Palmetto State News

Clemson University football legend Fred Cone passed away on Friday, Dec. 31, at the age of 95.

According to the Clemson Tigers website, on Dec. 16, Cone went to Prisma Health Oconee Memorial Hospital in Seneca for a broken hip. He survived the surgery, but complications kept him at the hospital until his death two weeks later.

"I am sad to hear of the passing of Fred Cone," Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney said, according to the Clemson Tigers website. "He is a true football legend and one of the kindest men I have met. He lived an amazing life, and I know will be missed by many. I am thankful that I was blessed to know him and hear him tell stories of his past Clemson and NFL days. He was truly a special man. May he rest in peace."

During the summer of 1947, Clemson Football Head Coach Frank Howard was filling out a list of potential scholarship recipients, but he needed one more name to put on the list. Howard's sister Hazel lived in Alabama, where Cone is from, and gave him Cone's name. Howard added Cone's name to the list without even meeting him.

Remarkably, Cone had never played football before, and Hazel later confessed that she only told her brother about him because of how athletic he looked while diving into a neighbor's swimming pool.

With 2,183 yards, Cone became the first 2,000-yard rusher in Clemson football history. His number was 31, which was an omen of sorts as he landed 31 touchdowns in his 31 career games. He is one of only two players in university football history to start on two undefeated teams, the other being fellow running back Ray Mathews.

Cone would later go on to play for the Green Bay Packers from 1951 to 1957 and then for the Dallas Cowboys in 1960. In 1955, he led the NFL in made field goals in 1955, becoming the first former Clemson player to lead in any NFL statistical category. After 94 career games, his final stats include 1,156 rushing yards, 852 receiving yards, 2,008 yards from scrimmage, 59 field goals kicked and 221 extra points.

"Cone was a charter member of the Clemson Hall of Fame in 1973, was named to the state of South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in 1973, was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1974, was named to  the Clemson 100-Year Anniversary team in 1996 and was inducted into the Clemson Ring of Honor in 1997," according to the Clemson Tigers website.

Cone is survived by his wife of 67 years, Judy, four children, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.