Mr. B. — Setting Records

Spring 2006 -- Vol. 60, No. 2

He may not be as well-known as some of the other greats of Clemson University, but he was one of the pillars of the school. His name was Bob Bradley, but most folks knew him affectionately as Mr. B.

Mr. B. served Clemson as sports information director from 1955 until 1989 and as historian, consultant and friend until his death in 2000. He helped build Clemson into a national collegiate athletic power using his typewriter, pen and down-home wit to publicize the Tigers’ athletic accomplishments.

Bradley, a native of Randleman, N.C., entered Clemson as a freshman in 1941. During WWII, he served a four-year stint in the Air Force, then returned to Clemson and served as editor of The Tiger student newspaper in 1948. He graduated in 1951 and became a sportswriter for The Greenville News before returning to Clemson in 1953 as secretary of the Alumni Association.   

In 1955, Frank Howard, athletic director and head football coach, hired Bradley as Clemson’s sports information director. His role as SID encompassed many duties — statistics keeper for each team, news release writer, brochure editor and general goodwill ambassador. He was outstanding at all these duties, but winning friends for Clemson was probably his favorite part of the job.

Bradley’s record keeping was legendary. Thanks to him, Clemson has one of the best athletic archives in the nation. Clemson’s statisticians, scorekeepers and related personnel are considered some of the best in the business. Many are still working at Clemson today.  
Mr. B. became an encyclopedia of Clemson athletics. He knew everything about Clemson, who was there, what they did and how it happened. He could tell you the score of a game that was played many years ago. His memory was also full of tales from his close relationship with Coach Howard. He not only loved telling Howard stories, he also enjoyed being there when they were happening. He authored or co-authored three books during his Clemson career: Death Valley Days, Howard: The Clemson Legend and Clemson: Where the Tigers Play. 

Bradley’s hospitality was also legendary. As many sportswriters testified over the years, he treated them equally, whether they were from a local paper or a national publication or television network. He felt they all needed the same thing — information about Clemson and its athletes. His press box and pressrooms were second to none in food and hospitality.
Although his role at Clemson was behind-the-scenes, he made sure Tiger athletes, coaches and administrators were well-known. His efforts to publicize Clemson sports helped many Tiger athletes and coaches win numerous awards.

Mr. B. won his own share of awards. He was the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSida) Man of the Year in 1976. He served as CoSida’s president and was selected for its Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985 and the S.C. Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001. The press box in Memorial Stadium was named for him in 1988, and he received the Order of the Palmetto in 2000. He was also inducted into Clemson’s Ring of Honor at Memorial Stadium in 2005. Beside his name is a display of an old typewriter.  

Bradley worked 502 consecutive football games, but he’ll be remembered for much more than that. Few in his business are as highly regarded. He lost a battle with bone cancer at the age of 75 in the fall of 2000. The close proximity of his final resting place on Cemetery Hill to Memorial Stadium is fitting, as he can still keep track of his Tigers, along with his good friend Frank Howard.

Sam Blackman, associate sports information director, was one of Mr. B’s “students” and his co-author in Clemson: Where the Tigers Play.