Ray Ray can work to pay for education
CLEMSON — Ray Ray McElrathbey won’t be on football scholarship at Clemson after August, but he will have an opportunity to help pay for graduate school by working in the school’s athletic department.
According to sports informat ion director Tim Bourret, athletic director Terry Don Phillips has presented McElrathbey with an option to be a graduate assistant after his planned graduation this summer. In exchange for his work, McElrathbey would receive money for tuition and books.
The 21-year-old McElrathbey, who has gained fame for taking custody of his younger brother Fahmarr, is no longer on the football team. As reported Sunday by The Post and Courier, Clemson’s coaches have elected not to renew McElrathbey’s scholarship for the 2008-09 academic year.
Athletic scholarships are renewed on a year-to-year basis. McElrathbey’s scholarship was last renewed in the summer of 2007, assuring him tuition, books, room and board through his anticipated graduation in August.
McElrathbey, who has two years of football eligibility remaining, is also considering transferring to another school. He will have graduated in three years if he receives his degree this summer.
In the summer of 2006, McElrathbey assumed custody of Fahmarr, then 11, because their mother was in a decade-long battle with drug addiction in Atlanta.
McElrathbey redshirted in 2005, played sparingly in 2006 as a defensive back and special-teams player, and missed the 2007 season with a knee injury. He moved to running back a year ago, and coach Tommy Bowden said Saturday that his chances for playing time were bleak.
Clemson tailback James Davis, a close friend of McElrathbey’s, said Saturday that McElrathbey wasn’t offered a choice to remain on the team. Clemson has not disputed that statement.
Reach Larry Williams at lwilliams@postandcourier.com.
Check out The Post and Courier's new Clemson blog at www.charleston.net/blogs/tiger_tracks/
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Comments
This article has 9 comment(s)
Posted by LowCountryRooster on March 10, 2008 at 10:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Reactive damage control at its finest. James Davis' public comments sent Terry Don Billy Bob Buster Brown Philips' office into a P.R. frenzy!
Posted by ashleyriver on March 10, 2008 at 12:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wassamatter there LowCountry Rooster----none of those fine, upstanding citizen/football players/ students (chuckle)at usc arrested in 5 Points this weekend??
Your feigned outrage would be relevant if you showed the same regard towards the ongoing travesty at your own university. At least columnists Bart Wright and Ron Morris FINALLY showed some background in the last few days and started the call for some changes/harsher penalties to be levied in the athletic department at usc.
At the present pace, will the gamecocks have enought to actually hold a spring practice?
Posted by theronce on March 10, 2008 at 2:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What is wrong? The Clemson athletic department successfully petitioned the NCAA for special treatment for RayRay and helped care for his brother. At the same time, his football scholarship is valid until he gets his diploma this spring. At that time, he has a job. While contributing little (but trying hard), RayRay got to care for his brother, had his degree paid for, and has a job offer. Everyone wins. Davis has been whining since he hit the door. I wish that they had jerked his scholarship too.
Posted by ashleyriver on March 10, 2008 at 3:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
theronce----I don't understand what the gamecock's problems with this entire situation is either. He's being kept on football scholarship until he is graduated in August---after only 3 years, btw. Then, he's got a ga job that, in addition to a salary, gives him books and tuition. His brother starts high school this fall and this will give hime the opportunity to be more involved in Fahmarr's raising in addition to completing a Master's Degree to help with his own future....I think the gamecock's are just looking at anything to cast a disparaging light on Clemson---a light that's long shined on usc showing the roaches scurrying for darkness.
Posted by youmanyo on March 10, 2008 at 3:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The gamecocks problem is that they are just bitter. It cant be easy being the joke of college football and basketball and having a team full of thugs , and the only thing you can brag about is being in the sec even though you actualy weeken it . So sad.
Posted by bigriver1 on March 10, 2008 at 4:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ray Ray got his degree, and now will do great in life. Any gamecocks arrested today??
Posted by mdtpace on March 10, 2008 at 8:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
bigdouche, you suck any gamecock today?
Posted by youmanyo on March 10, 2008 at 10:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
classy
Posted by JRob on March 10, 2008 at 11:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Did "your" Sooners lose again today?