Walter Merritt Riggs

From ClemsonWiki

Walter Merritt Riggs is notable in Clemson history for several reasons. After a decade as a Mechanical Engineering professor, he was named acting president of Clemson Agricultural College in 1910, being confirmed by the Board of Trustees as the sixth permanent president on March 7, 1911. He served until his untimely death on January 22, 1924 while on a trip to Washington, D.C. to meet with officials of other land grant institutions.

Riggs can also be characterized as the "father of Clemson Football", as he brought the game with him from Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama (now Auburn University). That Auburn and Clemson share the same mascot is no accident. Riggs allowed his players to pick the team mascot and, although he may have influenced their decision, the players chose Tigers because Princeton had just won the national championship. Riggs helped organize and coach the infant Tiger team in 1896. Indeed, when the Tigers traveled to Greenville on Halloween to play Furman in their very first match, only Coach Riggs and backfield player Frank Thompkins had ever seen a football game played.

Riggs took the team to a 2-1 record in the inaugural year. He then stepped aside at the urging of the cadets, who felt that he should concentrate on his scholastic duties rather than coach the team for free.

In 1899, when the Clemson Athletic Association could not afford a coaching salary, Riggs again took over the reins, one of only two Clemson football coaches to return to the position after stepping down. The 1899 squad went 4-2. Riggs' overall record of 6-3 gives him a .667 winning percentage. Riggs Field is named for him.

Preceded by: No One

Clemson University Football Coaches

Succeeded by: W.M. Williams

Preceded by: Patrick Hues Mell

Presidents of Clemson

Succeeded by: Samuel Broadus Earle