A Legend Has Fallen:John Poulos, Tigers Bowl Pioneer, Passes at 99…Read more

CLEMSON, S.C. — John Poulos, a Clemson football pioneer and the first Tiger to catch a touchdown pass in a bowl game, passed away Wednesday morning at a hospital in Gaffney, S.C. He was 99 years old, just eight months short of turning 100.
Born on Oct. 13, 1926, Poulos was believed to be the oldest living former Clemson football player. A Spartanburg native, he lettered as an end in 1944, 1947, 1948, and 1949, appearing in 33 games with 20 starts. After playing as a true freshman in 1944, he served in the U.S. military in the South Pacific from 1945–46 before returning to the Tigers.
Poulos became a dependable receiver under legendary coach Frank Howard. He totaled 17 career receptions for 384 yards — averaging an impressive 22.6 yards per catch — and scored five touchdowns. In 1947, he led Clemson in receptions (6), receiving yards (169), and yards per catch (28.2).
He played a key role on Clemson’s undefeated 1948 team that captured the Gator Bowl and finished No. 10 in the Associated Press Poll. That season, he started all 11 games and recorded seven catches for 166 yards and four touchdowns.
His most memorable moment came in the 1948 Gator Bowl against Missouri, when he caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from Bobby Gage to give Clemson a 21–14 third-quarter lead in what became a dramatic 24–23 victory. The score marked the first receiving touchdown in a bowl game in Clemson football history.
Poulos also started nine games in 1949. Off the field, he earned a degree in architectural engineering in 1950 and spent more than 35 years working for the DuPont Corporation.
Poulos leaves behind a lasting legacy as one of the early figures who helped shape Clemson football history.