Jess Neely

Jess Neely
Sport(s) Football, baseball
Biographical details
Born (1898-01-04)January 4, 1898
Smyrna, Tennessee
Died April 9, 1983(1983-04-09) (aged 85)
Weslaco, Texas
Playing career
Football
1917 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
Baseball
1 SIAA (as player, 1921)
Football
2 SoCon (as player, 1921, 1922)
4 SWC (1946, 1949, 1953, 1957)
Awards
Amos Alonzo Stagg Award (1967)
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1971 (profile)

Jess Claiborne Neely (January 4, 1898 – April 9, 1983) was an American football player and 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. 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. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1971.

Early years

Neely was born on January 4, 1898 in Smyrna, Tennessee to William Daniel Neely, Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Gooch.[1] His father died of sunstroke in 1900. 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.[2]

That team included Preston Vaughn Overall and Rupert Smith, who rejoined Neely on the 1921 Vanderbilt team.[3]

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 university rivals",[4] Vanderbilt shut out Tennessee 20–0. All three Commodore touchdowns came from passes by Neely to Gink Hendrick. Neely's long first-quarter pass hit Hendrick, who ran 25 yards for the touchdown. In the second quarter Hendrick ran to the 4-yard line on a pass from Neely, and the first half ended with Vanderbilt in possession at the Tennessee one-foot line.[5] Hendrick caught another 30-yard touchdown pass from Neely[5] in the fourth quarter.[6] Two weeks later the Commodores lost 56–6 to one of Auburn's greatest teams,[7] Vanderbilt's worst defeat since its 83–0 loss to Georgia Tech in 1917. The Commodores had only one first down, and never moved the ball beyond their 40-yard line. Neely was one of Vanderbilt's few stars, blocking well and passing Vanderbilt's only touchdown to Hendrick in the end zone.[8] In a "thriller from the start,"[7] the Alabama Crimson Tide defeated Vanderbilt for the first time on November 6, 1920 by a score of 14–7. A forward pass from Doc Kuhn to Neely gave the Commodores their sole touchdown.[9] The following week, "expecting one of the greatest football games of the year",[10] Vanderbilt had a difficult practice schedule before its game with the Virginia Cavaliers; Virginia and Vanderbilt tied, 7–7. Early in the game, Vanderbilt mounted a swift offense, with Neely throwing Hendrick a touchdown pass. That season, Vanderbilt opponents gained less on punt returns than they did against any other team in the South because of coverage by Percy Conyers and Neely.[9]

1921

Football

In the second week of the 1921 season the Commodores shut out the Mercer Baptists, 42–0. Neely helped score one of four second-quarter touchdowns with a 55-yard pass to end Tot McCullough, and had a 25-yard punt return in the second half.[11] In the next game, a 21–14 victory over the Kentucky Wildcats, the Wildcats scored against the Commodores for the first time in their history. Kentucky's second possession began with Bob Lavin fumbling the return, which was recovered by Neely on the 10-yard line.[7] On third down, after little gain on first and second, Frank Godchaux ran an end-around touchdown. Rupe Smith scored the other two touchdowns, his first on a drive begun with a 22-yard pass from Neely to captain Pink Wade (father of later Vanderbilt quarterback Bill Wade). One Kentucky touchdown followed a blocked Neely punt. The Wildcats threatened to score late and tie the game, but they turned the ball over on downs at the two-yard line; Neely ran 34 yards, to the 36-yard line.[12]

Football player in uniform, hands on knees
Neely around 1921

In the season's sixth week, Vanderbilt defeated Alabama 14–0 at Birmingham in line with predictions.[13] Neely played a role in both touchdowns. Early in the first quarter, Vanderbilt had the ball at midfield after an Alabama punt.[14] Two line bucks preceded Neely's connection with Tot McCullough for a 30-yard pass play. Neely ran for about 17 yards more through left tackle,[14] putting the ball on the nine-yard line.[15] After a run by Frank Godchaux, Lynn Bomar bucked over the line for the touchdown[14] and Rupe Smith made the field goal. The second scoring drive began with a pass interception by Paul Stumb. In the second half, quarterback Doc Kuhn invigorated the Commodores[16] after he sat out the first half due to injuries; Neely ran for 21 yards around the right end, and Kuhn passed 25 yards to Tot McCullough.[16] Rupe Smith (or Kuhn) then ran the remaining few yards for the touchdown.

