Football's a Cold Business at Clemson

[Gatorubet]

Ray Ray finished playing for Tigers

By Larry Williams (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Sunday, March 9, 2008




FILE/MCT Former Clemson football player Ray Ray McElrathbey and his brother, Fahmarr.

CLEMSON ? Ray Ray McElrathbey is done with football at Clemson, and a teammate said it's because the Tigers' coaching staff decided not to renew his scholarship for the 2008-09 academic year.

Clemson announced Saturday that McElrathbey, a reserve tailback who gained national fame for taking custody of his younger brother, is no longer with the team. Team spokesman Tim Bourret said McElrathbey, who has two years of football eligibility remaining, will graduate in August and plans to attend graduate school or transfer and play elsewhere.
James Davis, a senior tailback for the Tigers, said McElrathbey told him he didn't have a choice. "He said something about how they weren't going to renew his scholarship," said Davis, who has been friends with McElrathbey since their high school days in Atlanta.

McElrathbey was celebrated for his willingness to juggle academics, athletics and parenthood. He was named Person of the Week by ABC's "World News"; he received the Keith Jackson Award of Excellence on the ESPN College Football Awards Show and appeared at the Orange Bowl in Miami to accept the FedEx Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award.
Davis said McElrathbey isn't going public with his side of the story because he "doesn't want them to badmouth his name if he wants to play football somewhere else."

http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/...g_tigers33202/

 

[osugrad21]

That is a one sided story...

There is more to it and Ray also knows he has zero chance of seeing the field with the two studs returning and 2 freshman coming in.

 

[Gatorubet]

That is a one sided story...

There is more to it and Ray also knows he has zero chance of seeing the field with the two studs returning and 2 freshman coming in.

I agree. But for Bowden to say that he has academic problems when he is on the honor roll carrying 21 hours is at least a disconnect, and at worst misinformation from the coaching staff to cover their ass.

Considering all that he has accomplished, to just launch him because of the strength at running back is sort of cold.

 

[osugrad21]

I agree. But for Bowden to say that he has academic problems when he is on the honor roll carrying 21 hours is at least a disconnect, and at worst misinformation from the coaching staff to cover their ass.

Considering all that he has accomplished, to just launch him because of the strength at running back is sort of cold.

Ray had plenty of issues that did not fit into the media's picture of him. Trust me, this is not as it seems...

 

[BuckTwenty]

The team just flat dropped his scholarship. Didn't even have the decency to help him find another school to transfer to.

I trust you Grad, but there better be some pretty big issues with him because otherwise, I have a pretty big problem with just letting a guy go like that... whether or not he was going to be in the two-deep.

 

[osugrad21]

He is not dropped.

He is done as a football scholarship athlete. He has an option to remain at Clemson as a GA which will pay his tuition for Grad School since he is on schedule to graduate in August.

Also, Ray has OVER 100k in a trust fund due to Clemson support from the situation with the younger brother.

Again, this is not as it seems...

 

[Deety]

Davis said McElrathbey isn't going public with his side of the story because he "doesn't want them to badmouth his name if he wants to play football somewhere else."

Doesn't sound like this was helpful. If McElrathbey doesn't want everyone delving into details in order to make an assessment of Clemson's actions for any reason whatsoever, that's okay and should be respected.

 

[808 Buck]

I don't know any specifics of the Clemson situation, but let's not kid ourselves, Football's a Cold Business Everywhere. The same could be said for practically every revenue generating sport at the collegiate level. Coaches have to win, players have to produce, and everyone hopes that the stands are filled, the television contracts are signed, and the boosters are "happy" (the team is winning, and they are donating). Might seem cynical to some, but when I see good people getting fired, the manipulation of scholarships (oversigning, reneging on offers, revoking 'ships), and the power of the media (influencing the news, ignoring the news based on their affiliations, instead of simply reporting the news, ignoring time honored traditions in the name of the almighty dollar), well, maybe a few of you see my point. Don't get me wrong, I am a college football fanatic, but there are a few things that leave me shaking my head at times. Back on topic, these type of things happen all over, not just at Clemson.

 

[Gatorubet]

Ray had plenty of issues that did not fit into the media's picture of him. Trust me, this is not as it seems...

Oh, I do. But it is, at the very least, bad p.r. to let the story break the way it did. I did not know that his tuition, etc., were being made with a GA position. Well, it is a tough thing for a kid his age to deal with all that. I could not have done it at that age (school, practice and raising a kid), being honest about it.

 

[Brutus1]

Close to graduating in nearly 3 years, under the circumstances, is pretty darn good. He gets to finish school on their dime. He should consider himself lucky. Bowden did say they would help him in his future whether in school or business.

I'm pretty sure it happens everywhere.

 

[osugrad21]

Oh, I do. But it is, at the very least, bad p.r. to let the story break the way it did. I did not know that his tuition, etc., were being made with a GA position. Well, it is a tough thing for a kid his age to deal with all that. I could not have done it at that age (school, practice and raising a kid), being honest about it.

The school broke it one way...his teammate and friend broke it another way and added some personal thoughts to it before he knew the whole story.

Ray has been given a ton of opportunity by Clemson...and he has been given a ton of leeway due to his circumstances. However, there comes a point when enough is enough.

 

[Taosman]

How often does this happen? Can someone think of just one other case?

 

[jimotis4heisman]

of scholies non renewed?

every year it happens.

 

[Taosman]

OK! I'll bite. Name just one more?

Clemson used Ray as a good PR campaign, so it doesn't look like they gave him the things they did out of a purely humanitarian gesture.

I guess the PR campaign is done. Ray is out.

 

[IronBuckI]

This is why I have to laugh at some of the high and mighty ones that I work with. The ones that think that a NLOI is a contract to stay for four years that should be honored by the player. When I tell them that scholarships are renewed annually and that I went to High School with a guy that started at fullback for two years and, after a coaching change, didn't have his schollie renewed, they give me the I didn't know they could do that look.