By Bud L. Ellis
C.J. Spiller might have been shut out of the Heisman Trophy awards ceremony last weekend, but the standout Clemson running back earned quite a prestigious honor Tuesday.
Spiller landed on The Associated Press first-team All-American squad today, earning an all-purpose offense selection. And indeed, Spiller made an impact in a variety of ways for the Tigers.
The senior rushed for 1,145 yards and 11 touchdowns, caught four touchdown passes, returned four kickoffs for touchdowns and brought back a punt for a TD. His efforts helped fuel Clemson’s run to an eight-win season and the ACC championship game, during which he earned MVP honors by scoring four touchdowns in a 39-34 loss to Georgia Tech.
Plenty of people felt Spiller should have been one of the five finalists invited to last weekend’s Heisman Trophy ceremony. He wasn’t, but Spiller will be able to make one more impact for the Tigers in the Music City Bowl, Dec. 27 against Kentucky in Nashville.
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Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at 10:58 pm by bud
Tags: ACC, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Heisman Trophy, Kentucky, Music City Bowl
The Clemson Tigers made a serious run at the ACC title before falling to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, 39-34.
The two teams traded the lead several times, but Clemson managed to take control in the fourth quarter.
Unfortunately for the Tigers, their defense was unable to keep Georgia Tech out of the end zone and from getting the game-winning score.
Clemson tried to mount a late comeback, but a drive in the final minutes ended on the failure to convert on fourth down.
It was really the perfect way for Clemson to cap off the season given how up and down they have been all year long.
Saturday, December 12, 2009 at 9:01 am by steve
By Bud L. Ellis
On the surface, coming oh so close to the ACC championship and a trip to the Orange Bowl still stings the Clemson Tigers.
But wipe away the pain of Saturday night’s 39-34 loss to Georgia Tech in the ACC title game, and there is plenty of reason for the Tigers to still be excited about the 2009 season.
Clemson won the ACC’s Atlantic Division, sits at 8-5 on the season, and can wrap up an impressive campaign in coach Dabo Swinney’s first full season at the helm in Nashville two days after Christmas.
The Tigers will take on Kentucky in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 27, a short ride from campus that pits two quality programs looking to end 2009 on a high note. It’s a rematch of the 2006 Music City Bowl, a game Kentucky won 28-20 that started the Wildcats’ current three-game bowl winning streak.
Plenty of good things have happened for Clemson this season, and the Music City Bowl is a chance to watch one of the most accomplished Tigers in history make his final collegiate appearance. Senior C.J. Spiller, the ACC’s player of the year who scored four touchdowns in the conference title game – en route to winning MVP honors – has set or tied 31 school records.
Spiller, who inexplicably wasn’t invited to New York as one of the finalists for the Heisman Trophy, is just 349 yards away from becoming the all-time leader in NCAA history in all-purpose yards. He’d need a monster game to set the mark in the Music City Bowl, but he did rush for 233 yards against Georgia Tech last week.
Spiller has scored a touchdown in every game this season, the only player in major college football to do so. His 50 career touchdowns only trail Florida quarterback Tim Tebow for most in a career.
Clemson finished the regular season with three losses by five points or less to Top 10 teams. The Tigers now have a chance to finish with nine wins for the fourth time this decade, and send Spiller and the remaining seniors out singing a happy tune at the Music City Bowl.
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Monday, December 7, 2009 at 9:57 pm by bud
Tags: C.J. Spiller, Clemson, Dabo Swinney, Florida, Georgia Tech, Heisman Trophy, Kentucky, Music City Bowl, Tim Tebow
The No. 15 Clemson Tigers got off to a slow start and never could recover in a 34-17 loss to the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Clemson’s only score in the first three quarters came via a kickoff return for a touchdown from C.J. Spiller.
After that touchdown return in the first quarter, the Tigers were unable to get back on the scoreboard until the fourth quarter.
The defense had a tough time slowing down quarterback Stephen Garcia and the South Carolina offense.
Though it was on the road, it’s still a very disappointing loss for Clemson in their biggest game of the season.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at 7:35 pm by steve
