Jess Neely
Middle Tennessee State | |
1920–1922 | Vanderbilt |
---|---|
Position(s) | Halfback |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
Football | |
1924–1927 | Southwestern (TN) |
1928–1930 | Alabama (assistant) |
1931–1939 | Clemson |
1940–1966 | Rice |
Baseball | |
1929–1930 | Alabama |
1932–1938 | Clemson |
1945, 1948 | Rice |
Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
1931–1939 | Clemson |
1940–1967 | Rice |
1967–1971 | Vanderbilt |
1973 | Vanderbilt (interim AD) |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 207–176–19 (football) 109–108–5 (baseball) |
Bowls | 4–3 |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Championships | |
4 SWC (1946, 1949, 1953, 1957) | |
Awards | |
Amos Alonzo Stagg Award (1967) | |
College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 1971 (profile) |
Jesse Claiborne Neely (January 4, 1898 – April 9, 1983) was an American football player, a baseball and football coach. He was head football coach at Southwestern University (now Rhodes College) from 1924 to 1927, at Clemson University from 1931 to 1939 and at Rice University from 1940 to 1966, compiling a career college football record of 207–176–19. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1971.
Neely was also the head baseball coach at the University of Alabama (1929–1930), at Clemson (1932–1938) and at Rice (1945 and 1948), tallying a career college baseball mark of 109–108–5.
Early years and ancestry
Neely was born on January 4, 1898, in
His brother, Bill Neely, Jr., was a captain and All-Southern end on the undefeated 1910 Vanderbilt football team. Jess attended Branham and Hughes Military Academy.
Playing career
Middle Tennessee State
The First Fifty Years: A History of Middle Tennessee State College recounts Neely's days playing for Middle Tennessee State Normal School:
Jess Neely, a brilliant half-back and a handsome man on the campus, is remembered for his popularity among members of the opposite sex and for an incident that occurred just prior to a football game with Southern Presbyterian in Clarksville. Miles had done an exceptionally good job in mentally preparing his team for the game. He climaxed the pre-game, locker-room exhortation with a soaring call for courage and deathless allegiance to "dear Ol' Normal." Neely was greatly affected by the words of his coach for he leaped to his feet and, roaring like an angry bull, led the team in a rush to the doorway opening to the field. He misjudged the extremely low entrance, and his head received the full impact of the strip of wall above the doorway. He was revived shortly before the kickoff, but he never quite knew where he was, frequently huddling and aligning himself with the enemy.[3]
That team included Preston Vaughn Overall and Rupert Smith, who rejoined Neely on the 1921 Vanderbilt team.[4]
Vanderbilt
Neely played football at Vanderbilt University from 1920 to 1922 under head coach Dan McGugin. He was captain and halfback of the undefeated 1922 team, and its best passer. Neely belonged to the Delta Tau Delta fraternity.
1920
Although the Commodores expected a "hard game against the
In a "thriller from the start,"
1921
Football
In the second week of the
In the season's sixth week, Vanderbilt defeated
For its seventh game, Vanderbilt faced the defending
Baseball
Neely was a member of the
Neely
walked. Neil walked. Thomas was safe on an error and Big Tot McCullough picked one over the right field fence, clearing the sacks--but oh, what's the use? Why continue?[27]
1922
Neely was captain of the undefeated
At the
Vanderbilt defeated the
One of the highest honors a student could receive at Vanderbilt was Bachelor of Ugliness, created by William H. Dodd in 1885 and given to the male undergraduate student considered most representative of ideal young manhood. In 1923, Neely received the award.
Coaching career
After Neely graduated from Vanderbilt with a law degree in 1924, he began his coaching career at Murfreesboro High School in Tennessee and ran a farm-loan business.[52] His college-football coaching career began at Rhodes College (then known as Southwestern University), a job he got thanks to former coach McGugin's recommendation,[53] where he had a 20–17–2 record from 1924 to 1927. Neely was assistant baseball coach at Princeton in the spring of 1928 before going to Alabama.[54] From 1928 to 1930, Neely was assistant football coach under former Vanderbilt assistant Wallace Wade, and compiled a 28–15–2 record as the school's head baseball coach from 1929 to 1930.
