Bowden Wyatt
Clarence Bowden Wyatt (October 4, 1917 – January 21, 1969) was an American football player and coach. Wyatt played college football at the University of Tennessee and was later the head football coach at three schools, the University of Wyoming (1947–1952), the University of Arkansas (1953–1954), and his alma mater, Tennessee (1955–1962). He compiled a 99–56–5 record in 16 seasons as a head coach.
 | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 4, 1917 Kingston, Tennessee |
| Died | January 21, 1969 (aged 51) Sweetwater, Tennessee |
| Playing career | |
| 1936–1938 | Tennessee |
| Position(s) | End |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1939–1941 | Mississippi State (assistant) |
| 1946 | Mississippi State (assistant) |
| 1947–1952 | Wyoming |
| 1953–1954 | Arkansas |
| 1955–1962 | Tennessee |
| 1964–1965 | Oklahoma State (assistant) |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1962–1963 | Tennessee |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 99–56–5 |
| Bowls | 2–2 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 2 Skyline Six / Skyline (1949–1950) 1 SWC (1954) 1 SEC (1956) | |
| Awards | |
| AFCA Coach of the Year (1956) SEC Coach of the Year (1956) | |
| College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 1972 (player), 1997 (coach) (profile) | |
Wyatt's most notable victory at Tennessee came on November 7, 1959, when his Tennessee Volunteers football Volunteers upset top-ranked LSU, 14–13, by stopping a two-point conversion attempt by eventual Heisman Trophy winner Billy Cannon late in the game. The victory ended the Tigers' 18-game winning streak.
Wyatt was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1972 as a player and again in 1997 as a coach.
Personal life and death
Wyatt married Mary Alson Miller around 1940. They had one daughter named Mary Gail "Missy", born in 1942.
Wyatt died of viral pneumonia on January 21, 1969 at hospital in Sweetwater, Tennessee.[1]
Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches# | AP° | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming Cowboys (Mountain States / Skyline Six / Skyline Conference) (1947–1952) | |||||||||
| 1947 | Wyoming | 4–5 | 2–4 | 6th | |||||
| 1948 | Wyoming | 4–5 | 0–5 | 6th | |||||
| 1949 | Wyoming | 9–1 | 5–0 | 1st | |||||
| 1950 | Wyoming | 10–0 | 5–0 | 1st | W Gator | 14 | 12 | ||
| 1951 | Wyoming | 7–2–1 | 5–1–1 | 2nd | |||||
| 1952 | Wyoming | 5–4 | 4–3 | 4th | |||||
| Wyoming: | 39–17–1 | 21–13–1 | |||||||
| Arkansas Razorbacks (Southwest Conference) (1953–1954) | |||||||||
| 1953 | Arkansas | 3–7 | 2–4 | 5th | |||||
| 1954 | Arkansas | 8–3 | 5–1 | 1st | L Cotton | 8 | 10 | ||
| Arkansas: | 11–10 | 7–5 | |||||||
| Tennessee Volunteers (Southeastern Conference) (1955–1962) | |||||||||
| 1955 | Tennessee | 6–3–1 | 3–2–1 | 5th | |||||
| 1956 | Tennessee | 10–1 | 6–0 | 1st | L Sugar | 2 | 2 | ||
| 1957 | Tennessee | 8–3 | 4–3 | 5th | W Gator | 16 | 13 | ||
| 1958 | Tennessee | 4–6 | 4–3 | 5th | |||||
| 1959 | Tennessee | 5–4–1 | 3–4–1 | 8th | |||||
| 1960 | Tennessee | 6–2–2 | 3–2–2 | 5th | 19 | ||||
| 1961 | Tennessee | 6–4 | 4–3 | T–4th | |||||
| 1962 | Tennessee | 4–6 | 2–6 | 10th | |||||
| Tennessee: | 49–29–4 | 29–23–4 | |||||||
| Total: | 99–56–5 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
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References
- "Bowden Wyatt Dies in Sweetwater Hospital". The Leaf-Chronicle. Clarksville, Tennessee. January 21, 1969. p. 6. Retrieved December 13, 2020 – via Newspapers.com
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