Charles McClendon
Encyclopedia
Charles Youmans McClendon (October 17, 1923 – December 6, 2001), also known as Charlie or "Cholly Mac," was an American football
player and coach. He served at the head coach at Louisiana State University
from 1962 to 1979. McClendon was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1986.
. He played college football
under Bear Bryant
at the University of Kentucky
.
in 1952. In 1953, he came to LSU as an assistant under head coach Gaynell Tinsley
. He was retained as an assistant when Paul Dietzel
took over the team in 1955. In 1958, McClendon helped Dietzel coach LSU to its first recognized national championship
. At the end of the 1961 season, Dietzel left LSU and picked McClendon to be his successor. McClendon served as the LSU head coach for the next 18 years (1962–1979), the longest tenure of any football coach in LSU history.
During his first 12 years (1962–1973), McClendon coached the Tigers to nine appearances in the final AP Poll
, with an average rank of 9.22. During this time, LSU's record was 97–32–5 (.724 winning percentage) and LSU went to two Sugar Bowl
s (1965 and 1968), two Cotton Bowl Classics (1963 and 1966), and two Orange Bowl
s (1971 and 1974). LSU won nine games in five consecutive seasons from 1969–1973, but during that stretch won only one Southeastern Conference
championship (1970) and one bowl game in four visits, the 1971 Sun Bowl
versus Iowa State
.
In 1969, LSU was 9–1 and ranked fifth at the end of the regular season, but when the Cotton Bowl Classic denied the Tigers a match-up with top-ranked and undefeated Texas
, LSU refused invitations by the Bluebonnet Bowl
and Liberty Bowl
, instead opting to stay home. Tiger fans suspected the culprit for the Cotton Bowl Classic snub was the decision by Notre Dame
to lift its self-imposed bowl ban and participate in post-season play for the first time since 1925. When the Irish opted to return to the bowl scene, the Cotton Bowl Classic snapped up Notre Dame. The seething antipathy between LSU and Notre Dame boiled over into a two-year series between the schools in 1970 and 1971, in which the home team won each game, Notre Dame in 1970 and LSU in 1971.
Despite all of LSU's success during this period, the Tigers only had a 4–7–1 record against Ole Miss
and a 2–8 record against Bear Bryant
's Alabama Crimson Tide
. 1970 was the only year in which McClendon beat both Ole Miss and Alabama in the same season, and not coincidentally the only year his Tigers finished undefeated in the SEC. McClendon was awarded AFCA Coach of the Year
honors, but the Tigers lost the 1971 Orange Bowl
to Nebraska
.
McClendon's 1973 team lost three games in a row, to Alabama, Tulane
, and Penn State in the Orange Bowl, to end the season after starting 9–0. This was the Tigers' first loss to Tulane since 1948 and signaled the beginning of a decline. During McClendon's last six seasons as LSU's head coach (1974–1979), LSU had no appearances in the final AP Poll and compiled a record of 38–29–2 (.551 winning percentage). The Tigers also lost to Tulane in 1979, but that was followed by a 34–10 victory over Wake Forest
in the Tangerine Bowl
, McClendon's final game at LSU.
In addition to owning the longest tenure in LSU football coaching history (18 seasons), McClendon holds the program records for most wins (137, including two forfeits to LSU), most losses (59), most bowl appearances (13), most bowl wins (7), and most bowl losses (6).
, from 1980 to 1981. He was also the president of the American Football Coaches Association
in 1979 and executive director from 1982 to 1994. The practice facility at LSU was named in his memory on September 9, 2002, nine months after his death on December 6, 2001. His death came just two days before LSU won its first outright SEC title in 15 years.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and coach. He served at the head coach at Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
from 1962 to 1979. McClendon was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 1986.
Early years
McClendon was born on October 17, 1923 in Lewisville, ArkansasLewisville, Arkansas
Lewisville is a city in Lafayette County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,285 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Lafayette County.-Geography:Lewisville is located at ....
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
under Bear Bryant
Bear Bryant
Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships...
at the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
.
Coaching career
McClendon's first coaching job was as an assistant at Vanderbilt UniversityVanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
in 1952. In 1953, he came to LSU as an assistant under head coach Gaynell Tinsley
Gaynell Tinsley
Gaynell Charles "Gus" Tinsley was an American football end and coach. He was a consensus All-American for Louisiana State in 1935 and 1936 and an All-NFL selection while playing for the Chicago Cardinals in 1937 and 1938...
. He was retained as an assistant when Paul Dietzel
Paul Dietzel
Paul Dietzel is a former American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head coach at Louisiana State University , the United States Military Academy , and the University of South Carolina , compiling a career record of 109–95–5...
took over the team in 1955. In 1958, McClendon helped Dietzel coach LSU to its first recognized national championship
NCAA Division I FBS National Football Championship
A college football national championship in the highest level of collegiate play in the United States, currently the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , is a designation awarded annually by various third-party organizations to their selection of the best...
. At the end of the 1961 season, Dietzel left LSU and picked McClendon to be his successor. McClendon served as the LSU head coach for the next 18 years (1962–1979), the longest tenure of any football coach in LSU history.
