AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2008 > March > 12 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USNo tears for Ray Ray
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One of the things you learn after being in this business a while is that stories are rarely as simple as they appear.
Take the case of Clemson’s Ray Ray McElrathbey.
The Atlanta native was one of the feel good stories of college football in 2006 when, as a scholarship player at Clemson, he took on the additional task of raising his little brother Fahmarr, who was 11 at the time. Clemson petitioned the NCAA to make an exception its extra benefits rule in order to set up a trust fund to take care of Fahmarr. That trust fund reportedly has over $100,000 in it. Fahmarr has also received care from the families of assistant coaches.
McElrathbey has been on athletic scholarship for three years and has played very little because of injuries. He is scheduled to graduate this summer, a notable achievement for which he deserves all of the praise in the world.
Now Clemson and coach Tommy Bowden have made a difficult decision for the good of the program. Ray Ray can remain at Clemson and pursue another degree as a graduate assistant coach but not as a player with a football scholarship. McElrathbey has been promised financial aid by athletics director Terry Don Phillips if he chooses that option. If McElrathbey, who has two years of eligibility remaining, wants to play somewhere else, Clemson will help him find a new school. But the Tigers are four deep with quality tailbacks. McElrathbey is not going to get on the field.
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.
In the real world, people have to make tough decisions that are going to be unpopular. This is one of those.
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Comments
By JIm
March 12, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this
Finally, a straight and honest article about this situation.
Unfortunately, the PR Staff at Clemson is in way above their head (and talent) and has a unique way of snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory!!
Everyone wishes the very best to Ray Ray and his family.
By Roswell Ed
March 12, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this
Talk about being between a rock and a hard place.
You had hoped for a happy ending.
By Barnhart Fan
March 12, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this
“Stories are rarely as simple as they appear.” This is precisely why I read Barnhart’s column. Keep up the good work Tony!
By David Moore
March 12, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this
Tony, Great article and it is refreshing to read an article with all the viewpoints. As a Clemson grad and a fan who follows the program and this story very closely, it was easy to determine that both Coach Bowden and Terry Don Philips handled this situation 100% in Ray Ray’s best interest by preserving his intergrity as well as providing him a path into coaching and the opportunity to earn a free Masters degree. The administration and coaches should be commended not ridiculed.
By cantonfroggy
March 12, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this
Tony: Sounds like you have had a bit more of the orange kool-aid.
Ray Ray was a feel good story two years ago and Clemson benefited from it too. The school and the coaching staff were portrayed, correctly, as caring more about the person than the football program.
However, two years later Ray Ray is not the player they thought he was going to be when they offered him a scholarship. Other players have passed him by.
Let’s face it the feel good story would have been better if he would have developed into starter or a major contributor. Now that it is apparent that he will not be that, it is convenient that he is difficult, has missed team functions, and is needed because he is about to graduate. His value as a PR story for them is gone because Clemson’s PR is now directed at being the top returning team in the ACC.
Not only would the easiest thing would have been to keep him on scholarship, it would have been the honorable thing to do as well.
As far as Clemson not throwing him under the bus for being difficult - exactly who was your source for that nugget above? Looks like the just threw him under courtesy of Mr. College Football.
By Stew
March 12, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this
Great article. Finally, a voice of reason. This young man’s little brother has over 100K in an NCAA approved trust fund. Ray Ray is on track to graduate in August. He is guaranteed two more years of school if he decides to stay on as a Grad assistant - as he has been offered. In what way can anyone think this young man is getting a raw deal? The truth is that Coach TB was never going to violate the kid’s dignity and bring up private matters regarding behavior and discipline. Thank you for printing the truth.
By Edward Thom
March 12, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this
Look at it this way: 1. Ray Ray received a great undergraduate education for free. 2. He has the opportunity to get his graduate degree and gain experience as a GA on the football team for free 3. There is a 100K+ trust fund established throught the generosity of the Clemson family to help Ray Ray and Fahmarr.
