The IPTAY Chapter Of Clemson

By Cherie Ilg Haas
Production Assistant

At a typical Clemson University football game, an onlooker can easily find football players, cheerleaders, hot dogs, and motorhomes.

Motorhomes? That's right. A dedicated group of Clemson Tigers fans come together at every CU home game in Clemson, South Carolina, not just in the stands and around the field, but tailgating outside their coaches before and after the games. After gathering for several years on the CU campus for sports events, this group of FMCA members took their socializing to the next level. "We had all these motor coaches back on the field, and we decided we wanted to do things as a chapter," said Charles Glover, F208335, president.

That explains the "Chapter of Clemson" part, but what about the rest of the chapter's name? IPTAY is the athletic booster club for Clemson University. When the club was established in 1934, the letters originally stood for "I Pay Ten A Year."

Just like the IPTAY booster club today, one of the main goals of the IPTAY Chapter of Clemson is to raise money for CU's student athletes. Members of the IPTAY chapter also contribute to the CU athletes' scholarship funds through the IPTAY booster club, and they are also raising money by selling commemorative bricks. The bricks cost $250 a year, for five years, and will have the names "FMCA" and "IPTAY Chapter" engraved on them. They will be placed around the campus, probably close to the football and baseball stadiums, Charles said. All of the money from the bricks will go toward renovations for CU sports facilities. Chapter members also collect donations for the scholarship fund at their rallies and dinners.

To balance the work that goes into helping the college students, chapter members enjoy many social activities, too. "We camp together, party together, and have a big time," Charles said. At the games, they put banners on their coaches to support the team. If anybody knows team spirit, it's this group. When asked if the IPTAY chapter celebrated its fifth anniversary in October 2001, Charles replied, "We celebrate every weekend they play."

Approximately 200 RVs can be found on campus for the football games, all parked 300 to 400 yards away from the stadium, Charles said. It's typical for IPTAY chapter members to arrive at CU on Thursday and stay until Sunday afternoon. Most of the members have season tickets, and the chapter tries to go to at least one away game as a group. Such official gatherings have included bowl games, such as when the Clemson Tigers made it to the Gator Bowl and the Peach Bowl. If anyone has "Tiger Pride," it's the IPTAY chapter. "It's a family deal for us," Charles said of the games.

But if football isn't your favorite sport, that's okay, too, because this chapter is supportive of all of CU's athletic teams. They also get together as a chapter to support CU baseball, volleyball, soccer, and anything else associated with CU's college athletics. Everything revolves around Clemson University, Charles said. The chapter gathers every month for these events, and even holds a special prime rib dinner banquet for the coaches' wives once every season while the coaches are at away games. Charles said this is because the wives play an important role too that should be honored. Members also hold two official meetings a year to discuss business.

Aside from enjoying and supporting the athletic department, the IPTAY chapter gets involved in other ways on campus as well. For example, one problem at every major event is litter. One of the chapter's goals is to keep the campus clean, Charles said. As patrons come into the game, chapter members pass out stickers reminding them to leave the campus as clean as it was when they arrived.

Students involved in an organization called Campus Crusade for Christ also get involved with the IPTAY chapter. On Sunday mornings, RVers and students alike come together to worship at an open church service.

Chapter dues are $10 per year. Although there isn't an official chapter newsletter, members receive several brief chapter updates, and a schedule of events at the beginning of the year.

For more information about the IPTAY chapter, call FMCA's Chapter Services Department at (800) 543-3622.