The Saga of Ray Ray and Fahmarr McElrathbey to Continue - Just Not at Clemson
March 12, 2008
Ray Ray McElrathbey, the 21-year old backup tail back and special teams player at Clemson, is transferring from the South Carolina University. McElrathbey gained notoriety in 2006 for taking custody of his then 11-year old brother, Fahmarr, and continuing to juggle academics and athletics while acting as older brother and surrogate father for his younger sibling.
The reason for his leaving Clemson is due to head coach Tommy Bowden and his coaching staff’s decision to not renew his scholarship for the 2008-09 academic and athletic year. The Clemson athletic department’s policy is to renew its athletes scholarships annually.
McElrathbey began his career as a redshirt defensive back in 2005. In 2006 he played some on special teams, then, last season, switched to tailback. Though the junior missed all of last season with an injured knee, he proved he was completely healthy after six months of rehabilitation by participating fully in the Tigers’ winter conditioning program.
A close friend of McElrathbey’s, Tigers tail back James Davis, said McElrathbey began to hear whispers about a month ago that his scholarship wouldn’t be renewed:
“He knew in his mind they were going to do it,” Davis said. “It’s hard on him right now. I kind of feel his pain.”
McElrathbey was said to have a strained relationship with the coaching staff due to alleged academic difficulties and what was termed, “poor attendance at team functions.” Last year, during spring drills, he was suspended by Bowden for four practices. The Clemson head coach said McElrathbey was, “having a tough time juggling academics.”
“I’m not sure he can do it at the level that he needs to at both ends,” Bowden said at the time.
Bowden’s declaration of McElrathbey’s academic problems is directly at odds with the fact that the sociology major was an honor roll student last semester while taking 21 hours of classes and is on schedule to graduate in August, three years after arriving on the Clemson campus.
According to an article in the Charleston Post and Courier, in addition to his academic standing, McElrathbey was a much-awarded student-athlete:
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.”
Also at odds with his previous statements about McElrathbey’s academic problems, Bowden had this to say about the former Tiger:
“Graduating in three years with all of his responsibilities will be an outstanding accomplishment. Our staff will help him in his future endeavors, whether it be from a football career or business career standpoint.”
The plight of Ray Ray McElrathbey provides an insightful peek into the cut-throat world of NCAA football at its highest level. When a head coach needs a scholarship for a blue chip player, he looks to his team to find its weakest link; that player he can exploit. Once spotted, the bad-mouthing begins. An exemplary student-athlete suddenly has ‘academic difficulties.’ A genial player who is respected by his teammates and the coaches suddenly becomes an anathema to the entire program.
Anything can be insinuated to free a much-needed free ride for the new big man on campus to be.
This is where Ray Ray McElrathbey finds himself now. He is a young man who at age 19 chose a path of selflessness to ensure that his little brother lives a peaceful life surrounded by people who love him. Now Ray Ray and Fahmarr must leave Clemson, South Carolina and all the friends they gained. They must find a new home so that Ray Ray can continue to pursue football - he has two years of eligibility remaining - and begin graduate school; so that Fahmarr can continue to live the life of a privileged little boy without a care in the world; the way every child deserves to grow up in this country.
There is, though, one little thing.
Because of the callousness of Tommy Bowden, Fahmarr McElrathbey now knows that even in paradise there are people better suited for hell.
Fahmarr, welcome to the real world.
Comments
42 Responses to “The Saga of Ray Ray and Fahmarr McElrathbey to Continue - Just Not at Clemson”
Got something to say?
Cold-hearted. That’s the proper word for college sports and especially Clemson’s althletic department. I remember all of the attention this story got a couple of years ago. You’d have thought that Clemson would have wanted to keep Ray Ray and Fahmarr there because it bought good attention to the program.
I bet they will spin it so that Ray Ray left Clemson of his own accord. The really sad part is from what I heard, the student body had really embraced Fahmarr and helped Ray Ray to take care of him. You know that of course Ray Ray is going to miss some practices. He had a younger brother who needed attention. Ray Ray had the right idea. While colleges will try to spread the message that they’re one big family, Ray Ray kept the real family #1.