The way I see it, that’s not a bad gig.
By Gen Neyland
March 12, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this
Life in the real world has it’s sour moments. As the saying goes, ’ When one door closes, another opens..’ The main pursuit here is to raise a child, football second. Bowden, looking out for the interests of Clemson football, did what he felt he had to do. Now it’s up to Ray Ray to pick up and fulfill his personal obligation to his brother…Football is a teacher of many things associated with life. Character is one, loyality is another. Finish the drill is a life lesson. Finishing the drill is not only a series of running cones, it’s seeing life’s obligations through…No other game teaches this better than football…If Ray Ray learned anything from his years of suiting up, it should be to fight on…
By shane #1
March 12, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this
imo clemson has been more than accomidating for ray ray.he was offered a scholarship to play football,in return clemson offered him a college education.when he graduates clemson will have done more than their duty for this young man.clemson provided room and board for his little brother.asst coaches and their families helped care for the young man out of their own free will.plus over a hundred grand in a bank account.ray ray,you are an adult,soon to have a college diploma.do what others do after graduating,get a job.i don’t think clemson owes him a masters degree.he can do what most post grad students do,work his way through grad school.
By mcdawg
March 12, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this
the guy got his degree in three yrs- i would not presume to think he is playing the victim here-he took advantage of his opportunities-i wish him the best
By Leonard
March 12, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this
If Ray Ray were not a football player,most of the uninformed about the situation and who critize Clemson WITHOUT the facts,would care less! Article was right on the money.
By Jim
March 12, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this
The Clemson staff shouldn’t let me stay on the team just because he has a special situation. They have already bent many rules allowing him to come late to practice and miss meetings because of his situation. Why have a distraction if he is not even going to see the field. Let me take care of the kid more, get a masters degree, and better himself later in life. He is still getting a FREE education and that is not mandatory by Clemson once he finished under-graduate. Clemson is not covering up after doing something wrong, they are covering up all the things he has done that would justify this decision.
By Ludakit
March 12, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this
Tony, I respect your opinions and your writing. From a journalism major to a journalist, I have to admit that I admire what you do.
However, I disagree completely with your assessment.
“McElrathbey has been on athletic scholarship for three years and has played very little because of injuries. He is scheduled to graduate this summer, a notable achievement for which he deserves all of the praise in the world.”
RR’s injuries should not matter at all given the situation. If his injuries were a problem, then he could have qualified for a medical hardship, which would have kept his scholarship intact and would have not counted against Clemson’s numbers (such as UGA’s Antavious Coates).
That scholarship would have allowed him to have his room, board, and tution paid for him. When Clemson decided not to renew his scholarship, they only offered a job with a wage, which I know for a fact that GA’s don’t make that much. Sure, he could continue his education, but he would not have been able to afford a life for himself and his little brother.
So, his injuries are not the issue.
If he was consistently late to team functions, suspend him. My research may be shoddy on this, but I only see where RR was only suspended for four practices in his career. To quote Allen Iverson “We’re talking about practice, man. Not a game. Practice.” If he was that much of a cancer, why not suspend him from some games to send a message. You know, when it counts. Well, that might not have worked because then Clemson couldn’t have rode his PR coatails if he wasn’t dressed out.
And as far as him graduating in three years, he worked his butt off to do that. Where would he be if he wasn’t on pace to graduate? Would he still be outside looking in? I doubt it because at that point he’s not expendable.
Speaking of him graduating in three years, I’d like to point everyone to this article which tells a much different story about RR and his willingness to work hard on and off the field. It seems he was an honor student and won numerous awards for his academic achievement.
RR will be fine because he’s a good kid that’s done the right things. I don’t need to wish him luck because he will create his own. What bothers me, however, is the standard this sets.
