Homer Jordan was the first African-American to lead an FBS school from the south to the Associated Press National Championship. He was the second African American quarterback overall to do it, as Sandy Stephens of the University of Minnesota (1960) did it 21 years earlier. However, that Minnesota team lost two games, so Jordan is the first African American quarterback to take a team to an undefeated national championship.
Jordan led Clemson to a perfect 12-0 season and that title in 1981. The Tigers won the title with a 22-15 victory over Nebraska, a game that Jordan was named the offensive MVP. He left it on the field that night, as he required many IV transfusions after the game due to dehydration.
Jordan was a first-team All-ACC selection that year when he ranked in the top 15 in the nation in passing efficiency. He was Clemson’s first African American quarterback to make an all-conference team, and helped the Tigers to a 9-1-1 record as a senior in 1982.
The native of Athens, Georgia played professionally in the NFL and Canada after his Clemson playing days were over, and coached high school football in Georgia for a decade.
