tigers overpower Furman for 14–3 victory|date=November 26, 1939|accessdate=September 11, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
|January 1, 1940|vs|No. 11 Boston College
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Clemson Tigers football navbox}}
Category:Clemson Tigers football seasons