Tommy Bowden oversigned his class like only an idiot (insert Nick Saban here) would do. When the “natural attrition” didn’t happen, he had to look for someone expendable. Someone who wasn’t benefiting the team. Someone who already had their degree. Someone, who from the outside, looks like they benefited more from Clemson than Clemson benefited from them.
So for all you third-stringers who already have your degree, watch out. You may go from “backup” to “liability.” Oh, and that freshman phenom who has yet to prove anything may just take that scholarship you’re holding.
By Bama Tiger
March 12, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this
A previous poster said: Not only would the easiest thing would have been to keep him on scholarship, it would have been the honorable thing to do as well.
Isn’t it honorable to guide the young man in a direction that’s in his best interest? Option 1: Pursue a graduate degree on Clemson’s dime while STILL getting help from the coaching staff in raising Fahmarr. Option 2: Transfer to a smaller school with two years of eligibility remaining and the chance to get on the field with a Clemson bachelor’s degree in hand and $100K to help raise his younger brother.
Those are the options the Clemson coaching staff is presenting Ray Ray. Here’s Option 3, that some see—inexplicably—as the best: Remain on athletic scholarship with the team and see if James Davis, CJ Spiller, Jamie Harper, and Andre Ellington all blow their knees out in practice (return to cornerback? check out the depth chart there now).
Young men in their 20s often don’t have the broadest perspective on their choices. I think the Clemson coaching staff has helped direct Ray Ray’s choices toward the two that are OBVIOUSLY best for him.
By AL Byrd
March 12, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this
Good reasonable well prepared article
By AL Byrd
March 12, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this
Good reasonable well prepared article
By cantonfroggy
March 12, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this
Young men in their 20s often don’t have the broadest perspective on their choices. I think the Clemson coaching staff has helped direct Ray Ray’s choices toward the two that are OBVIOUSLY best for him.
Perhaps … however, they expedited this decision for him but not renewing his scholarship. Via Mr. Barnhart they imply that he has been difficult which may impact his ability to transfer to another school.
They say they will help him with a transfer but what school is going to take him if he is a head case?
Clemson was more then willing to bask in the glow of praise they received from helping his family when it was needed. They should take their lumps for the unseemly way of disposing of him.
By pollo loco
March 12, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this
I disagree Tony.
I think this is just another demonstration of Bowden’s blatent lack of ethics.
From the looks at things at FSU it appears the apple may not fall far from the tree.
Sending this kind of message is going to catch up with Clemson’s football program sooner or later and I bet it’s not going to be pretty.
By Ludakit
March 12, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this
I would like to point out one more problem here with Clemson and how they’ve handled this situation:
Clemson starting MLB Courtney Vincent has a DUI arrest (from last December no less!) and has already gotten himself in trouble again for “violating team rules.” Rumors (and take them as just that) are circling suggesting it could be the result of a positive drug test, but it may be as minor as skipping class.
However, Vincent did not have his scholarship revoked after being a disruption to the team. Instead, he will only be suspended for spring practice.
So let me get this straight. Since Vincent is a starting LB for Clemson, he can drink and drive and “violate team rules” and only miss one start in last year’s bowl game and then miss the entire spring practice. RR is apparently late to meetings and has only been suspended for four practices, but he has his scholarship revoked “for the good of the entire team.”
If RR was never going to see the field, then it’s his choice to stay. What Bowden should have done is let RR make that decision and if he chose to stay, then Bowden would have to suffer the consequences of RR’s decision since it was Bowden that signed too many players.
Mark Richt was in a similar situation with Blake Barnes, but he told Blake it was his choice to make and Blake left the team willingly to play ball elsewhere. No hard feelings, just reality. That’s a perfect demonstration of class and commitment.
Tommy Bowden is a hypocrite.
Period.
