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.

Bowden Wyatt
Biographical details
Born(1917-10-04)October 4, 1917
Kingston, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedJanuary 21, 1969(1969-01-21) (aged 51)
Sweetwater, Tennessee, U.S.
Playing career
1936–1938Tennessee
1943Del Monte Pre-Flight
Position(s)End
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1939–1941Mississippi State (assistant)
1946Mississippi State (assistant)
1947–1952Wyoming
1953–1954Arkansas
1955–1962Tennessee
1964–1965Oklahoma State (assistant)
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1962–1963Tennessee
Head coaching record
Overall99–56–5
Bowls2–2
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)

In Wyoming, Wyatt turned around a team that had struggled under previous coach Bunny Oakes and had operated intermittently in the previous years because of World War II. His turnaround plan involved a round-the-clock training regimen, one that defensive back Marv Levy would later note did not allow players adequate time to complete their academic studies (leading Levy to transfer to Coe College). Wyatt's plan would secure Wyoming a perfect season and a win in the 1951 Gator Bowl.[1]

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.[2]

Head coaching record
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Wyoming Cowboys (Mountain States / Skyline Six / Skyline Conference) (1947–1952)
1947 Wyoming 4–52–46th
1948 Wyoming 4–50–56th
1949 Wyoming 9–15–01st
1950 Wyoming 10–05–01stW Gator1412
1951 Wyoming 7–2–15–1–12nd
1952 Wyoming 5–44–34th
Wyoming: 39–17–121–13–1
Arkansas Razorbacks (Southwest Conference) (1953–1954)
1953 Arkansas 3–72–45th
1954 Arkansas 8–35–11stL Cotton810
Arkansas: 11–107–5
Tennessee Volunteers (Southeastern Conference) (1955–1962)
1955 Tennessee 6–3–13–2–15th
1956 Tennessee 10–16–01stL Sugar22
1957 Tennessee 8–34–35thW Gator1613
1958 Tennessee 4–64–35th
1959 Tennessee 5–4–13–4–18th
1960 Tennessee 6–2–23–2–25th19
1961 Tennessee 6–44–3T–4th
1962 Tennessee 4–62–610th
Tennessee: 49–29–429–23–4
Total:99–56–5
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References
  1. Tucker, Cody (April 15, 2021). "Some of the University of Wyoming's Best Have Called Buffalo Home". 7220 Sports. Townsquare Media. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  2. "Bowden Wyatt Dies in Sweetwater Hospital". The Leaf-Chronicle. Clarksville, Tennessee. January 21, 1969. p. 6. Retrieved December 13, 2020 – via Newspapers.com open access.
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