Tigers' RBs to see Burns once again

EDITOR'S NOTE: Connections abound between Clemson and Alabama, two teams that square off Saturday in Atlanta. In a five-part series, The Post and Courier profiles some of the common threads. Today: Alabama running backs coach Burton Burns.

CLEMSON — It hasn't been the tradition-rich Crimson Tide that's consumed James Davis' thoughts when he's pondered what it's going to be like to face Alabama.

And it hasn't been yet another opportunity to play in his hometown of Atlanta.

It's Burton Burns, the former Tigers assistant who's in his second year as Alabama's running backs coach.

"The first thing I thought of was coach Burns," Davis said, thinking back to when talk of this game first began. "I just can't wait to see him on the field and make some jokes before the game."

Burns, who spent eight years at Clemson before leaving for the Crimson Tide in the winter of 2007, remains a popular figure among those who were around when he was still wearing orange. His affable nature and playful demeanor helped him connect with Clemson players, and not just Clemson running backs.

"He's a funny guy on the field," said Davis, a senior tailback for the Tigers. "He talks and makes jokes to everybody, no matter who you are. He's kind of like an old man. He's even older than coach (Tommy) Bowden. We found out about that and made jokes about it when he was here."

Burns, now 55, was on Bowden's staff at Tulane and joined him when he took the Clemson job in December of 1998.

After the 2006 season, Burns

received an offer he couldn't refuse from Alabama coach Nick Saban.

He was presented a huge raise and the title of associate head coach.

Burns has not been available for comment because Saban does not typically allow his assistants to speak with the media.

"He had to make a business decision for his family," said Clemson tailback C.J. Spiller, who was coming off his freshman season when Burns left. "I just told him to make the best one, and that's what he did."

Burns played a major role in the recruiting of Davis, offering him a scholarship in the ninth grade. When it was getting close to decision time for Davis in January of 2005, he'd wiped the Tigers from his list and was planning to choose from Alabama, Virginia Tech and Tennessee.

He committed to the Crimson Tide and told their coaches he wasn't going to visit another school. Burns talked him into visiting Clemson, and he ended up signing with the Tigers a few weeks later.

"He's always been that guy for me," Davis said. "He was like my father away from home."

If not for Burns, both Davis and Spiller might be long gone from Clemson. When Davis left campus in August of 2005 and thought seriously about transferring, it was Burns who called him daily and played the largest role in getting him back to Clemson.

When Spiller made up his mind to transfer to Florida in January of 2007, it was Burns who had a long talk with him and helped convince him to remain a Tiger.

"It's going to be exciting going up against an old coach," Spiller said.

Said Davis: "I don't know what I'm going to say to him. I'll probably just ask him if he misses us and stuff like that. I know he probably does."

Coming Thursday: Former Clemson coach Danny Ford.

Reach Larry Williams at lwilliams@postandcourier.com and check out the Clemson blog at www.charleston.net/blogs/tiger_tracks