By murdock5151
March 12, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this
nice spin tony. clemson is revoking a scolorship for a player that isn’t going to play. schools all over the country have players that never pan out and play on the scout team or are buried in the depth chart but they still honor their scholorship. yeah they are offering him a ga position which will pay his tuition but a scholorship pays for room and board also. they simply over signed their recruiting class and are making room by revoking scholorships for players they don’t want. to try to say they are looking out for his best interests is a joke
By Chad Loflin
March 12, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this
I just hope that Ray Ray and Faymar will be able to get the best of their experience at Clemson Univerity. I would hate to see them leave, but if that’s where Ray Ray has a better opportuniy, I wish him the best of luck.
By reservoirDAWG
March 12, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this
Tony, what do you of the real world. You’re a sports writer.
By bigbankhank
March 12, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this
Bowden is a crook. had he not oversigned this never would have happened. the guy is a total fraud.
By Brian
March 12, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this
Always more to the story than the public knows like Tony states in the article. Tommy Bowden is smart enough to know that he would be skewered by the media if he cut Ray Ray just to make the 85 scholarship limit and that’s why that is not the reason. If it was just a numbers crunch then Bowden would have “cut” some obscure 3rd-4th teamer that would have escaped the media’s scrutiny, not someone who has been in the media spotlight over the last 2 years. More than likely, there are issues that Tommy doesn’t care to “air out” in the media which in the end is beneficial to Ray Ray.
By Chuck
March 12, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this
Tony, if the only sin that Ray Ray committed was being late for a couple of team functions, can anyone blame him? He had a couple more responsibilities than most college players do. The truth is that Clemson got plenty of mileage out his story in the PR department, but when that well was dry, they let him go.
Maybe if he had gotten arrested like starting linebacker Courtney Vincent did, he’d still have a scholarship. Maybe he wasn’t going to crack the two-deep at running back this year, but he played special teams as a redshirt freshman, can’t they use him there?
The truth is that Ray Ray was a victim of a coach who over-signed in February. Then Bowden called Ray Ray in his office right before spring practice begins to tell him he won’t be playing any more. He didn’t tell him during winter workouts, during those mat drills, or while he was busting his chops rehabbing his torn ACL. No, he told him right before he was going to get back on the field with his teammates who have supported him.
Fahmarr will never get to see his big brother walk out on the field on Senior Day.
Callous—pure and simple.
By BK
March 12, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this
“Bowden has been portrayed as this cold, unfeeling person who is cutting Ray Ray loose simply because Clemson needed the scholarship.”
Actually, that is precisely how Bowden should be portrayed, because it is an acurate portrayal. The ONE scholarship freed up by McElrathbey’s being removed from the team isn’t going to make any difference for Clemson. Is the ONE scholarship going to mean a difference between a berth in the Humanitarian Bowl and a BCS berth? In fact, most coaches do not use their full compliment of 85 scholarships so they will have room to maneuver in situations such as this one. The sad fact is that Bowden does just enough every year or two to keep himself employed at Clemson. Meanwhile, the people who have generated the most goodwill and PR for Clemson in the past couple of years have been Ray Ray and Fahmarr McElrathbey. And now Ray Ray has been cast aside because Bowden thinks he can do better. Coach Tommy Bowden has shown an incredible lack of class and character in this situation. The PR nightmare Bowden and Clemson will receive will be well deserved.
By AJCReader
March 12, 2008 5:05 PM | Link to this
I think TB would punch his own mother in the guts if that would get him another football scholarship.
By Tommy B.
March 12, 2008 5:11 PM | Link to this
Nice to see all of the chickens coming out of their pens to chime in. Don’t you people need to get back to work, so you can make bail for your players?
P.S. I own Spurrier’s a*.
By Tommy B.
March 12, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this
I think he would punch your mother. I would too.
By jimmy morgan
March 12, 2008 5:28 PM | Link to this
I can not see Tommy Bowden as a cold heartless man who would put a family out in the cold. I am a Tiger fan and i hate to see Ray Ray not make it at Clemson as a player. However, Coach Bowden is hired and paid by Clemson to make football decisions,and im sure he made this one with a heavy heart.
