Clemson Football Player (Freshman) Raises Brother

[latetoschool]

<p>Some positive press for a change, though, it’s hard to see how the young man will find the energy to keep it up:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/09/05/clemson.mcelrathbey.ap/index.html[/url]”>http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/09/05/clemson.mcelrathbey.ap/index.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[DRJ4]

<p>What a great story about an amazing young man.</p>

<p>

The transition from football player to caregiver is one McElrathbey has cherished since Fahmarr’s arrival in June.</p>

<p>“As a brother, it was still me first. As a parent, it’s him first,” McElrathbey says. “Before I do anything for me, got to do stuff for him.”</p>

<p>The elder McElrathbey sounds like a father discussing the struggles of managing a sixth-grader. It often takes two or three shouts before Fahmarr rises and puts on his clothes. McElrathbey signs off on his brother’s homework, meets with guidance counselors and tries to keep more fruit around the house.</p>

<hr>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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?”</p>

<p>McElrathbey has no time left for a job, but makes extra spending money washing cars or mowing lawns. He says there is nothing they need he can’t afford. “I just had to get rid of the ‘great’ things, what I call the material things,” McElrathbey said.

This young man is a winner in the truest sense of the word.</p>