For its seventh game, Vanderbilt faced the defending Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) champion Georgia Bulldogs at home. The game, the highlight of Vanderbilt's season, was described by The New York Times as an "important clash"[17] and would determine the SIAA champion. Georgia scored during the first half; early in the fourth quarter[18] Neely intercepted a pass, weaving for 25 yards to Georgia's 40-yard line before he was tackled by Jim Reynolds.[19] Two long pass attempts failed, and Thomas Ryan lined up to punt. Rupert Smith sneaked behind Ryan; he rushed to recover the 25-yard onside kick, jumping up to get the ball off a bounce from the Bulldogs[20] and racing for a 15-yard touchdown.[21] The game ended in a tie, and the teams shared the SIAA championship. Vanderbilt finished its season against Sewanee in "the muddiest game in its history";[7] the Commodores were reportedly knee-deep in mud and water,[22] with the players unrecognizable.[23] The game was scoreless until the fourth quarter, when Sewanee fumbled the snap on a punt; the punter was smothered by the Commodores' Neely, Godchaux and Wade for a safety. Hek Wakefield later scored a touchdown for a 9–0 Vanderbilt win.[24]

Baseball

Neely was a member of the 1921 SIAA champion Vanderbilt baseball team.[25] According to The Commodore, the school yearbook, in a 1921 game against Southwestern Presbyterian University the team scored a world record 13 runs in one inning with two out. The Tennessean reported:

Neely singled as did Kuhn; Neil fanned but Thomas got his third straight hit and both tallied. Big Tot got hit by a pitched ball and Smith was safe on a fielder's choice with one out. Woodruf flied out to right. Tyner slammed one to center which Jetty juggled and everybody advanced a pair of sacks. Ryan was safe on another error and two runs came over. Neely beat out his second hit of the inning and Kuhn 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?[25]

1922

Two football players, shaking hands
Michigan captain Paul Goebel (left) and Neely

Neely was captain of the undefeated 1922 team. In the second week of play Vanderbilt shut out Henderson-Brown 33–0, with Neely scoring a third-quarter touchdown.[26] Despite an injured left arm, he started in the scoreless tie with Michigan at the dedication at Dudley Field. Vanderbilt was forced to punt from its seven-yard line early in the first quarter.[27] The Wolverines completed their first pass (from Doug Roby to Paul Goebel), setting in motion a change in field position which placed them inside the five-yard line.[28] The Commodore punt was partially blocked, giving Michigan the ball at Vanderbilt's 25-yard line. Two end runs, two line bucks and a forward pass brought them to first and goal after six minutes.[28] The Commodore defense stiffened, repelling four touchdown tries; three runs up the middle were stopped before the goal line. Franklin Cappon gained a yard, Harry Kipke lost one and Cappon drove to within a foot of the goal; Neely was heard shouting, "Stop 'em!"[7] On fourth down, Michigan faked a field goal and ran with Harry Kipke off tackle to the right. Kipke was tackled inches from the end zone.[29][30] A Vanderbilt player pushed himself off the goal post to generate a greater backwards push as the crowd cheered.[31] Vanderbilt's only noteworthy offensive play occurred soon afterwards. The Commodores punted out of the shadow of their goalpost after a goal line stand; Neely tackled Kipke[7] (or Irwin Uteritz)[28] hard on the punt return, causing a fumble which he recovered.[7] He then connected on a 20–plus-yard pass to Tot McCullough. This gave Vanderbilt the ball at Michigan's 20-yard line, but subsequent Vanderbilt plays saw runs stopped with little gain and a pass intercepted by Uteritz.[29] The tie was reportedly preserved when Neely recovered a fumble near the Commodore goal.[32] He and Lynn Bomar were acknowledged as Vanderbilt's players of the game,[33] and Neely wept tears of joy by the game's end.[7] Bomar spent much of his day tackling Michigan runners,[34] and Neely was a battered, bruised captain playing hard despite his injuries.[34][35] Franklin Cappon said after the game, "What sort of a crazy man is this Neely? He played like a fiend and when he tackled me I thought I was broken in two. When I got up he was crying and cussed me out. I was the one who should have been crying".[35]

Neely on the field, hands on hips
Neely in 1922

At the Texas State Fair game in Dallas against the Texas Longhorns, an early surge saw Texas at Vanderbilt's 18-yard line. McGugin sent in Neely, his injured captain. It worked to some extent, with Texas losing yards and ending up at the 17-yard line;[36] Franklin Stacy then kicked a field goal. After a Vanderbilt touchdown, the offenses exchanged punts before Neely ran back a 30-yard punt return. The 60-yard drive which followed was capped by a 46-yard touchdown run by Gil Reese. In the fourth quarter, Neely hit Bomar with a 23-yard pass and Bomar ran for 20 yards more, close to the goal.[37][38] Reese ran it in on the next play and the field goal was good, giving the Commodores a 20–10 victory.

