1953 Clemson Tigers football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1953
| team = Clemson Tigers
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Atlantic Coast Conference
| short_conf = ACC
| record = 3–5–1
| conf_record = 1–2
| head_coach = Frank Howard
| hc_year = 14th
| captain = Dreher Gaskin
| captain2 = Nathan Gressette
| stadium = Memorial Stadium
}}
{{1953 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings}}
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.{{cite web|title=Clemson 1960 Football Media Guide|publisher=Clemson University|year=1960|pages=15, 48|url=https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1076&context=fball_media|access-date=October 5, 2019}}{{cite web|title=1953 Clemson Tigers Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|access-date=October 3, 2019|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/clemson/1953-schedule.html|via=Newspapers.com}} The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.
End Dreher Gaskin and tackle Nathan Gressette were the team captains.1960 Media Guide, p. 15. 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).Clemson 1960 Football Media Guide, pp. 40-42.
Three Clemson players were named to the 1953 All-South Carolina football team: Dreher Gaskin, Nathan Gressette, and Don King.Clemson 1960 Football Media Guide, p. 23.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1954
| poll = AP
| timezone = Eastern
| time = y
| attend = y
| source = y
|September 19 |8:00 p.m.|| {{cfb link|year=1953|team=Presbyterian Blue Hose|title=Presbyterian}}
| September 26 |2:00 p.m.|at| Boston College
| October 3 |2:00 p.m.|| No. 3 Maryland | Memorial Stadium | Clemson, SC |L 0–20|25,000|{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-sun-maryland-blanks-clemson-i/138030976/|work=Durham Morning Herald|title=Maryland blanks Clemson in ACC contest, 20–0|date=October 4, 1953|accessdate=January 4, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
| October 9 |8:15 p.m.|at| Miami (FL)
| October 22 |2:00 p.m.|at| South Carolina | Carolina Stadium | Columbia, SC (rivalry) |L 7–14|35,000|{{cite news|title=Carolina Captures Thriller From Clemson, 14-7|newspaper=The Greenville News|author=Jim Anderson|date=October 23, 1953|pages=1, 17|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36756076/carolina_captures_thriller_from/|via=Newspapers.com}}
| October 31 |2:00 p.m.|| Wake Forest | Memorial Stadium | Clemson, SC |W 18–0|18,000|{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-press-kings-tosses-get-clemson-18/138033677/|work=Daily Press|title=King's tosses get Clemson 18–0 decision|date=November 1, 1953|accessdate=January 4, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
| November 7 |2:30 p.m.|at| No. 6 Georgia Tech
| November 14 |2:30 p.m.|at| The Citadel
| November 21 |2:00 p.m.|| No. 14 Auburn
}}
{{cite web |author= |title=Clemson Football Media Guide - 1953 |url=https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/fball_media/84/ |publisher=Clemson University |date=1953 |page=35 |access-date=November 7, 2023 }}