From 1931 to 1939 he coached football at Clemson, compiling a 43–35–7 record. Neely coached at Rice from 1940 to 1966 with a 144–124–10 record, the most wins by a Rice coach.
He won the first four bowl games he coached: the 1940 Cotton Bowl (with Clemson), the 1946 Orange Bowl and the 1949 and 1953 Cotton Bowls (with Rice). However, at Rice, he also lost the last three bowl games he coached: the 1957 Cotton Bowl, the 1960 Sugar Bowl and 1961 Bluebonnet Bowl.
Clemson
Neely coached the Tigers during what is known as the "Seven Lean Years", and helped start the first booster club.[55] The 1939 team lost only to Tulane.[54] In the 1940 Cotton Bowl, Neely's Tigers upset Frank Leahy's Boston College Eagles. Banks McFadden led the Tigers.[56]
Rice
Neely was hired by Rice in 1940 and led the team to a six-win turnaround.[57] Neely's 1946 team won the Southwest Conference and the Orange Bowl.[58] Weldon Humble starred for the Owls The 1949 team won the Southwest Conference and the Cotton Bowl, and Neely was named the conference's coach of the year. Hall of Fame end Froggy Williams was "the most important cog" in Neely's "gridiron machine".[59] The 1949 team won the Cotton Bowl.
In 1953 Neely's Rice team again won the Cotton Bowl. The game featured one of college football's most famous plays. Dicky Moegle had broken free on a run when he was tackled by Tommy Lewis, who had come off the sidelines from Alabama's bench.[60] Moegle was awarded a touchdown for the illegal play.
Buddy Dial tied Williams's records in 1958.[61] Rice lost the 1960 Sugar Bowl to national champion Ole Miss. Neely's last road win was a 20–17 upset over the Texas Longhorns in 1965.[62]
Athletic director at Vanderbilt
After the 1966 season he returned to Vanderbilt as athletic director, and received the Amos Alonzo Stagg Award the following year. Neely brought the football program out of a dire financial situation.
Jess convinced Sam Fleming, who was involved at that time in a $30 million campus fundraising project, that he could get the McGugin Center built and called on his friends among those the late Alf Sharpe, to help him. This actually started all the improvements of the football facilities at the university. Jess had a very special way with people.[63]
Legacy
In 1999, he was ranked 39th on Sports Illustrated's list of the 50 greatest Tennessee sports figures of the 20th century.[64]
Head coaching record
Football
Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches# | AP° | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Southwestern Lynx (Independent) (1924–1927) | |||||||||
1924 | Southwestern | 3–6 | |||||||
1925 | Southwestern | 7–2 | |||||||
1926 | Southwestern | 5–4–1 | |||||||
1927 | Southwestern | 5–5–1 | |||||||
Southwestern: | 20–17–2 | ||||||||
Clemson Tigers (Southern Conference) (1931–1939) | |||||||||
1931 | Clemson | 1–6–2 | 1–4 | 20th | |||||
1932 | Clemson | 3–5–1 | 0–4 | T–21st | |||||
1933 | Clemson | 3–6–2 | 1–1 | T–5th | |||||
1934 | Clemson | 5–4 | 2–1 | 5th | |||||
1935 | Clemson | 6–3 | 2–1 | 4th | |||||
1936 | Clemson | 5–5 | 3–3 | 8th | |||||
1937 | Clemson | 4–4–1 | 2–0–1 | T–3rd | |||||
1938 | Clemson | 7–1–1 | 3–0–1 | 2nd | |||||
1939 | Clemson | 9–1 | 4–0 | 2nd | W Cotton | 12 | |||
Clemson: | 43–35–7 | 18–14–2 | |||||||
Rice Owls (Southwest Conference) (1940–1966) | |||||||||