I’m hoping that Ray Ray will land on his feet, maybe get a chance to play pro, or if not, will get a good job. Hopefully, Fahmarr will follow in his brother’s foot steps and become as responsible an adult as his brother. Ray Ray is a real example of what black men should be.
“Bowden’s declaration of McElrathbey’s academic problems is directly at odds with the fact that the sociology major was an honor roll student last semester while taking 21 hours of classes and is on schedule to graduate in August, three years after arriving on the Clemson campus.”
——————————————-
Wow….given that it takes the avrage student 4-6 yrs to graduate, Ray Ray knocking his degree out in 3 is an acomplishment enough let alone his other serious responsabiltes of default father hood and football.
21 credits….are not for the mere mortal man….
Bowden and Clemson are just reenforcing the there are no morales in business mantra again
Thanks for bringing this to light D
side thought…
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08072/864347-361.stm
He’s been catching hell lately
Wow……just……wow…..
Ill-
Thanks… I wonder if Tommy learned this from his father. Think of how many athletes we hear about transferring to other schools who suddenly “fall out of favor” with the coaching staff and leave school. A lot of those transfers just “happen” to make room for a “better” incoming player…..
This is so damn wrong on so many levels.
Tommy Bowden, the privileged beneficiary of Nepotism, has the nuts to belittle the accomplishments of a young man whose jock he is not worthy to carry. Maybe they just need to combine the ACC and SEC into the Bobby Bowden White Ass Conference.
What’s next; Ray Ray McElrathbey’s “recently discovered” proclivity for patronizing strip clubs, gambling on dog fights, running with “suspected gangbangers”? His middle name is actually Hussein, he is a closet follower of Louis Farrakhan and his uncle was Eldridge Cleaver? He is a known associate of Michael Vick? His grandfather actually took a piss in white’s only mens room?
I have to believe that there is a college program out there that can appreciate exactly what an inspirational player like Ray Ray McElrathbey can add to a program. If Im head coach at a HBCU, I am banging on my phone keypad like yesterday.
Dwil
Did you see this article?
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/12/sports/football/12rhoden.html
And this is some bullshit. This is why I support college players getting paid. All that talk about the free education they receive is bullshit when you consider the fact that they can lose their scholarships at any time in some programs. Plus, the rigors of major college football make it very difficult to do well in the classroom.
Where are all the apologists?
E-
I don’t understand how this situation has anything to do with race, really. Dude lost his scholarship because he’s getting pushed out the door for some other presumably more enticing player. School covers its ass by making up some ish about bad grades. He and his brother got shafted, but I’m sure the same thing happens to white kids from the farm too. Its wrong, but that’s life, you pick up and move on.
Tommy Bowden has no sense of loyalty, neither does any other college football coach. Bowden used the Arkansas head coaching vacancy to get himself a raise last off-season and then breaks Ray Ray McElrathbey’s plate. It’s been a bad off-season PR wise, and he deserves it.
The bad thing about this is how they went through the media to badmouth him. They should have tried to do this some other way behind closed doors to save Ray Ray the embarrassment. Good thing Ray Ray will get to move on to a school that wants him and get his education and start a career.
Is anyone really thinking here?
A couple of things: Ray Ray had a bad semester; he was out of football the next semester, took 21 hours, and did a GREAT job with it. GREAT FOR HIM! You’re doing a real disservice to truth here when you insinuate that the talk of poor grades are current; in fact, when Ray Ray was suspended for poor grades, he stated that he had gotten caught up in the attention he had been receiving, and stopped concentrating on the other things he needed to do.
Secondly, he hasn’t decided if he’s going to transfer yet. The coaching staff has offered him a PAID position as a graduate assistant, which would also pay for his grad school.