Vanderbilt defeated the Tennessee Volunteers 14–6, with both touchdowns on passes from Neely. The first was in the second quarter, on a 31-yard pass to Doc Kuhn; in the fourth quarter, a five-yard pass to Lynn Bomar also scored a touchdown.[39][40] Neely-to-Bomar is considered one of the best pass-receiver combinations in Vanderbilt history.[41][42] In the game against the Georgia Bulldogs, Neely connected with Bomar on a long pass thrown from a few yards behind the line of scrimmage at the 45-yard line. Bomar caught it around the seven-yard line before being tackled by Georgia halfback Loren Chester (Teany) Randall at about the three-yard line. The next series of downs produced a touchdown by Gil Reese on his second run at the left tackle. Although Neely was sidelined by injury in the second quarter, Vanderbilt won 12–0.[43][44] At the end of the season he was on Walter Camp's list of players worthy of mention, and Vanderbilt compiled an 8–0–1 record. The season was among the best in school and Southern football history;[45][46] according to a number of publications, Vanderbilt's season was the best in the South.[47][48]

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.[49] 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,[50] where he had a 20–17–2 record from 1924 to 1927. Neely was an assistant football coach at Alabama under former Vanderbilt assistant Wallace Wade from 1928 to 1930, and compiled a 28–15–2 record as the school's head baseball coach from 1929 to 1930. From 1931 to 1939 he coached 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.

Jess Neely and Frank Howard

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). At Rice, Neely 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.[51] Arguably the biggest bowl victory was the 1940 Cotton Bowl upset of Frank Leahy's Boston College Eagles. Banks McFadden led the Tigers.[52]

Rice

Neely was hired by Rice in 1940 and led the team to a six-win turnaround.[53] Neely was 1949 Southwest Conference coach of the year. His last road win was a 20–17 upset over the Texas Longhorns in 1965.[54]

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.”[55]

In 1999, he was ranked 39th on Sports Illustrated's list of the 50 greatest Tennessee sports figures of the 20th century.[56]

