Homer Jordan facts for kids
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Jordan at Clemson in 1981
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| Position: | Quarterback |
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| Personal information | |
| Born: | March 21, 1960 |
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight: | 183 lb (83 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College: | Clemson |
| Undrafted: | 1983 |
| Career history | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Homer Jordan (born March 21, 1960) is a former American football player. He was a talented quarterback who played in college and professionally. Jordan is best known for leading the Clemson Tigers to a national championship in 1981. He also played for teams in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the National Football League (NFL).
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Early Life and High School Football
Homer Jordan grew up in Athens, Georgia. He started playing football early on. At Cedar Shoals High School in Athens, he was a star player. He played both quarterback and safety. Jordan earned "All-State" honors as a quarterback. This meant he was one of the best high school players in the state. He chose to attend Clemson University because he wanted to continue playing quarterback in college.
College Football Career
Jordan played college football at Clemson University from 1979 to 1982. He was known as a "dual-threat" quarterback. This means he was great at both throwing the ball and running with it. In 1980, with Jordan as the starting quarterback, Clemson finished the season with six wins and five losses.
Leading Clemson to a National Championship
The 1981 season was a very special one for Homer Jordan and the Clemson Tigers. The team started the season without being ranked among the top teams. But they kept winning every game! They finished the regular season with an amazing 11–0 record. This made them the number one team in the country.
Clemson then played against the number four ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers in the 1982 Orange Bowl. Clemson won the game 22–15, becoming the National Champions! Homer Jordan was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Orange Bowl. He completed 11 passes and threw for a touchdown in that big game. That year, Jordan was also chosen for the All-ACC team. He led the ACC in how well he passed the ball.
Final College Seasons
In 1982, Jordan had a knee injury and needed surgery. Even with this challenge, he helped Clemson have another strong season. They finished with nine wins, one loss, and one tie. They also shared the ACC title and were ranked number eight nationally. His last college game was a 21–17 win over Wake Forest in the 1982 Mirage Bowl.
Homer Jordan finished his college career with impressive stats. He completed 250 passes for 3,643 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also ran for 926 yards and 11 touchdowns during his three seasons.
Professional Football Career
After college, Homer Jordan was drafted by the Washington Federals of the USFL in 1983. He then played two seasons as a quarterback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He signed a two-year contract with them in March 1983.
In 1984, Jordan completed 80 passes for 7 touchdowns. In 1985, he completed 118 passes, showing good accuracy. During his time in the CFL, he also rushed for 300 yards and scored four touchdowns. Later, in 1987, Jordan was a backup quarterback for the Cleveland Browns in the National Football League (NFL). He did not get to throw a pass in an NFL game.
Coaching and Family Life
After his playing career, Homer Jordan returned to his hometown of Athens, Georgia. He became an assistant football coach at his old high school, Cedar Shoals High School. He coached there for 10 seasons, starting in 2002. His son, Darius Jordan, also played quarterback at Cedar Shoals High School in 2013 and 2014. Homer Jordan married his high school sweetheart, Deborah Arnold, and they still live in Athens.
Honors and Recognition
Homer Jordan has received several honors for his football achievements:
- In 1993, he was inducted into the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame. This honor recognizes great athletes from Clemson University.
- In 2000, he was inducted into the Athens Athletic Hall of Fame.
- On August 31, 2013, Jordan was an Honorary Captain for the Clemson Tigers. He joined the team for their game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Memorial Stadium.