Finally, let’s use a little logic here, instead of getting caught up in emotions. Do you not think that Bowden realized what a PR nightmare it would be to pull the scholarship offer of a player as empathetic, revered, and notable as McElrathbey? Is it possible that (as glazed over in the column) this situation is as a result of McElrathbey not doing the things expected of him, e.g., showing up for team meetings? If Bowden simply needed to free up scholarship room (which he doesn’t, by the way), there are many other players who won’t be seeing the field this fall whose dismissal wouldn’t have raised an eyebrow.
Just a thought.
Motown:
D 1A has 80 football scholarships. Including Special Teams. Thats almost a Four-Deep roster–not including red shirts who find “off campus” employment. Are you trying to say this kid is the 81st worst player in this program.
They cut one of their feel good stories and a damn good running back from what we know. And then tell lies about this kid to grant themselves cover. The kid can flat out play. Besides on average, 20 skollys come free every year just due to graduation/out of eligibility issues anyway. Once you get beyond 60, your stashing players away from other programs. The bottom 20 are never ever going to get significant playing time.
In baseball its different. There are only 11.7 skollys available. Not enough to go even 1 deep. I’m not saying its because of race. I’m saying because the kid is Black, Bowden can get away with it. If this was freeking Brian Piccolo or even that goddamned fool pain in the ass kid Rudy from Notre Dame, the MSM would be all over Bowden.
The author of this article is a retard.
“Now Ray Ray and Fahmarr must leave Clemson, South Carolina and all the friends they gained.”
IF the author of this article weren’t so retarded, he’d know that Ray Ray does not have to leave Clemson. In fact, they are offering a Graduate Assistant position for him within the Athletic dept. so he can get a graduate degree. This is just one of the many factual errors, knee jerks and conclusion jumps this author made. The AJC and Charleston P&C have some good articles that tell more about this situation. The only tragedy here is hacks who write stories like this.
And one more thought…
Here’s a link to a column from Tony Barnhart in Atlanta, Ray Ray’s hometown.
http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/cfb/entries/2008/03/12/no_tears_for_ra.html
BM-
Yeah, I saw it….I’m putting it into the notes I just posted…..
Just a , OB81-
You people are serious?!…
First, I did not report the young man’s grades incorrectly and the 21 hours incorrectly, so don’t get it twisted……….
(TO PEOPLE WHO COMMENT HERE REGULARLY: Notice the similarities in the “attack” on what is written here and notice the similarities in the defense of people like Bowden.)
If you have a problem with my article, then you MUST have written the Charleston Post and Courier ——– RIGHT? See, that’s where the info in my article came from - a headline on my Google Reader and a link to the article I link to in the above article…..
OB and Just a-
You are trying to defend Bowden based on the words of am man who would write this?:
Bowden has been portrayed as this cold, unfeeling person who is cutting Ray Ray loose simply because Clemson needed the scholarship. It’s an entertaining narrative that pushes all the emotional hot buttons. But it just isn’t that simple.
The fact is that McElrathbey has been known to have issues with the coaching staff and was less than consistent when it came to attending team functions. The time had come for a change in the relationship for the good of the entire team. Bowden is not going to say anything publicly because he doesn’t want to embarrass the kid. So he’ll take the heat.
George O’Leary told me a long time ago that coaches have to be willing to tell players things they don’t want to hear. If a player is not going to get on the field, he needs to know that and needs to be given some options. Then it is up to the player to choose the right option for him.
The easiest thing to do would have been to keep McElrathbey on a football scholarship. No fuss. No muss. No controversy. But it would not have been the best thing for the Clemson football program as a whole.
NOW. since James Davis alluded to some sheistiness in the Clemson program and how Ray Ray refuses to talk because it might hurt his chances when he transfers because he does not want the Clemson coaching staff to bad-mouth him before he has the opportunity to gfet to another school you might come to the conclusion that something is up…..
But no. For you two, it’s GOOOOOOOOOOO Clemson!
Right?
Jeez. Trying to understand your response. I guess one part at a time.