1940 | Rice | 7–3 | 4–2 | T–3rd | |||||
1941 | Rice | 6–3–1 | 3–2–1 | 4th | |||||
1942 | Rice | 7–2–1 | 4–1–1 | 2nd | |||||
1943 | Rice | 3–7 | 2–3 | T–3rd | |||||
1944 | Rice | 5–6 | 2–3 | T–4th | |||||
1945 | Rice | 5–6 | 3–3 | T–3rd | |||||
1946 | Rice | 9–2 | 5–1 | T–1st | W Orange | 10 | |||
1947 | Rice | 6–3–1 | 4–2 | 3rd | 18 | ||||
1948 | Rice | 5–4–1 | 3–2–1 | T–3rd | |||||
1949 | Rice | 10–1 | 6–0 | 1st | W Cotton | 5 | |||
1950 | Rice | 6–4 | 2–4 | T–5th | |||||
1951 | Rice | 5–5 | 3–3 | T–3rd | |||||
1952 | Rice | 5–5 | 4–2 | 2nd | |||||
1953 | Rice | 9–2 | 5–1 | T–1st | W Cotton | 6 | 6 | ||
1954 | Rice | 7–3 | 4–2 | T–3rd | 19 | 19 | |||
1955 | Rice | 2–7–1 | 0–6 | 7th | |||||
1956 | Rice | 4–6 | 1–5 | 5th | |||||
1957 | Rice | 7–4 | 5–1 | 1st | L Cotton | 7 | 8 | ||
1958 | Rice | 5–5 | 4–2 | T–2nd | |||||
1959 | Rice | 1–7–2 | 1–4–1 | 6th | |||||
1960 | Rice | 7–4 | 5–2 | T–2nd | L Sugar | ||||
1961 | Rice | 7–4 | 5–2 | 3rd | L Bluebonnet | ||||
1962 | Rice | 2–6–2 | 2–4–1 | 6th | |||||
1963 | Rice | 6–4 | 4–3 | 3rd | |||||
1964 | Rice | 4–5–1 | 3–3–1 | T–4th | |||||
1965 | Rice | 2–8 | 1–6 | T–7th | |||||
1966 | Rice | 2–8 | 1–6 | 8th | |||||
Rice: | 144–124–10 | 86–75–6 | |||||||
Total: | 207–176–19 | ||||||||
National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
|
See also
References
- ^ Virginia Gooch Watson (1979). "Goochland". Rutherford County Historical Society (12): 51.
- ^ "Smyrna native Jess Neely was legendary Hall of Fame coach".
- ^ Pittard 1961, p. 73
- ^ Upi (11 April 1983). "Jess Neely, Coached Football for 40 Years". The New York Times.
- ^ "Football Games on Many Fields". The State. October 9, 1920.
- ^ a b "Vanderbilt Wins From Tennessee". Augusta Chronicle. October 10, 1920.
- ^ "Vanderbilt Is Victor". The Lexington Herald. October 10, 1920.
- ^ a b Russell 1938, p. 38
- ^ Zipp Newman (October 24, 1920). "Donahue's Greatest Team Skirts Vandy Ends at Will". The Columbus Daily Enquirer.
- ^
- ^ "Vandy Works Hard For Virginia U". Times-Picayune. November 11, 1920.
- ^ "Vandy's Eleven Tears Loose In Second Quarter". The Macon Daily Telegraph. October 9, 1921.
- ^ a b Russell 1938, p. 39
- ^ Joe T. Lovett (October 16, 1921). "Pribble, Lavin First To Cross On Commodores". Lexington Herald.
- ^ C.E. Baker (November 1, 1921). "Vanderbilt To Play Bama Eleven Saturday". Macon Telegraph.
- ^
- ^ "Alabama - 1921 Football Recap" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-27. Retrieved 2014-08-29.
- ^ a b "Vanderbilt Winner Over Alabama Team". Montgomery Advertiser. November 6, 1921.
- ^ "Many Good Games On Schedule Today" (PDF). New York Times. November 12, 1921.
- ^ "Vanderbilt Ties With Bulldogs". The State (Columbia, SC). November 13, 1921.
- ^ "Commodores Tie In Last Period". The Palm Beach Post. November 13, 1921.
- ^ "Game With Vandy Is Tied As Novel Play Is Pulled Successful". The Red And Black. November 18, 1921.
- ^ "Vanderbilt Wins From Sewanee In Final Quarter, 9-0". Augusta Chronicle. November 25, 1921.
- ^ "Vanderbilt 9, Sewanee 0". Morning Oregonian. November 25, 1921.
- ^ "Final Period Rally Wins for Old Vandy". Charlotte Observer. November 25, 1921.
- ^ a b Bill Traughber. "The Historic 1921 VU Baseball Team". Archived from the original on 2015-07-15. Retrieved 2014-09-23.
