C.J. Spiller News Archives

First, we learned that when the offensive line can create rushing lanes, the Gamecocks are hard to slow down given the number of other weapons in the arsenal that suddenly become available: fullback Patrick DiMarco, tight end Weslye Saunders, receivers Tori Gurley, Moe Brown and Alshon Jeffrey.

The bad news for No. 15 Clemson's defense: It's next opponent is the ACC's preeminent rushing quarterback.

No one on South Carolina's defense has a Heisman Trophy vote, although the Gamecocks have had a first-hand look at more candidates this year than anyone who was mailed a ballot.

NO. 15 CLEMSON AT SOUTH CAROLINA When. 11 a.m. today. TV. ESPN. Story lines. The Gamecocks have beaten Clemson only twice in the past 12 years.

The Gamecocks and Tigers will tee it up for the 107th time on Saturday in the Battle For The Palmetto State.

Amid the bustle outside No. 15 Clemson's locker room after Saturday's game, tight end Michael Palmer grabbed offensive coordinator Billy Napier's shoulder and whispered a brief message.

The coaching staffs at Clemson and South Carolina know each other well - on and off the field.

Although Clemson University has the momentum, the better record and a higher ranking in the polls, Las Vegas forecasters have the Tigers beating the University of South Carolina Gamecocks by just a field goal in today's matchup at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia.

George Rogers says he plans to vote for C.J. Spiller in this year's Heisman Trophy balloting.

In what Head USC Football Coach Steve Spurrier is calling the "Biggest Game of the Year" for his Gamecocks, the Head Ball Coach is hoping his team can snap a three-game losing streak, while the No.

Clemson senior running back C.J. Spiller is a finalist for the Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nationa TMs top running back, and the only player in the country this season to score a touchdown in every game his team has played.

CLEMSON - After the loss to Texas Christian the fourth game of the season, running back C.J. Spiller said he felt Clemson was a top 15 team.

There isn't a line of USC players and coaches waiting to exit. Nor is Clemson fighting for bowl eligibility as its coaching staff scratches to save its jobs.

There's just something about this time of year that allows for the re-emergence of South Carolina running back Brian Maddox.

People always talk about wanting a season to remember, and man, how can they forget what this has been in college football? Southern California fell down, got up, then got knocked down, again and again; Notre Dame didn't get better this season, something even worse happened - the Irish were irrelevant.

November 20, 2009 - 12:18 a.m. EST Photo Rex Brown Clemson's C.J. Spiller high-steps into the end zone for a touchdown during the Tigers' win over Florida State, Nov.

South Carolina defensive tackle Nathan Pepper doesn't parse his words when he is asked about last year's 17-point loss to Clemson that wasn't even that close.

Williston-Elko wide receiver Dexter Staley is a determined and confident athlete.

Spiller rushes for 165 yards, touchdown as Clemson routs Florida St. WERE YOU THERE? Did you attend this game? If so, start chronicling your sports memories today with ESPN's Sports Passport.

The Atlantic Coast Conference championship game can wait for Clemson. It's South Carolina week, and that's too important for the 15th-ranked Tigers to overlook.

This is the strangest season in Heisman Trophy history. That's a big statement, but I feel good about it.

Dabo Swinney suggested he prayed hard for Clemson to reach next week's ACC championship game because of what it would mean to former coach Danny Ford, who will be honored there as the program's designated "legend" this year.

Clemson running back C.J. Spiller has been named a finalist for the 2009 Doak Walker Award.

Clemson University's C.J. Spiller is a finalist for the Doak Walker Award, presented to college football's best running back.

C.J. Spiller scored a touchdown Saturday in his final game at Death Valley and No.

COLUMBIA - In Alabama running back Melvin Ingram and Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, the University of South Carolina has faced two of the top candidates to win this year's Heisman Trophy.

Mark Ingram rushed for 102 yards Saturday on only 11 carries . Alabama tailback Mark Ingram 's shortened day against UT-Chattanooga didn't seem to have much impact on his Heisman Trophy stock.

A Boston College loss in its final two games also would clinch the Atlantic Division title for Clemson.

C.J. Spiller can thank Jamie Harpera s 69-yard touchdown as the reason he did not have another shot at reaching the 100 yard plateau in Clemsona s 43-23 win at N.C. State.

CLEMSON - C.J. Spiller said he came to Clemson University for games such as this one today.

Virginia actually moved up a spot in the total-offense, from 119th to 118th among 120 Division I-A teams on the basis of its 298-yard afternoon in a 14-10 loss to Boston College.

CLEMSON - Running back C.J. Spiller secured a place of esteem in Clemson University football history this season and deserves a place at the table with the best in school history, say three members of the Ring of Honor, the pinnacle of achievement in Clemson athletics.

We interrupt our weeklong Richmond-William and Mary hype to address another football matter, this of more regional, and perhaps national, interest.

Emotions in Clemson will be running high this Saturday when the Virginia Cavaliers come to town.

For a South Carolina team that struggled with its kickoff coverage for much of the season, kicking it to Clemson's C.J. Spiller next week would seem to be the perfect storm.

The offense for No. 18 Clemson has expanded beyond Tiger stars C.J. Spiller and Jacoby Ford.