First: What do grades have to do with anything? O, yea, the grades that will allow him to be a graduate assitant AT CLEMSON if he so chooses, not Now Ray Ray and Fahmarr must leave Clemson, South Carolina and all the friends they gained.
Nobody is making them leave. That’s my point. And yes, I know calling you names isn’t helping the debate, but you continue to NOT respond to your innaccurate knee jerk of an article - the part YOU wrote, not the quotes.
O, and defend Bowden? Let’s see, they’ve arranged to let him go to Graduate School at the end of the summer AND thereby free him from the restraints of the NCAA so that they can use that money collected for Fahmarr (well over 100k when they quit releasing information on it) so that he CAN lead a happy life. Geez, those poor poor guys…
If you followed Clemson football closely, you’d know James Davis is not exactly the most articulate spokesperson for it.
Wow…what a well thought-out and professional response.
Any chance you’ve taken a look at Clemson’s scholarship allotment to see if, indeed, the DID need to make room for someone else?
Any chance that perhaps Ray Ray’s skipping team meetings had anything to do with his situation?
Clemson.net, Just a-
GOOOOOOOOOOOO Clemson!
Sorry that I didn’t write it your way or an anti- Charleston Post and courier article and pro-Tommy Bowden article.
And I forgot, James Davis isn’t articluate (hmmm, kinda make you wonder how he got into that fine university, huh?!)… but then again, that’s a common complaint with black folk.
To “arrange” for someone to go to graduate school opens up a university to lawsuits. This has been contested in the Supreme Court. Nice try.
And the efforts to set up a trust for Fahmarr - that’s because of Bobby Bowden? Or was it because of the exposure? Hmmm, it damn sure did not originate from the Bowden.
And no, Clemson is NOT over their 85-scholarship limit. However, today EVERY scholarship in big-time NCAA football is precious. So, having scholarships in your back pocket is a godsend ——— always.
Look, it’s like this. You two and the fans of Clemson have a different feeling. It’s football first, and everyone else fall into line. That’s great. That’s why you’re loyal people and without you programs around the country cannot financially function.
However, no program is above criticism and all big programs do this to their athletes every day - it’s just that this time it is someone who is in the nation’s eye - and remains in its memory…. And it is a perfect example of how “it all works.”
Let Clemson start next season 8-0 and we’ll see how Bowden - and this incident - is looked at then.
this just in, you are sofa king…
I didn’t say he wasn’t articluate. I said is not exactly the most articulate spokesperson for it., meaning, he’s said some things in the past to the press that probably could have been phrased a little better. What’s being black got to do with it? sofa king…
So ‘arranged’ was not exactly the best choice of words there, how about OFFERED a position, if he CHOOSES to stay…
What in the blue blazes does Bobby Bowden got to do with this? sofa king…
Criticism is find. In fact, Clemson fans have come to expect it. But you posted garbage like this: Now Ray Ray and Fahmarr must leave Clemson, South Carolina and all the friends they gained. They must find a new home so that Ray Ray can continue to pursue football - he has two years of eligibility remaining - and begin graduate school; so that Fahmarr can continue to live the life of a privileged little boy without a care in the world; the way every child deserves to grow up in this country.
You still haven’t shown me why he must leave Clemson. Do you know he wants to pursue football elsewhere and if so, how did you get such a scoop? And priveleged little boy? The NCAA has such restrictive rules that it makes life rough on someone trying to take care of their little brother like that.
Sofa king…
He didn’t say he wasn’t articulate (learn how to spell), and way to show your racism there D.K. Wilson! Down with the unarticulate black folk!!
DWil, The problem as I see it is that the brotha was’nt ripping off 150 + yds per, if he was he would still have his scholarship. Colleges and Universities will keep a young brotha on scholarship, if he is producing, they may suspend his playing time if his grades are not good, but he will be allowed to maintain his scholarship.
I think we all know that these colleges and universities never much cared for Black people anyways, unless you can generate the U some income, otherwise get your ace off the campus. F**K Clemson!
OB81, dabears-
The quote:
If you followed Clemson football closely, you’d know James Davis is not exactly the most articulate spokesperson for it.
