Changes to IPTAY’s Spring Tour Include No Media Access
By: will-vandervort April 22, 2024

GREENVILLE, S.C. — The more things change, the more they do not stay the same.

In this day and age, that is the way of life in college athletics. The transfer portal and name, image and likeness have changed the landscape of college athletics forever.

It’s even changing IPTAY, sort of.

IPTAY, Clemson Athletics’ booster club organization, has taken full control of Clemson’s Coaches Tour, which it has shared with the Clemson Alumni Association for many years.

After last spring’s Prowl & Growl Spring Coaches’ Tour was complete, IPTAY, along with the alumni association, decided to discontinue the tour.

While the two offices discussed a plan to better serve its alumni and IPTAY’s donors, the alumni association dropped off the coaches tour and decided it will hold its own events with alumni groups across the state.

With Clemson Athletics and IPTAY now running the show, they changed the format and restructured the event. The spring event will still travel across the state of South Carolina and Charlotte, but it will make its stop in just five cities — Greenville, Charlotte, Columbia, Myrtle Beach and Charleston.

The first show was Monday in Greenville, while the second show will be Tuesday evening in Charlotte.

A Clemson spokesperson told The Clemson Insider the athletic department wanted to have a more intimate experience with the fans. Part of that includes getting the opportunity to rub elbows with Clemson coaches Dabo Swinney, Brad Brownell, Mike Noonan, athletic director Graham Neff and more.

Clemson had seven coaches at the Greenville event, which was held at Southernside Brewing.

What’s different about the 2024 Clemson Road Show, as opposed to the Prowl & Growl?

For one, the crowds are smaller, the largest crowd expected is around 350 people. Secondly, all the events, but the one in Columbia, will be held at venues similar to Southernside Brewing in Greenville.

Finally, for the first time in this writers’ 20 years of covering Clemson Athletics, the media cannot speak to the coaches about their team, the latest topics or the events of the day, as we have in the past during the coaches’ tour.

Which is a shame because Brownell and men’s basketball will not be afforded the opportunity to ride off the wave of success the program had after a run to the NCAA’s Elite Eight.

A Clemson spokesperson said, because of the the new format, there is no time, at the moment, for the coaches to come over and briefly speak to the media.

Photos with the coaches, children activities, IPTAY giveaways and information are the same, as well as hearing the coaches talk about their programs.

However, besides the change of venues, there is also a silent auction and a cash bar at these events. Also, fans, who have paid tickets, have an opportunity to come in before the program begins and talk to the coaches while enjoying food and drinks.

It is all a part of the experience, and another thing that has changed in college athletics.