The Ray Ray saga is just a little bit stranger

By Marc Hudgens  |   Sunday, March 30, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

Clemson Tigers
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Three weeks ago Clemson announced that Ray Ray McElrathbey, who rose to fame in 2006 when he took custody of his younger brother, Fahmarr, because of his mother's drug addiction at the time, had his scholarship for the 2008-09 academic year stripped from him.

"Right now we're pretty good at running back. He's a talented player. This is a situation where he'll have a degree, so he'll be pretty marketable. It's a situation similar to Demerick Chancellor," head coach Tommy Bowden stated as the main reason of McElrathbey's release.

Well, it's not all that similar, as Chancellor reportedly left voluntarily, unlike McElrathbey. But anyway...

Bowden drove the point home even further, later reiterating, "The injuries really hurt him...We've got two pretty good running backs playing ahead of him. I think he's going to transfer somewhere else to play or might go right into graduate school."

Somewhat understandable, because Clemson's backfield is indeed more than loaded, particularly given the recent signings of highly-rated high school backs Andre Ellington and Jamie Harper. There was just no room for another running back. Supposedly.

Then last Monday we read where Bowden is going to move receiver-turned-linebacker, Rendrick Taylor, to the running back position. The same position that was allegedly so full there was no room for McElrathbey.

"Rendrick is up to 242 so we are going to try him at tailback a little bit," Bowden said. "We about did it last year. It is something we'll experiment with and try him there...It might be permanent. It might not."

So, Clemson is basically replacing McElrathbey, who has experience in the position and performed very well in the 2007 Orange-White spring game, with Taylor, who not only has no experience at the position but also is injury-prone.

Other reasons given for McElrathbey's release is he missed team meetings and a few academic issues. However I find it hard to believe that, if true, it was so bad to warrant a release. It's not like he got busted for a DUI and has violated team rules like linebacker Cortney Vincent, who is suspended but somehow still on the team.

And graduating in three years while playing football while raising his younger brother is not indicative of a student-athlete who is having major problems in the classroom. Matter of fact, McElrathbey made honor roll while majoring in sociology. A far cry from "general studies."

This saga is like an onion; as we learn more to this story, the more onionskin layers are peeled off, and the closer we get to its core. And like an onion, this story has surely brought tears to many eyes.
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About Marc Hudgens

Marc Hudgens has been with RealFootball365 since 2007, covering college football, specifically Clemson and Oregon. He also writes for SouthernPigskin.com covering the ACC. He enjoys the acidic wit of Hunter S. Thompson, is a freelance graphic designer and has written several screenplays. He...
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