Okay? For it? For what? His friend? He cannot articulate the thoughts of his friend? Are you serious?!
Now, I’m a “sofa king.” Sinking, sinking, sinking to personal attacks - how very sad. Go to the “About” section and check where I come from, Okay.
Now, since you OB81 are a personal friend of James Davis and therefore know what he is and is not able to articulate and on what topics or subject matter, please inform me as to what he is qualified to articulate?
And yes, because you don’t know Davis from Adam, really, there is an obvious racial implication to you comment.
Now Clemson.net, as I wrote, it’s great that you support your team. Just remember that Clemson (the university of the black face party - don’t think I didn’t write about that, too), the team , and the coaching staff are not infallible.
and dabears -
unarticulate is not a word… oh well.
Yo, you arguing with folks who have made their positions known. They believe the cat from Atlanta, they don’t believe the cats from the other papers. They clealry made a choice about who they think is credible and its’ not someone who doens’t support Bowden.
But, in my mind it’s horseshit for a columnist for a major newspaper to attribute feelings to a college coach while at the same time noting that the college coach would never say something like that because he’s such a good guy.
That’s unacceptable from a journalistic standpoint. If the coach won’t say something, it’s not a columnist’s job to serve as his mouthpiece.
But, I doubt if most people who could give too shits about Ray Ray will notice that.
(Oh yeah. Somebody needs to post exactly how much a graduate football assistant gets paid and how much work they do. Then we’ll know whether Ray Ray would get a better deal by being a graduate assistant.)
BM-
… and you and I both know what the deal with $$$$ and graduate assistants is - and, by extension, what kind of deal that is.
should have said
“But I doubt if most poeple who could not give two shits about Ray Ray will notice that.”
Oh, and it doesn’t matter what race Ray Ray is. This is effed up. It would be effed up no matter what and it should anger people.
These are not grown men risking injury and even death. These are not grown men being asked to juggle incredible schedules and make decision about the rest of their lives.
These are college kids, children in some cases. This should bother people.
Dwil
You know I know. Seeing as how both me and my wife went to grad school, I know how much money they make.
And I”m sure somebody will point out that Ray Ray has a trust fund.
Well, to whoever writes that, your point has nothing to do with whether Clemson is giving him the shaft by stripping him of his scholarship. Nothing.
But, it’s cool. You think Clemson has done enough for him. You think it’s no big deal that colleges can pull sholarships at any time, these athletes are lucky to get whatever they can get.
That’s how you roll.
I’ve got to believe that the truth in this matter lies somewhere in between your perception of it and the Clemson slant.
It is a fact that Ray Ray had issues with grades back in 2006/2007. He said himself that he got caught up in all of the attention. The references made about bad grades from Bowden were made back during that time.
I haven’t researched it, but you stated that Clemson was below their 85 limit on scholarships. Why do they need to keep some schollies in their back pocket? If anyone wants to transfer in – they have to sit out a year anyway.
I honestly can’t think of a scenario where it makes sense to just run him off of the team. There’s more to it than any of us know.
Given the publicity by the way, I doubt seriously that Ray Ray has any trouble finding a schollie some where else (if that’s what he chooses to do). He may decide not to leave – I would imagine that he considers Clemson to be “home”.
Clem Fan-
All I can say, is thank you for being a voice of reason, though being a stated “Clemson fan.”
I do feel, as “Imhotep” stated above, that if Ray was ripping off 150 yards a game, he’d still have his scholarship. I am sure that Tommy Bowden has dealt with worse people on his football teams than McElrathbey and not taken their scholarships.
Now, I find it to be an affront to offer McElrathbey a grad. asst. job. They usually are not paid positions, not at first, the hours are long, and they are usually for the “lifer.”
I don’t know if you have knowledge of the report that was conducted with Duke University’s basketball program where is was found that most of the players were sociology majors - and that major was the one where the easiest classes could be taken to maintain good standing at good academic colleges and universities. I don’t know if that’s the case at Clemson (its is rumored to be the case at many schools around the country), but is is worth paying attention to.
