June 2, 1999
Clemson’s Tiger Pride fund-raising campaign is coming together – brick by brick.
After the 1999 football season, work will begin on Death Valley’s East endzone. The area around Howard’s Rock will be redesigned with wrought iron and brick.
At the beginning of a Clemson home football team, the squad typically exits team buses, enters through a chain-link gate and rubs The Rock while awaiting their nationally acclaimed stadium entrance.
Current plans call for renovations that will include a brick courtyard plaza at the top of The Hill. This area surrounding Howard’s Rock will be for the “recognition and remembrance of our former football athletes.”
Former Tiger quarterback Charlie Bussey (’54-’56) is directing Clemson’s marketing effort to reach football lettermen. For $250 apiece, former players may purchase a personalized brick. Their name and jersey number (or year) will be permanently “etched in the great tradition that is Clemson football.”
The outreach to football lettermen is in keeping with Tiger Pride’s goal to allow all segments of Clemson’s constituencies to take part in the five-year, $30 million capital campaign.
“We want everybody to have the opportunity to share in the ownership of Clemson’s athletic facilities with Tiger Pride,” said Bussey. “This brick campaign is designed for trainers, managers and all those connected with the Tiger football team.”
The $250 can be paid over a five-year period. “It is so reasonable, we are hoping that a lot of people will take part,” said Bussey. “For only a $1 a week, I hope they see the importance of buying a brick.”
More than 200 football lettermen participated in a golf tournament in Seneca the weekend of the Orange-White scrimmage. “The reception from them about the brick campaign was quite good. In fact, we have had people coming to us about it.”
Tiger Pride’s overall goal is to have 50,000 bricks purchased.
Baseball lettermen will have the opportunity to purchase a brick at the renovated entrance of Tiger Field. Similar bricks are scheduled for Littlejohn Coliseum and Clemson’s track facility.
“There will be areas for all former athletes to purchase bricks even if their sport is not being affected by Tiger Pride,” Bussey said. “Common areas will be designated for the public to purchase bricks as well.”
Naming opportunities also will be provided for such facilities as the new building on the southwest corner of Death Valley. A restaurant, recruiting room and a home for the Lettermen’s Association is planned for that facility. Work on the west endzone area is scheduled to begin after the 2000 football season.
“We are upgrading at Clemson rather than riding the wave,” said Bussey. “We want to be out front.”
For more information, readers may call the IPTAY office at (864) 656-2115.
By Phil Batson
April 17, 2024
