Clemson Football: The 10 greatest ‘what-ifs’ in Tiger History

CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 29: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers greets fans during the Tiger Walk prior to the game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Memorial Stadium on August 29, 2019 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images) /

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CLEMSON, SC – AUGUST 31: A general view of Howard’s Rock prior to the game between the Clemson Tigers and Georgia Bulldogs at Memorial Stadium on August 31, 2013 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Tyler Smith/Getty Images) /

8. Frank Howard had thrown away The Rock

Frank Howard was given The Rock in the early 1960s as a gift from Samuel C. Jones, who found the rock while in Death Valley, California.

It served as a doorstop until 1966 when the legendary coach was cleaning out his office. He told Clemson booster Gene Willimon to get rid of it

"“Take this rock and throw it over the fence or out in the ditch. Do something with it, but get it out of my office,” Howard said."

Willimon placed the rock on a pedestal in the east end zone and the rest, as they say, is history. But what if Willimon had listened to Howard? What if he had just taken the rock and thrown it into a ditch?

The history, the tradition and the magic of Howard’s Rock would’ve never been born.

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