Say, McElrathbey , though he is on course to graduate in three years, has an “easy” degree. Perhaps he knows it might not just translate well to being prepared for testing to matriculate to grad school. So, in his heart of hearts, he knows that the NFL, or CFL at least, is his only real choice for making enough money to allow his brother and himself to live comfortably.
Because he has not come out and condemned any press reports, it seems he is going to transfer. And though he and his little bro are not going to lose all their friends, the insulated atmosphere at college is one where leaving during one’s schooling can be traumatic - especially for a young kid like Fahmarr.
I would like to have seen Bowden make more of an effort to allow McElrathbey to remain on scholarship. It is obvious he worked hard to rehab his knee. It is obvious he is doing well in school. What is not so obvious, as you say, is the true nature of the relationship between Ray Ray and the coaching staff. Yet, even though we don not know the nature, we do know that there are irreconcilable differences between the two. Ray Ray would have to be a total non-contributer or trouble-maker to have his scholarship taken - and Ray Ray was apparently not either.
So, I can only come up with wanting to have more scholarships at hand (there are myriad reasons to open the way to have as many available scholarships as possible (remember Ray Ray has two years of eligibility left)…
Regardless, it does not look like a good move by Bowden.
BM;
We’re pretty close on this. Let me just emphasize that I think because Ray is Black, it gives Bowden and his apologists thicker cover for what you rightfully describe as a reprehensible situation. And it does bother me that all kids risk life and limb for the greater honor and glory of these institutions, not just African American kids. And that they are all just pieces of meat wrapped in a scholarship just waiting to be given to somebody else at the slightest whim of the head coach.
The institutions always have the power in these cases. Always. And thats why it is not even close to being a level playing field as you so often state. I’m simply saying it is easier to wield that institutionalized power against a Black kid than a White Kid. Its always easier to hide behind institutionalized discrimination than individual racism. Thats what is so frustrating sometimes. Thats why White folks don’t even realize that they’re bigoted in their conscious minds. If its institutionalized, there is no individual accountability nor individual responsibility for the unfairness. Thats why I have a hair trigger and react the way I do.
But like you, I decry the whole crappy mess that NCAA and big college programs have wrought on all the kids. And while by legal definition most of these college kids are adults, we know from experience, they really are just kids. Especially when it comes to power playing in the multi-million dollar business of Div 1 College Sports.
Wow. Maybe I’m early, because I thought for sure this type of story would bring out the ‘honor your commitment’ crowd in DROVES.
You know, like the Illini folks who threw shit and heaped scorn on Eric Gordon and his family for their ‘betrayal’.
Yeah, I’m sure those folks will be here any minute now, to heap that same disgust on Clemson.
They’re coming, right DWIL?
Brotha Dwil I remember my college offered me a grad assistant job. Making 700 bucks a month. Working 35 hrs a week.
Man I almost laughed in there face.
I would have been better off working at popeyes.
Origin,
LMAO…….oh (gasps for air)…..I don’t know why but as soon as read “I would have been better of working at popeyes”…..I just fell out laughing. OMG…I needed that laugh.
SweetJ-
You saw who did come out, though. On Chicago sports Review the response was so bad the editor there had to take the article down!…
O-
There you go, right there. Popeyes=grad asst pay.: “I’s workin’ my grad assistant job fo’ da’ college, yes suh. Would ye like somes red bean and rices? (lol)
dwil, YOU said the word ‘Black’. You brought race into this. You are wrong. The racial implication was introduced by YOU. Don’t put words in my mouth.
Players are told that their scholarships won’t be renewed at Major College football powers all the time. Most of the time, it doesn’t hit the presses as it’s handled in the right way. Coaches work with these athletes to find them a situation where they can get playing time, Clemson is no different in this regard. Players that are ‘ripping off 150 yards a game’ won’t have to face this. Ray Ray isn’t one of those.
