Riggs hired John Heisman to coach Clemson.
Heisman stayed only four years at Clemson, where he compiled a record of 19–3–2, an .833 percentage, the best in Clemson football history.
In four seasons, he had two SIAA titles.

In his first season of 1900, he coached the Tigers to their first undefeated season (6–0), and first conference championship, outscoring their opponents 222–10 – the 64–0 win over Davidson on opening day was then the largest score ever made in the South.
The season had various other "firsts", including the school's first defeat of the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide.
The only close game was with the South Atlantic school VPI.

The 1902 team again won the SIAA.
 This was the first season with both Hope Sadler and Carl Sitton at ends.
One writer recalls, "Sitton and Hope Sadler were the finest ends that Clemson ever had perhaps."

The only loss on the year was the first to rival South Carolina since 1896. "
The Carolina fans that week were carrying around a poster with the image of a tiger with a gamecock standing on top of it, holding the tiger's tail as if he was steering the tiger by the tail," Jay McCormick said.
 "Naturally, the Clemson guys didn't take too kindly to that, and on Wednesday and again on Thursday, there were sporadic fistfights involving brass knuckles and other objects and so forth, some of which resulted, according to the newspapers, in blood being spilled and persons having to seek medical assistance.
 After the game on Thursday, the Clemson guys frankly told the Carolina students that if you bring this poster, which is insulting to us, to the big parade on Friday, you're going to be in trouble.
And naturally, of course, the Carolina students brought the poster to the parade.
If you give someone an ultimatum and they're your rival, they're going to do exactly what you told them not to do."

As expected, another brawl broke out before both sides agreed to mutually burn the poster in an effort to defuse tensions.
The immediate aftermath resulted in the stoppage of the rivalry until 1909.

The 1903 team may have been Heisman's best at Clemson.
Following a 73–0 defeat of Georgia Tech in 1903, the Yellow Jackets hired Heisman as their first full-time football coach.
 Fullback Jock Hanvey rushed for 104 yards in the first half.
The account in the Atlanta Constitution read "Hanvey, the Clemson full back, outclassed them all.
Time and time again he was sent through the line for gains of 10, 15 and 20 yards, and his tackles were spectacular."

After the 1903 season, Clemson tied 11–11 in a game billed as the "SIAA Championship Game."
Cumberland rushed out to an early 11–0 lead, but Clemson came back to tie.
On the second half kickoff, Clemson quarterback John Maxwell raced 100 yards for a touchdown.
Clemson missed the try.
Later, Cumberland fumbled a punt and Clemson recovered.
 Cumberland expected a trick play when Fritz Furtick simply ran up the middle and scored.
Riggs hired John Heisman to coach Clemson. Heisman stayed only four years at Clemson, where he compiled a record of 19–3–2, an .833 percentage, the best in Clemson football history. In four seasons, he had two SIAA titles.
In his first season of 1900, he coached the Tigers to their first undefeated season (6–0), and first conference championship, outscoring their opponents 222–10 – the 64–0 win over Davidson on opening day was then the largest score ever made in the South. The season had various other "firsts", including the school's first defeat of the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide. The only close game was with the South Atlantic school VPI.
The 1902 team again won the SIAA.  This was the first season with both Hope Sadler and Carl Sitton at ends. One writer recalls, "Sitton and Hope Sadler were the finest ends that Clemson ever had perhaps."
The only loss on the year was the first to rival South Carolina since 1896. "The Carolina fans that week were carrying around a poster with the image of a tiger with a gamecock standing on top of it, holding the tiger's tail as if he was steering the tiger by the tail," Jay McCormick said.  "Naturally, the Clemson guys didn't take too kindly to that, and on Wednesday and again on Thursday, there were sporadic fistfights involving brass knuckles and other objects and so forth, some of which resulted, according to the newspapers, in blood being spilled and persons having to seek medical assistance.  After the game on Thursday, the Clemson guys frankly told the Carolina students that if you bring this poster, which is insulting to us, to the big parade on Friday, you're going to be in trouble. And naturally, of course, the Carolina students brought the poster to the parade. If you give someone an ultimatum and they're your rival, they're going to do exactly what you told them not to do."
As expected, another brawl broke out before both sides agreed to mutually burn the poster in an effort to defuse tensions. The immediate aftermath resulted in the stoppage of the rivalry until 1909.
The 1903 team may have been Heisman's best at Clemson. Following a 73–0 defeat of Georgia Tech in 1903, the Yellow Jackets hired Heisman as their first full-time football coach.  Fullback Jock Hanvey rushed for 104 yards in the first half. The account in the Atlanta Constitution read "Hanvey, the Clemson full back, outclassed them all. Time and time again he was sent through the line for gains of 10, 15 and 20 yards, and his tackles were spectacular."
After the 1903 season, Clemson tied 11–11 in a game billed as the "SIAA Championship Game." Cumberland rushed out to an early 11–0 lead, but Clemson came back to tie. On the second half kickoff, Clemson quarterback John Maxwell raced 100 yards for a touchdown. Clemson missed the try. Later, Cumberland fumbled a punt and Clemson recovered.  Cumberland expected a trick play when Fritz Furtick simply ran up the middle and scored.
Clemson Tigers football