Accessibility links
A Clemson Player's Much-Needed NCAA Waiver Ramon McElrathbey, a freshman red-shirt football player at Clemson University, has been taking care of his 11-year-old brother because their mother is addicted to crack cocaine and their father has a gambling problem. This week, McElrathbey was granted a waiver of NCAA rules that forbid cash payments to college football players.

Sports

A Clemson Player's Much-Needed NCAA Waiver

Heard on All Things Considered

A Clemson Player's Much-Needed NCAA Waiver

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/6062926/6062927" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Ramon McElrathbey, a freshman red-shirt football player at Clemson University, has been taking care of his 11-year-old brother because their mother is addicted to crack cocaine and their father has a gambling problem.

This week, McElrathbey was granted a waiver of NCAA rules that forbid cash payments to college football players.

McElrathbey says he can now set up a trust fund for the care of his brother -- who, he says, is also gaining a whole football team of older brothers. Robert Siegel talks with McElrathbey.