During his first 12 years (1962–1973), McClendon coached the Tigers to nine appearances in the final AP Poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
, with an average rank of 9.22. During this time, LSU's record was 97–32–5 (.724 winning percentage) and LSU went to two Sugar Bowl
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
s (1965 and 1968), two Cotton Bowl Classics (1963 and 1966), and two Orange Bowl
Orange Bowl
The Orange Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It has been played annually since January 1, 1935 and celebrated its 75th playing on January 1, 2009...
s (1971 and 1974). LSU won nine games in five consecutive seasons from 1969–1973, but during that stretch won only one Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
championship (1970) and one bowl game in four visits, the 1971 Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl
The Sun Bowl is an annual U.S. college football bowl game that is usually played at the end of December in El Paso, Texas. The Sun Bowl, along with the Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl are the second-oldest bowl games in the country, behind the Rose Bowl...
versus Iowa State
Iowa State Cyclones football
The Iowa State Cyclones football team represents Iowa State University in college football. The Cyclones compete in the Big 12 Conference in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. ISU started playing football in 1892, however, it did not become an official sport until 1894...
.
In 1969, LSU was 9–1 and ranked fifth at the end of the regular season, but when the Cotton Bowl Classic denied the Tigers a match-up with top-ranked and undefeated Texas
1969 Texas Longhorns football team
The 1969 Texas Longhorns football team represented the University of Texas at Austin in the 1969 college football season. The Longhorns won all of their games to finish 11-0 and win their second consensus National Championship in school history...
, LSU refused invitations by the Bluebonnet Bowl
Bluebonnet Bowl
The Bluebonnet Bowl was an annual college football bowl game played in Houston, Texas. A civic group was appointed by the Houston Chamber of Commerce Athletics Committee in 1959 to organize the bowl game. It was held at Rice Stadium from 1959 through 1967, and again in 1985 and 1986. The game was...
and Liberty Bowl
Liberty Bowl
The Liberty Bowl is an annual U.S. American college football bowl game played in December of each year from 1959 to 2007 and in January in 2009 and 2010. The Liberty Bowl was sponsored by AXA Financial and was known as the AXA Liberty Bowl from 1997 to 2003...
, instead opting to stay home. Tiger fans suspected the culprit for the Cotton Bowl Classic snub was the decision by Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
to lift its self-imposed bowl ban and participate in post-season play for the first time since 1925. When the Irish opted to return to the bowl scene, the Cotton Bowl Classic snapped up Notre Dame. The seething antipathy between LSU and Notre Dame boiled over into a two-year series between the schools in 1970 and 1971, in which the home team won each game, Notre Dame in 1970 and LSU in 1971.
Despite all of LSU's success during this period, the Tigers only had a 4–7–1 record against Ole Miss
Ole Miss Rebels football
The football history of the University of Mississippi , includes the formation of the first football team in the state and is 26th on the list of college football's all-time winning programs...
and a 2–8 record against Bear Bryant
Bear Bryant
Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships...
's Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama Crimson Tide football
|TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team...
. 1970 was the only year in which McClendon beat both Ole Miss and Alabama in the same season, and not coincidentally the only year his Tigers finished undefeated in the SEC. McClendon was awarded AFCA Coach of the Year
AFCA Coach of the Year
The AFCA Coach of the Year award is given annually to a college football coach by the American Football Coaches Association . The award has had several different sponors over the years, including Eastman Kodak Corporation, and thus also been named the Kodak Coach of the Year Award.-Football Bowl...
honors, but the Tigers lost the 1971 Orange Bowl
1971 Orange Bowl
The 1971 Orange Bowl featured the third-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers, champions of the Big Eight Conference, and the fifth-ranked LSU Tigers, champions of the Southeastern Conference....
to Nebraska
1970 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 1970 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska in the 1970 college football season. The team was coached by Bob Devaney and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln...
.
McClendon's 1973 team lost three games in a row, to Alabama, Tulane
Tulane Green Wave football
The Tulane Green Wave football program is an NCAA Division I FBS football team that represents Tulane University in New Orleans. The team is a member of Conference USA and is led by interim head coach Mark Hutson, who took over on October 18, 2011, when fifth-year head coach Bob Toledo resigned...
, and Penn State in the Orange Bowl, to end the season after starting 9–0. This was the Tigers' first loss to Tulane since 1948 and signaled the beginning of a decline. During McClendon's last six seasons as LSU's head coach (1974–1979), LSU had no appearances in the final AP Poll and compiled a record of 38–29–2 (.551 winning percentage). The Tigers also lost to Tulane in 1979, but that was followed by a 34–10 victory over Wake Forest
Wake Forest Demon Deacons football
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represents Wake Forest University in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Wake Forest plays its home football games at BB&T Field....
in the Tangerine Bowl
Capital One Bowl
The Capital One Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played in Orlando, Florida at the Citrus Bowl, and previously known as the Tangerine Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl...
, McClendon's final game at LSU.
In addition to owning the longest tenure in LSU football coaching history (18 seasons), McClendon holds the program records for most wins (137, including two forfeits to LSU), most losses (59), most bowl appearances (13), most bowl wins (7), and most bowl losses (6).
Later years
After his retirement from LSU, McClendon became the executive director of the Tangerine Bowl, now renamed the Capital One BowlCapital One Bowl
The Capital One Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played in Orlando, Florida at the Citrus Bowl, and previously known as the Tangerine Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl...
, from 1980 to 1981. He was also the president of the American Football Coaches Association
American Football Coaches Association
The American Football Coaches Association is an association of over 11,000 football coaches and staff on all levels. According to its constitution, some of the main goals of the American Football Coaches Association are to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and the profession of...
in 1979 and executive director from 1982 to 1994. The practice facility at LSU was named in his memory on September 9, 2002, nine months after his death on December 6, 2001. His death came just two days before LSU won its first outright SEC title in 15 years.