Ray Ray’s case is special because of the publicity surrounding his decision to care for his brother. Otherwise, it would not be news, and you wouldn’t give a damn enough to even write about it.
Davis has said things to the press in the past that were not in the best interest of Clemson athletics. That is fact, Fans of Clemson football, that follow it closely, know this. You are not one of those.
If you followed Clemson football closely, you’d know James Davis is not exactly the most articulate spokesperson for it.
I think most grade school kids can deduce that it refers to Clemson football.
You like to say that it’s a shame that a guy with his grades is not going to have his schollie renewed. How and when did he get those grades? O, yea, while injured, when he didn’t have to concentrate on football.
Yea, it’s a real shame Ray Ray will get his degree in 3 years, an opportunity to attend grad school under favorable circumstances and stay around people who care for him. People like the administration of Clemson University that had to petition the NCAA for special permission just to enable the coaches wives and friends to give Ray Ray’s brother a ride to school.
Ray Ray, in my opinon, is a good example for all for his selflessness in taking in his brother from a bad situation.
And finally, quoting YOU: Now Ray Ray and Fahmarr must leave Clemson, South Carolina and all the friends they gained .
You still haven’t substatiated your claim that they MUST leave Clemson. He may choose to stay where a grad assistant job will cover ALL his academic fees. It probably won’t cover room & board, but then there’s that large trust fund that will be unencumbered by the NCAA’s restrictions that could help with that.
This was my original assertion, one in which you continue to obfuscate.
Dang, now I’m being corrected::
Clemson SID Tim Bourret has issued the following statement:
Some media reports today have said that if Ray Ray McElrathbey elects to return to Clemson to pursue a masters degree that the scholarship would not include room and board. He would in fact receive a stipend that would cover his room and board, in additon to his education expenses.
Clemson SID Tim Bourret has issued the following statement:
Some media reports today have said that if Ray Ray McElrathbey elects to return to Clemson to pursue a masters degree that the scholarship would not include room and board. He would in fact receive a stipend that would cover his room and board, in additon to his education expenses.
Clemson SID Tim Bourret has issued the following statement:
Some media reports today have said that if Ray Ray McElrathbey elects to return to Clemson to pursue a masters degree that the scholarship would not include room and board. He would in fact receive a stipend that would cover his room and board, in additon to his education expenses.
OB81-
First. Settle down. If you want this conversation to continue any more - settle down.
You read the commentary I wrote. I did not mention race in it at all. Period. I am well aware that it is not a rare occurrence for student-athletes to have their scholarships taken away from them. In the paragraph that begins, “The plight of Ray Ray McElrathbey provides an insightful peek into the cut-throat world of NCAA football at its highest level,” speaks to the non-racial aspect of taking scholarships from student-athletes.
McElrathbey’s case is special because what he is doing is very, very rare.
Ray Ray’s case is special because of the publicity surrounding his decision to care for his brother. Otherwise, it would not be news, and you wouldn’t give a damn enough to even write about it.
If it was reported locally and I found an article on it, I’d write about it. I just did this with Tommy Amaker. What’s happening with him at Harvard is not receiving scads of national attention. In fact, when I searched his name at the Boston Globe’s website (where Harvard is located), I could find no articles on the topic.
You didn’t know about the Amaker incident before you saw it here - did you? So to say I would not have written about Ray Ray is incredibly presumptuous of you and is yet another baseless and unnecessary personal attack.
With the Davis statement, the context in which he is speaking is on behalf of his friend. If by writing it you are referring to Clemson football, then you failed to understand the context of his quote (and yes, for some black people, to criticize another black person’s “eloquence” relative to black people who are not generally asked to speak publicly about any given topic has racist implications - and has for some 100 years; if that was not your intentions, my apologies). So, the grade school sentence is yet another unnecessary personal attack, particularly when Davis was not speaking for Clemson football but for McElrathbey.
