FanHouse RayRayMcElrathbey

9 + 2 + 1 + like 5 maybe at the outside = 26.

I don't wish to unduly harp on the topic of oversigning, but I kinda have to when my Fanhouse compatriot Pete Holiday says things like this...

You might notice that Cook's assertion was that over-signing is to blame was completely devoid of any sort of support for the claim. If you took a look at any of the other reports around the web, you'd probably notice the same thing. Nobody seems to be able to cite, or they aren't interested in citing, any sort of sources or facts before they try to burn Clemson and/or Bowden in effigy.

...one is kinda forced to defend his honor. A duel, you say? Let's report to the rosters.

Clemson's 2007 roster shows nine scholarship seniors plus two guys who may or may not be on scholarship: Duquesne transfer Jermaine Martin, a reserve tight end, and long snapper Colin Leonard. I doubt either of those guys has been promised a year-to-year scholarship (Leonard probably gets the first one vacated by malfeasance), but let's be super generous to the Tigers and assume both those guys are scholarships freeing up. That's eleven. Defensive end Philip Merling entered the draft. That's twelve. Starting MLB Cortney Vincent has a DUI and a further unspecified violation of team rules and may get the boot. That's thirteen.

Clemson running back Ray Ray McElrathbey is a very nice man you've probably heard all about before -- due to familial hijinks, McElrathbey is the guardian of his little brother Farmar, something which was important enough to draw ESPN's Shelley Smithy away from her permanent job shadowing Pete Carroll -- but his ACL fails to live up to Ray Ray's high standards:

McElrathbey was injured during practice Thursday and spokesman Tim Bourret confirmed Friday that he tore his anterior cruciate ligament.

This is unlikely to affect Clemson in any way with the terrifying one-two punch of James Davis and CJ Spiller (pictured) returning, but you can expect sepia-toned tributes to his remarkable perseverance on ESPN, as completely over-covering sap is ESPN's modus operandi. This injury gives them an opportunity to revisit the touching but so done McElrathbey saga; woe upon those wishing to see actual analysis.

I mean... not that I have anything against McElrathbey; I just worry about the prospect of my eyes rolling so far up into my head that they just stick there, causing me to miss precious college football in the ER.

I'm not really sure this is of utmost importance for Congress, but I support the discussion:

A Chicago congressman plans to summon university presidents to a hearing on whether college athletes should be paid, saying athletes are being exploited for their ability to help schools realize extravagant revenues.

Rep. Bobby Rush, chairman of a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee, wants to know why college basketball and football players, in particular, aren't compensated for logging hundreds of hours for training, practices and games-free labor, he calls it-that can help institutions reap millions of dollars in TV and other revenues.

Frustratingly for the NCAA, this issue just won't go away. Ramogi Huma's doing his thing through the courts. Reggie Bush allegedly flaunted the NCAA's will on compensation last year. I think most people are sympathetic to both figures and athletes at large and don't understand the heavy-handedness about everything from work hours to the occasional meal on the side that is so thoroughly regulated.

It took overwhelming public demand to force the NCAA's direly reluctant hand in allowing Clemson (and many other) fans to donate money and services to Clemson player Ray Ray McElrathbey last year when he assumed custody of his younger brother as their mother fought a drug addiction.

The more these situations pile up, the more silly the NCAA looks. I'm not sure "compensation" is the solution, but certainly a greater level of understanding and willingness to recalibrate the rules might buy time and much-needed goodwill with athletes and the public.

(Via Ben Maller and Get the Picture)