- ^ "Vandy Defeats Arkansas Team." The Macon Daily Telegraph 8 Oct. 1922: 8.
- ^ e.g. see "No Change Is Made In Lineup of Team." Ironwood Daily Globe 20 Oct. 1922: 10.
- ^ a b c Sam S. Greene (October 15, 1922). "Michigan and Vanderbilt play to Scoreless Tie In Commodores' Stadium: Southerns Spring Surprise on Rivals". Detroit Free Press.
- ^ a b c d Russell 1938, p. 40–41, 67
- ^ a b "Powerful Wolverine Eleven Held To Scoreless Tie By Commodores." Augusta Chronicle 1922 Oct. 15
- ^ "Vanderbilt Christens Stadium By Tying Michigan, 0 to 0" (PDF). The New York Times. October 15, 1922.
- ^ Traughber 2011, p. 79
- ^ Vanderbilt University 2012, p. 119
- ^ Bill Traughber. "The history of Vanderbilt Athletics part 1".
- ^ a b "Vanderbilt Opens Its News Stadium with Tie." Charlotte Sunday Observer 15 Oct. 1922: 2.
- ^ a b "Kipke Recalls Vandy Game". Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, South Carolina). October 5, 1933.
- ^ "Vanderbilt Downs Texas Longhorns, Long Grid Rivals." Dallas Morning News 22 Oct. 1922
- ^ "Commodores Win By Superior Play When Near Longhorns' Goal." Wichita Daily Times [Wichita Falls, Texas] 22 Oct. 1922: 9.
- ^ "Vanderbilt Wins From Volunteers." The State [Columbia, SC] 5 Nov. 1922: 11.
- ^ The Volunteer Yearbook (1923) p. 110-111
- ^ Walsh 2006, p. 123
- ^ Baker 1945, p. 85
- ^ "Vanderbilt Defeats the University of Georgia." Charlotte Sunday Observer 19 Nov. 1922: 2.
- ^ Morgan Blake (November 23, 1922). "Aerial Attack By Vanderbilt Stars Won Game Saturday". The Red and Black (University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia).
- ProQuest 504469872.
- ^ Cummisky, Thomas L. "Picking Champ Grid Teams Is Not Easy Task Since So Many Have Just Claims." San Antonio Evening News 1 Dec. 1922: 18.
- ProQuest 504491164.
- ProQuest 145942485.; "No Outstanding Football Eleven During The Year." New Castle News 27 Dec. 1922: 17.; Farrell, Henry. "Sports Kings That Kept Crown."Middletown Daily Herald 31 Dec. 1922: 6.
- ^ "Jess Neely, Coached Football for 40 Years". The New York Times. 11 April 1983.
- ^ Pope 1955, p. 341
- ^ a b https://digitallibrary.tulane.edu/islandora/object/tulane%3A23027/datastream/PDF/view [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "Clemson's best coaches: Neely, birth of IPTAY". 30 June 2014.
- ^ "1940 Cotton Bowl, CU vs. BC". Archived from the original on 2017-02-17. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
- ^ Froggy Williams (2004). Jess Claiborne Neely. Rice Historical Society.
- ^ "CONTENTdm" (PDF).
- ^ "Froggy Williams". National Football Foundation.
- Washington Times. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Dial". National Football Foundation.
- ^ "Jess Neely's Last Road Win Was One to Remember".
- ^ "From football standout to athletics director, Jess Neely left a legacy at Vanderbilt".
- ^ "The 50 Greatest Sports Figures Tennessee". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
Bibliography
- Baker, Louis Henry (1945). Football:Facts and Figures.
- Pittard, Homer (1961). The First Fifty Years: A History of Middle Tennessee State College.
- Pope, Edwin (1955). Football's Greatest Coaches. Retrieved March 8, 2015 – via
- Russell, Fred (1938). Fifty Years of Vanderbilt Football. Nashville, TN.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Traughber, William L. (2011). Vanderbilt Football: Tales of Commodore Gridiron History. Charleston, SC. ISBN 9781609494230.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - Vanderbilt University (2012). 2012 Vanderbilt Football Fact Book.
- Walsh, Christopher J. (2006). Where Football Is King: A History of the SEC. Taylor Trade. ISBN 9781461734772.