Donations near $50,000 for McElrathbays

Clemson freshman football player Ray Ray McElrathbey obtained custody of his 11-year-old brother Fahmarr this summer to keep him away from a drug-addled mother.

However, arcane NCAA rules prevented him from being able to accept help from coaches and alumni in the care for his brother, including gifts, child care or even rides.

from September 5th: "While many in the athletic department have asked to help the McElrathbeys, Clemson must be careful the help is not seen as extra benefits in violation of NCAA rules. Clemson and the ACC have worked on a waiver request to the NCAA, athletic spokesman Tim Bourret said.

(Coach) Koenning doesn't understand why his wife or other members of Clemson's coaching family can't assist with a trip to the grocery store or school. "I can take two boxes of toys out of my basement and give them to Goodwill, but I can't give them to Ray Ray?"

However, in a rare example of humanity, the NCAA did eventually grant a waiver so that a fund could be set up to help both brothers, and so that the coaches and their wives could help care for Fahmarr.

Chicken soup for the football soul in 5,4,3,2, 1...

The State | 10/03/2006 | Donations near $50,000 for McElrathbays: "CLEMSON — Almost $50,000 has been raised in two weeks to help redshirt freshman Ray Ray McElrathbey raise his 11-year-old brother, Fahmarr.

Bill Harley, senior vice president of First Citizens Bank in Clemson, said the trust fund established to assist McElrathbey has drawn contributions from around the world.

Nearly 400 checks have been contributed, with donations coming from a diverse group of sources including an unspecified NBA player who went to an ACC school but has no Clemson ties; a U.S. soldier stationed in Germany, also without Clemson ties; the manager of the rock group REM; and a young girl who stapled her weekly $1 allowance to her parents’ check.

“I don’t think anybody had any reference for what people were going to do,” Harley said.

Chris Olson, an attorney in Clemson, has stored contributions in an escrow account until paperwork setting up the trust fund’s dispersal details are finalized, which could happen as early as this week.

The account totals $48,619."