By jimmy morgan
March 12, 2008 5:42 PM | Link to this
why are people so stupid. i hear Ga fans and SC fans writing about a Clemson problem. Hate the winners boys,, not the Coach.
By Clemson Sux
March 12, 2008 6:21 PM | Link to this
There may be factors that we are not aware of, but the bottom line is: “Clemson has always suxed.”
By Getoverit
March 12, 2008 7:57 PM | Link to this
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.
If Ray Ray wanted to play football next year, all he would have to do is say “Coach I’m going to come to spring practice and prove that I can play.” Otherwise do you really think that Ray Ray would want to play on the scout team next year as a graduate student.
Tommy Bowden desires some critism, but this is not one of them. Congratulation to the Tony Barnhart and the AJC for getting it right. SI and others are more interested in doing a hatch job or creating a sensational story when there is none.
By eh
March 12, 2008 9:14 PM | Link to this
His graduate assistant position does not pay room and board… just books. It is not in any way equivalent to an undergrad scholarship. Ray Ray (an honor roll student) should try to transfer to Stanford, where school is free for families earning under $60k a year (and) he can play for a major conference school. That way when he graduates he will also have a great degree to go out and get a top job with… plus the weather rocks.
By paw083
March 12, 2008 9:24 PM | Link to this
Tony, thanks for an accurate article. It amazes me how many folks out there form harsh opinions for something they have such topical knowledge of. Tommy does a great job of graduating men, Ray Ray is just another one of those men.
By Bryan
March 12, 2008 9:36 PM | Link to this
tough decisions huh Especially if you oversign.
By Brian
March 13, 2008 8:37 AM | Link to this
One correction is that his room and board will be paid along with tuition, books, etc.
Again, Ray Ray was not cut just to make 85 limit. Too many scholarship players at the bottom of the depth charts, without the notoriety of Ray Ray, that Bowden could have cut just to make the number. Do you not think that Clemson knew there would be a negative portrayal by the media if they were to just cut Ray Ray loose? In the end, Bowden/Clemson will have to give more of the details that they were hoping to keep in-house which will not be doing Ray Ray any favors.
Much ado about nothing from our feathered-friends in Columbia. Instead of throwing stones at Clemson, they need to figure out how to prevent ruining another “legend” which they are well on their way of doing. Also, they need to remember when Spurrier ran off scholarship players 2 weeks before preseason practice began which left those kids with no options at all. Worst case, if this is just a cut(wrong), at least Bowden has given Ray Ray options- stay as a GA and have school paid or have 5 months to find another school with the staffs help while taking his $100K+ trust that Clemson set up for him. Wow, those are just terrible options.
By dean
March 13, 2008 8:37 AM | Link to this
As a UGA alumni I do not know the whole story here but Tony writes a great article that shows there is more to this than what is being portrayed by the mass media. I don’t follow Clemson athletics so I just don’t know. It appears to me that Clemson has done pretty good for Ray Ray and his brother. People unfamiliar with Clemson athletics just need to stay out of it. No rules have been broken and two young men have been given the opportunities to improve their lives. Isn’t that the main job of our universities?
By bob
March 13, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this
everybody commenting on here is probably a clemson student or grad that doesn’t want their school to have a bad name, i hope clemson loses every game this year
By Ludakit
March 13, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this
Bob, you don’t have to worry about Clemson losing a lot of games this year.
Remember, Ray Ray was cut. Not Tommy Bowden. A disappointing season is still within reach.
By Tikadul
March 13, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this
Remember Ray Ray still has an offer for a FREE masters! Remember Fahmarr still has a $100k trust. Remember “Mr. College Football” played less than the waterboy and is coming out of these terrible unfair dealings by Clemson with a free bachelors, offer of a free masters and at minimum $100k trust fund for his brother!
