C.J. campaign: The future and the now

GREENSBORO, N.C. — The biggest star at this week's Atlantic Coast Conference Football Kickoff is C.J. Spiller, the man with the ACC's biggest, brightest poster in 25 years.

"A big ol' smile came to my face when I first saw it," Clemson's all-purpose, always purposeful senior running back said. "I thought it was great."

Veteran Clemson publicist Tim Bourret conceived the six-foot growth chart idea as the first volley of Spiller's Heisman Trophy campaign. Bourret is well aware this is the 25th anniversary of Clemson's distribution of refrigerator-sized posters starring iconic former defensive lineman William "The Fridge" Perry.

Tributes to the past are admirable. Every 2009 Heisman vote counts.

But the biggest impact of 4,700 Spiller posters (some of them already on eBay) might be on Clemson's future.

Say you're a sought-after high school running back. Byrnes High School yardage gobbler Marcus Lattimore, for instance.

The message is large and clear: Spiller is leaving and you can replace him, in the lineup and (someday) on the poster.

"Yeah," Spiller said. "I think it will definitely help with recruiting."

Heisman chances

Not that Spiller is conceding the present. Even against a Heisman field including 2008 winner Sam Bradford of Oklahoma, 2007 winner Tim Tebow of Florida and another stellar quarterback, Colt McCoy of Texas, Spiller "loves" his chances.

"I compare well," he said. "I have the team to do it with. It's probably going to come down to my offensive line paving the way. Those are the guys doing all the work."

Handicapping the field:

1. Tebow.

2. Bradford or McCoy.

3. McCoy or Bradford.

4. Someone unexpected.

5. The man, the myth, the poster.

Fifth place would give Spiller school braggin' rights. Quarterback Steve Fuller, seventh place when Oklahoma running back Billy Sims won in 1978, is the only Clemson player to finish among the top 10 in Heisman voting.

Spiller's Heisman formula is a potent mix:

--A good season for Clemson, probably two losses or less.

--Enough touches — running, receiving and special teams— to build a statistical case.

--More long scoring plays worthy of "Top Ten Plays" status.

--A step back for the Big Three quarterbacks.

ACC support

Spiller has no problem finding support among ACC foes.

"Tebow will be in the mix of it and Bradford, too, but I definitely think C.J. is capable of winning it," Wake Forest defensive tackle John Russell said. "He's that great of an athlete. He's obviously a great leader for their team and someone the fans get behind. He's the most electrifying player in college football."

Wake Forest defeated Clemson, 12-7, last season in Winston-Salem in what was Tommy Bowden's last game as Tigers head coach. Spiller left in the first quarter with a pulled hamstring.

See John Russell grin.

"I know it sounds bad to say but I was kind of happy he got his hammy pulled a little bit," he said. "He would have given us fits."

Maryland cornerback Nolan Carroll is bullish.

"C.J. was their offense last year. As he went, they went," Carroll said. "I know Tebow and Bradford and a couple other guys are up there but I think he has a good shot to actually win the Heisman."

If not, the poster is apt to draw interest from another Heisman wanna be or several. Maybe not Marcus Lattimore, but perhaps some 10-year-old eager to catch up on the growth chart.

Reach Gene Sapakoff at gsapakoff@postandcourier.com.

or 937-5593.