Do understand that reabbing any serious injury requires as much attention and work as playing the game? I know this because I was a beat reporter covering the George Mason University men’s basketball team and wrote a series over a period of four months about a player who rehabbed a knee injury
I also know from rehabbing a back injury while in high school and trying to maintain a national ranking in tennis. It required a total of six hours per day every day for four months to regain a manageable level of fitness. And in college there are strict schedules athletes must adhere to because they are rehabbing under university care, so the rehab, in many instances is more intensive than it would be under normal circumstances.
James Davis was referring to his friend and the treatment of his friend by Clemson. Again, you are not at all qualified to say what kind of spokesperson James Davis is - for anything.
In my estimation, unless he has no other options, he will leave Clemson. What happens to student-athletes who have their scholarships taken from them?
They transfer.
I just posted a short sports note on the nature of scholarships - you might want to read the article I linked to, to gain a better understanding of how young people feel when their scholarships are taken from them.
I stated that because it is my feeling that if Ray Ray can play out his final two years of football eligibility, he will. He did not receive an academic scholarship to attend Clemson, he received a football scholarship.
Finally, since this is not a news article, but a commentary I know it is within my license to speak my feeling about what McElrathbey can and will do, given his circumstances. I did that.
You may not agree with my assessment of his situation and that’s fine. However, I am not forced to substantiate my feelings because of the form in which I chose to write about the subject matter and the topics contained within the subject matter.
You read the commentary I wrote. I did not mention race in it at all.
FROM YOUR RESPONSE TO MY COMMENTS (The first mention of race in the comments thread, where you IMPLIED that is what I meant, when it wasn’t what I meant at all.):
And I forgot, James Davis isn’t articluate (hmmm, kinda make you wonder how he got into that fine university, huh?!)… but then again, that’s a common complaint with black folk.
YOU did indeed bring race into it. Period.
And yea, I knew about Tommy Amaker, we discuss sports in the chat at a certain Clemson sports website. Not sure what that has to do with Ray Ray, though…
With the Davis statement, the context in which he is speaking is on behalf of his friend. If by writing it you are referring to Clemson football, then you failed to understand the context of his quote (and yes, for some black people, to criticize another black person’s “eloquence” relative to black people who are not generally asked to speak publicly about any given topic has racist implications - and has for some 100 years; if that was not your intentions, my apologies). So, the grade school sentence is yet another unnecessary personal attack, particularly when Davis was not speaking for Clemson football but for McElrathbey.
Now you are mixing up what I said with what James Davis said. Get it together, please. And what’s with this obsession to bring race into this discussion?
Finally, what you feel is being put forth as if it is a statement of fact. THIS IS NOT FACT, FOLKS, THE FOLLOWING IS DWIL’S FEELING!!!:
Now Ray Ray and Fahmarr must leave Clemson, South Carolina and all the friends they gained.
Again, for the record, the above statement is a feeling, not a fact. Sure, it may look like fact, feel like fact, taste like fact and in FACT, be put forth as fact, but the author has come clean and correctly stated that it is just his feeling. So, while many of you feel this is a great tragedy occuring, understand that Ray Ray still has choices and can stay where he is, if he so chooses. DWIL only feels like Ray Ray must go.
Dwil, you may have the last word for I will not respond any further.
E
I don’t have a problem with you decrying institiional racism. Trust me, I’ve done it enough on this site myself. My screen name used to be Allen.
Anyway, my point about his color was in response to a comment made by someone else.
Random comments about the speaking ability of black poeple will always be seen as racist. Nothing in Davis’ quote deemed in inarticulate. Nothing. So why would that be the way the conversation was taken.
I hate when cats want to imply that they have some sort of knowledge you don’t have, and then when they disclose that knowledge it’s based on a rumor they choose to believe.
Ok, I lied… I do have one more thing.
read this:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=3291458
Again, trashing a kid through a cloak of anonymity. Saying you don’t want to do it, but then doing it anyway.
Man the fuck up!
Speak your mind and deal with the backlash. That’s what men do. You don’t make disparaging remarks about a kid but refuse to give your name.
That Davis kid at least attached his name to his comment.