If RR has been treated so unfairly y’all can conribute some more to the trust fund in order to help this travesty!!!! I don’t know how I would have ever come to terms with the injustice of a free BS, MS, and a six figure trust fund for my brother!
By warren
March 13, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this
The negative remarks I see here about TB are uncalled for. I’m not a particular fan of his personality but he runs a clean program and with a few exceptions, his players stay out of trouble and graduate, many of them ahead of schedule. None other than Mark Richt thinks enough of him to send his son to play for him.
Probably no one other than those closest to the Clemson program know everything necessary to make this decision. Ray Ray is to be admired and commended for taking on the responsibilities he has during a time he was still growing up himself. Now he is being offered an athletic department scholarship instead of a football scholarship. No disrespect intended but he’s never been more than a third-stringer at any position when everybody was healthy. College is for pursuing a vocation. Its obvious pro football is not going to be that vocation for Ray Ray. Clemson is offering him the opportunity to further enhance his skills for another vocation. Many college students find it difficult to move on to the next stage in life. Hopefully, Ray Ray will see that the way he can best prepare himself and Farmar for the future is to accept the fact he’s not destined to play pro ball, and accept Clemson’s offer. If so, he’ll go a long way towards having the respect of those that want to see him succeed in life.
By Kcin16
March 14, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this
RR has gotten an opportunity most would love to have….& he has taken advantage of it-graduating, trust fund, opportunity to get his masters, etc. Clemson made a decision some like & some don’t. Big deal, they made their decision, RR benefits, his brother benefits & Clemson benefits. Sheesh, some people just have to be causing chaos to be happy.
Bold:Hey BAMA TIGER……I see you will make one heck of a journalist @ the famed Montgomery Advertiser one day! Your ability to work a jab @ Saban into an article about a Clemson FB player & Tommy Bowden is absolutely AUbarn-esque. Get over yourself & stay classy!
By Kcin16
March 14, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this
RR has gotten an opportunity most would love to have….& he has taken advantage of it-graduating, trust fund, opportunity to get his masters, etc. Clemson made a decision some like & some don’t. Big deal, they made their decision, RR benefits, his brother benefits & Clemson benefits. Sheesh, some people just have to be causing chaos to be happy.
Bold:Hey BAMA TIGER……I see you will make one heck of a journalist @ the famed Montgomery Advertiser one day! Your ability to work a jab @ Saban into an article about a Clemson FB player & Tommy Bowden is absolutely AUbarn-esque. OBSESS MUCH???? Which is it? Tigah, Purple Tiger, or War Chicken Tiger :)
By Kcin16
March 14, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this
RR has gotten an opportunity most would love to have….& he has taken advantage of it-graduating, trust fund, opportunity to get his masters, etc. Clemson made a decision some like & some don’t. Big deal, they made their decision, RR benefits, his brother benefits & Clemson benefits. Sheesh, some people just have to be causing chaos to be happy.
Bold:Hey BAMA TIGER……I see you will make one heck of a journalist @ the famed Montgomery Advertiser one day! Your ability to work a jab @ Saban into an article about a Clemson FB player & Tommy Bowden is absolutely AUbarn-esque. OBSESS MUCH???? Which is it? Tigah, Purple Tiger, or War Chicken Tiger
By Bird Dawg
March 17, 2008 9:20 PM | Link to this
Coach Bowden can be portrayed any way the media chooses, but the fact is he is a football coach and has a job to do, or he won’t have a job. I remember reading the whole RAYRAY story and thinking to myself, this kind of thing wouldn’t have been done 30 years ago. Clemson had an opportunity to get some good PR, Clemson supporters ponied up for the kid and all was well. Now its time to make a HARD DECISION? What’s hard about it? The Kid, farmer, is set. RAYRAY is no longer a contributor, cut him loose. He’ll have his degree and happy trails! Hey RAYRAY, it’s called life. You got something for nothing, now its time for you to give a little back.