Spiller Gets a Cherry, Not an Orange

By MikeBullock  |   Monday, December 07, 2009  |  Comments( 0 )

Clemson Tigers
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When a player as amazing as senior halfback C.J. Spiller, the NCAA’s all-purpose yardage record holder, ACC Player of the Year and Clemson Tiger single season touchdown record holder, has the game of his life, you’d expect that spectacular things would be the result.

Despite several nagging injuries and while facing the vaunted Georgia Tech defense, Spiller ripped off two hundred and thirty three rushing yards on twenty carries (that’s a staggering 11.65 yards per carry average), four touchdowns and 301 total yards on the day.

Unfortunately, the rest of the Clemson Tigers were unable to rise to the level Spiller modeled as they lost the ACC Championship game 39-34 to the ACC Champion Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Dreams of an Orange Bowl berth vanished in the wind as the final seconds ticked off the game clock Saturday night and the Tigers would have to wait until Sunday evening to discover where their season would finally wind down.

Asked if he was now second guessing his choice to forgo the NFL draft and return for his senior season, Spiller maintained his integrity.

“Without a doubt, I am very glad I came back. It’s what I wanted to be at, a championship game and graduating, all of that,” Spiller replied. “So hopefully the other guys can see, even recruits, you come to Clemson, it’s not a layoff. You’re going to compete for championships year in and year out. Very glad I came back to play with my teammates. They taught me a lot this season about never giving up, just sticking there and gutting it out.”

And why wouldn’t he be glad he stayed at Clemson? Spiller now owns a record book nearly all to himself, with the aforementioned NCAA and Clemson records, as well as ACC Championship game record for most points scored. Spiller is also the only player in NCAA history to rack up more than 3,000 rushing yards, 2,000 yards on kickoff returns, 1,000 receiving yards and 500 more in punt return yardage for a career total of 7442 yards.

With the upcoming Gaylord Hotels’ Music City Bowl against the Kentucky Wildcats coming on Sunday, December 27th, Spiller will have some time to reflect on what an amazing career he’s had at Clemson, before putting the cherry on top two days after Christmas. While he might have preferred to end his college days with an orange, Spiller should have no regrets as he prepares for a bright future at the next level.
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