Al Clemens
| Sport(s) | football, baseball, basketball |
|---|---|
| Biographical details | |
| Born |
November 1, 1898 Scottsboro, Alabama |
| Died |
May 19, 1993 (aged 94) Hollywood, Florida |
| Alma mater | University of Alabama |
| Playing career | |
| 1920–1923 | Alabama |
| Position(s) | End |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1924–1925 | Huntsville Junior College |
| 1926–1928 | Jacksonville State Teachers College |
| 1930–1931 | Tuscaloosa High School |
| c. 1940–1942 | Vicksburg Central High School |
| 1942–1950 | Southwestern (TN) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
| 2x All-Southern (1920, 1923) | |
Albert Hobson "Silent Al" Clemens (November 1, 1898 – May 19, 1993) was a college football, basketball, and baseball player and coach as well as an athletic director.
University of Alabama
He played football, baseball, and basketball at the University of Alabama. He also threw the javelin on the track team.[1]
Football
Clemens was a prominent end for the Alabama Crimson Tide football team. He was captain of the 1921 team under Xen C. Scott and again captain of the 1923 team–the first season under Wallace Wade.[2]
1920
Clemens was chosen All-Southern in 1920 by various selectors.[3]
1921
Clemens was one of only two returning starters in 1921, serving as captain.[4]
1922
Clemens played during one of Alabama's first great victories in 1922, over Penn.[1]
1923
In Wallace Wade's first season as head coach and Clemens' second as captain he was again selected All-Southern.[5]
Coaching career
Huntsville Junior College
Out of university he coached for Huntsville Junior College.[6]
Jacksonville State Teachers College
Before 1930, Clemens was coach and athletic director at the Jacksonville State Teachers College in Jacksonville, Alabama.[7] He boldly scheduled Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association elevens, and only ever lost two games to junior colleges.[8] Across all sports he won 7 junior college titles in 3 seasons.
Tuscaloosa High
Clemens was head coach and athletic director of the Tuscaloosa High School Black Bears.[9] He took the position in 1930.[10] After 1931 the team had been unbeaten for seven years (63 games). Coach Clemens challenged any high school in the nation to a game.[11]
Vicksburg Central High
He was head coach and athletic director at Vicksburg's Carr Central High "where his teams were the terror of the Big Eight Conference."[6] Clemens resigned to take the job at Southwestern.[12] He was replaced by former Mississippi State football player Gene Chadwick.[13]
Rhodes College
He was coach and athletic director for Southwestern Presbyterian from 1942 to 1950.[6][14] 8 of his basketball players organized a strike against him in 1950.[15]
References
- 1 2 "Albert Clemens". Retrieved February 23, 2015.
- ↑ "1921". Retrieved February 23, 2015.
- ↑ "All-Southern Elevens". Spalding Football Guide. 1920. pp. 41, 69; 27, 67.
- ↑ "Crimson of Alabama Faces Ruin With Loss of All Grid Prestige". Atlanta Constitution. September 12, 1921. p. 9. Retrieved March 13, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "All Star Eleven To Be Awarded By Atlanta Paper". Times-Picayune. December 9, 1923.
- 1 2 3 "Clemens Resigns As Athletic Director Effective July 1". The Sou'wester. May 5, 1951. Archived from the original on 2013-07-11.
- ↑ "President C. W. Daugette Expects to Name Clemens' Successor Soon". The Anniston Star. May 30, 1930.
- ↑ "Al Clemens, Coaches 7 Champions In 3 Years". The Tuscaloosa News. June 15, 1930.
- ↑ "Exchange Club Hears Coaches Talk Football". The Tuscaloosa News. September 5, 1930.
- ↑ "The Dynasties... Tuscaloosa Black Bears 1925-1931". Retrieved February 23, 2015.
- ↑ "Unbeaten High School Issues General Defi". The Independent Record. November 22, 1931. p. 8. Retrieved March 13, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Clemens Resigns At Vicksburg For Southwestern Job". The Delta Democrat Times. October 22, 1942. p. 8. Retrieved March 13, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Gene Chadwick Named Coach At Vicksburg High". The Delta Democrat Times. January 31, 1943. p. 7. Retrieved March 13, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "[No title]". The Delta Democrat Times. December 9, 1942. p. 6. Retrieved March 13, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "8 Lynx Cagers Strike Against Coach Al Clemens". The Delta Democrat Times. December 12, 1950. p. 6. Retrieved March 13, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.