There are only three weeks left in the regular season, and after Alabamaa s big win, running back Mark Ingram remains in the lead in this edition of Dan Malkina s Heisman watch.

BOB SELF/The Times-Union Tim Tebow, shown Oct. 31 against Georgia, has fallen to third and fourth in the major Heisman Trophy polls.

Clemson's Dabo Swinney has an idea how to get star tailback C.J. Spiller a bit more attention in his Heisman Trophy drive.

If we were to make a Venn diagram -- admit it, they're a lot of fun -- you wouldn't expect the worlds of Miley Cyrus and the Clemson-South Carolina football rivalry to intersect.

The Clemson Tigers are set for a critical ACC game against the Virginia Cavaliers in Death Valley on Saturday afternoon.

Clemson running back C.J. Spiller has been named one of 15 "Players to Watch" in the race for the 2009 Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.

Stanford running back Toby Gerhart has been mostly overlooked despite rushing for 1,395 yards and 19 touchdowns.

You can argue who the best pure running back in the country is. You can argue which undefeated team has the most talented player.

ACC Football has an image problem. Critics say there have been a lack of big non-conference wins.

Clemson had just lost two games in a row. There was a respectable, but still disappointing loss to a very good TCU Horned Frogs teams.

Alabama running back Mark Ingram gets a crack at Florida's vaunted defense in the SEC championship game.

The bad thing about losing before an open date, as Steve Spurrier noted Sunday, is your team has two weeks to think about the loss.

After three quarters, N.C. StateA trails Clemson 30-14 but is deep in TigerA territory.

The Clemson Tigers pounded the N.C. State Wolfpack 43-24 Saturday, moving them one game closer to an appearance in the ACC Championship game.

The Heisman Trophy will be presented four weeks from tonight. As the race gets serious, here's a look at how the contenders did or are doing today.

RALEIGH, N.C. - C.J. Spiller accounted for three touchdowns and Clemson defeated N.C. State, 43-23, Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium.

Striking the Heisman pose The Heisman Trophy is the most prestigious award in sports.

C.J. Spiller, running back for the Clemson Tigers football team, speaks to young people at The Hangar at First Baptist Church of Spartanburg.

Michael Palmer won't deny it. The Clemson tight end can't help but consider a division crown and a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game.

CUTigers.com talks 1-on-1 with C.J. Spiller as the Tigers prepare to take on N.C. State.

Life after Spiller. The prospect is inevitable, and troubling for the Tigers. "I don't want to think about," said tight end Michael Palmer, a senior who won't even be around next season.

Clemson tailback C.J. Spiller has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award that goes to the nation's best running back.

C.J. Spiller's toe hurts with nearly every stride, which means a bolt of pain for almost every one of the 312 all-purpose yards the Clemson running back gained last week.

Florida State is now out of the picture for winning the ACC Atlantic Division, playing in the ACC Championship game and being in an BCS bowl.

The Clemson Tigers are so close to attaining a goal they have never reached, it's impossible for them not to notice.

Time: Today at 7:45 p.m. n Site: Memorial Stadium, Clemson, S.C. n Online: Live-game blog on NoleSports.com. n TV: ESPN.

Clemson running back C.J. Spiller, who set a school record for all-purpose yards and a personal record for rushing yards Saturday, has been selected offensive back of the week for the third time by the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Bobby Bowden joins today a group of five college football coaches who were still coaching at the age of 80.

What looked entirely possible in September appears imminently probable in November.

November 8, 2009 - 01:15 a.m. EST Photo Click on photo to enlarge Annemarie Jacques For The Journal Clemson's Andre Ellington tries to break free from a tackler during the Tigers' 40-24 win over Florida State on Saturday night at Memorial Stadium in Clemson.

C.J. Spiller discusses Clemson's 40-24 win over Florida State with ACC blogger Heather Dinich.

The first words out of Florida State defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews' mouth when mentioning Clemson running back C.J. Spiller are, "Oh, man." That's been the standard response to Spiller this season.

A month ago, few would have expected Clemson's game Saturday against Florida State could be one of the more interesting games of the weekend.

For the final time this week, Christian Ponder had to answer questions about his ribs.

The annual trap has been set, and Dabo Swinney is trying to steer Clemson clear by imparting tunnel vision.

It is the million-dollar question surrounding Clemson football these days: Why do teams continue to kick and punt the ball to C.J. Spiller? Spiller has three kickoff returns for touchdowns of 90 or more yards and one punt return of 72 yards for a score.

October 31, 2009 - 12:10 a.m. EST Photo Greg Oliver Following the conclusion of last Sunday's worship service, a fellow church member and ardent South Carolina fan asked me if I was happy about Clemson's 40-37 overtime road win over Miami the previous day.

Bobby Bowden wanted one more season from the defensive coordinator who was so instrumental in building a football dynasty during the late 1980s and 1990s and capturing two national titles at Florida State.

TALLAHASSEE -- Seniority apparently doesn't mean much for Florida State football players when it comes to securing game tickets from teammates.

LET'S LOOK AHEAD: Florida State on Saturday will travel to Clemson's Memorial Stadium , where the Seminoles haven't won since 2001.

The undercard of Clemson vs. Miami was Miami offensive coordinator Mark Whipple vs.