Ray Ray can stay; won't play

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 information 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.