Head-coaching record

Football

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Southwestern Lynx () (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 17
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
#Rankings from final Coaches Poll.
°Rankings from final AP Poll.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Virginia Gooch Watson (1979). "Goochland". Rutherford County Historical Society (12): 51.
  2. ↑ Homer Pittard. The First Fifty Years: A History of Middle Tennessee State College. p. 73.
  3. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/1983/04/11/obituaries/jess-neely-coached-football-for-40-years.html
  4. ↑ "Football Games on Many Fields". The State. October 9, 1920.
  5. 1 2 "Vanderbilt Wins From Tennessee". Augusta Chronicle. October 10, 1920.
  6. ↑ "Vanderbilt Is Victor". The Lexington Herald. October 10, 1920.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Russell, Fred, and Maxwell Edward Benson. Fifty Years of Vanderbilt Football. Nashville, TN, 1938, p. 38-41, 67
  8. ↑ Zipp Newman (October 24, 1920). "Donahue's Greatest Team Skirts Vandy Ends at Will". The Columbus Daily Enquirer.
  9. 1 2 "Crippled Vanderbilt Team Finished With Fine Rally". Atlanta Constitution. November 29, 1920. p. 8. Retrieved March 20, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Vandy Works Hard For Virginia U". Times-Picayune. November 11, 1920.
  11. ↑ "Vandy's Eleven Tears Loose In Second Quarter". The Macon Daily Telegraph. October 9, 1921.
  12. ↑ Joe T. Lovett (October 16, 1921). "Pribble, Lavin First To Cross On Commodores". Lexington Herald.
  13. ↑ C.E. Baker (November 1, 1921). "Vanderbilt To Play Bama Eleven Saturday". Macon Telegraph.
  14. 1 2 3 "Vandy Trims U of Alabama". Atlanta Constitution. November 6, 1921. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Alabama - 1921 Football Recap" (PDF).
  16. 1 2 "Vanderbilt Winner Over Alabama Team". Montgomery Advertiser. November 6, 1921.
  17. ↑ "Many Good Games On Schedule Today". New York Times. November 12, 1921.
  18. ↑ "Vanderbilt Ties With Bulldogs". The State (Columbia, SC). November 13, 1921.
  19. ↑ "Commodores Tie In Last Period". The Palm Beach Post. November 13, 1921.
  20. ↑ "Game With Vandy Is Tied As Novel Play Is Pulled Successful". The Red And Black. November 18, 1921.
  21. ↑ Fuzzy Woodruff (November 13, 1921). "Onside Kick In Final Quarter Ties Struggle For Commodores". Atlanta Constitution. p. 3. Retrieved March 2, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ "Vanderbilt Wins From Sewanee In Final Quarter, 9-0". Augusta Chronicle. November 25, 1921.
  23. ↑ "Vanderbilt 9, Sewanee 0.". Morning Oregonian. November 25, 1921.
  24. ↑ "Final Period Rally Wins for Old Vandy". Charlotte Observer. November 25, 1921.
  25. 1 2 Bill Traughber. "The Historic 1921 VU Baseball Team".
  26. ↑ "Vandy Defeats Arkansas Team." The Macon Daily Telegraph 8 Oct. 1922: 8.
  27. ↑ e.g. see "No Change Is Made In Lineup of Team." Ironwood Daily Globe 20 Oct. 1922: 10.
  28. 1 2 3 Sam S. Greene (October 15, 1922). "Michigan and Vanderbilt play to Scoreless Tie In Commodores' Stadium: Southerns Spring Surprise on Rivals". Detroit Free Press.
  29. 1 2 "Powerful Wolverine Eleven Held To Scoreless Tie By Commodores." Augusta Chronicle 1922 Oct. 15
  30. ↑ "Vanderbilt Christens Stadium By Tying Michigan, 0 to 0". The New York Times. October 15, 1922.
  31. ↑ Traughber, William L. Vanderbilt Football: Tales of Commodore Gridiron History. Charleston, SC: History, 2011, p.33 and p. 77-80
  32. ↑ 2012 Vanderbilt Football Fact Book, p. 119
  33. ↑ Bill Traughber. "The history of Vanderbilt Athletics part 1".
  34. 1 2 "Vanderbilt Opens Its News Stadium with Tie." Charlotte Sunday Observer 15 Oct. 1922: 2.
  35. 1 2 "Kipke Recalls Vandy Game". Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, South Carolina). October 5, 1933.
  36. ↑ "Vanderbilt Downs Texas Longhorns, Long Grid Rivals." Dallas Morning News 22 Oct. 1922
  37. ↑ "Commodores Win By Superior Play When Near Longhorns' Goal." Wichita Daily TImes [Wichita Falls, Texas] 22 Oct. 1922: 9.
  38. ↑ "Vandy Whips Texas Team". The Atlanta Constitution. October 22, 1922. p. 2. Retrieved March 20, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ↑ "Vanderbilt Wins From Volunteers." The State [Columbia, SC] 5 Nov. 1922: 11.
  40. ↑ The Volunteer Yearbook (1923) p. 110-111
  41. ↑ Christopher J. Walsh. Where Football Is King: A History of the SEC.
  42. ↑ Louis Henry Baker. Football:Facts and Figures. p. 85.
  43. ↑ "Vanderbilt Defeats the University of Georgia." Charlotte Sunday Observer 19 Nov. 1922: 2.
  44. ↑ Morgan Blake (November 23, 1922). "Aerial Attack By Vanderbilt Stars Won Game Saturday". The Red and Black (University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia).
  45. ↑ Grantland Rice (November 30, 1922). "The Sportlight: Concluding Dope". Boston Daily Globe.
  46. ↑ 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.
  47. ↑ Grantland Rice (November 24, 1922). "The Sportlight: Football Alphabet". The Boston Daily Globe.
  48. ↑ e.g. "Vanderbilt Team Only Undefeated Eleven In South". The Washington Post. December 2, 1922.; "Few Titles Changed Hands During 1922". The Washington Post. December 31, 1922.; "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.
  49. ↑ "Jess Neely, Coached Football for 40 Years".
  50. ↑ Edwin Pope (1955). Football's Greatest Coaches. p. 341. Retrieved March 8, 2015 – via archive.org.
  51. ↑ "Clemson's best coaches: Neely, birth of IPTAY". 30 June 2014.
  52. ↑ "1940 Cotton Bowl, CU vs. BC".
  53. ↑ http://ricehistoricalsociety.org/images/cornerstones/JessNeely.pdf
  54. ↑ "Jess Neely's Last Road Win Was One to Remember".
  55. ↑ "From football standout to athletics director, Jess Neely left a legacy at Vanderbilt".
  56. ↑ "The 50 Greatest Sports Figures Tennessee". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
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