IPTAY Celebrates 75th Anniversary – Rupert “Rube” Fike – (1887 – 1956)

Aug. 7, 2008

As IPTAY celebrates its 75th year of scholarship support we want to thank all of our donors throughout its proud history. Throughout this year we want to take a look back at the history of IPTAY and the leadership that has made it the father of athletic fundraising and the envy of many throughout collegiate athletic fundraising.

Rupert “Rube” Fike (1887 – 1956)

Rupert Howard Fike was born in Spartanburg County in 1887. From this day forward, he began influencing many lives for the better, both on and off an athletic field.

Known to everyone as “Rube”, Fike decided at the early age of 13 that he would attend Clemson over Wofford, which was his parent’s preference. He was persuaded toward Clemson by nothing other than Clemson Football. In 1900, Fike watched the Clemson vs. Wofford game through a knothole in the fence that surrounded the field. Just having a peek at the Clemson victory was enough for Fike to know Clemson was the right choice. It was too early for this young teenage boy to understand the impact his decision would have on Clemson Athletics. Fike graduated from Clemson in 1908 with a degree in civil engineering.

Like most Clemson alumni, Fike never forgot Clemson and his Tigers – especially the football team. Fike was aware of the grave state both the football program and athletic department were facing in the 1930’s. And after a surprising 6 – 0 loss to The Citadel in 1931, Coach Jess Neely knew something had to be done. Coach Neely suspected if he raised $10,000 a year, he could have a winning football team. Putting his idea to the test Neely spoke with Frank Jervey, Joe Davis, and Captain Pete Heffner and asked for their help in contacting Clemson Alumni for funds. Jervey knew just the man to contact, and the man was Rube Fike.

Coach Neely and several others initially thought to ask for a donation of $50 and form the “50 Club”. Fike felt that if you asked for $50, not as many people would sign up due to the economic situation. Fike suggested a minimum of a $10 donation, and the father of collegiate athletic fundraising, I Pay Ten A Year (IPTAY), was born. On August 21, 1934, Fike contacted Coach Neely to inform him that a meeting was held at his house. IPTAY had been created and was on the move. The first year of IPTAY’s existence, just over $1600 dollars was raised. IPTAY’s hard work and donations paid off, as Clemson posted a record of 6 -1 the following year. By the 1940 season, Clemson was playing in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, where they defeated Boston College; this was also the year IPTAY finally reached the $10,000 mark.

Fike served as IPTAY’s first and only president for 20 years, 1934 – 1954. Fike was in the process of writing a book about Clemson football to be sold as another way of raising money for IPTAY, when he passed. Rube Fike died in 1956, but not before leaving a lasting legacy that still is making Clemson University a better place.