Despite win, Spiller's Heisman stock falls

CLEMSON -- C.J. Spiller's Heisman Trophy hopes took a hit Saturday before an ABC television audience.

Spiller entered with his Heisman stock trading at a season-high, ranking in the top five of seven accredited Heisman watch polls. But Spiller was limited to 58 rushing yards on 19 carries, and 39 yards receiving against Virginia's 3-4 base defense and shell coverage.

"I knew coming in there were going to be a lot of tough yards," said Spiller, who entered Death Valley running down the east hill with an American flag.

While Spiller's Heisman stock slipped he still managed to record several personal marks.

Scoring on a 4-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, Spiller became the only FBS player to score a touchdown in each of his team's games this season.

Spiller also broke the ACC's single-season total yardage mark with 2,066 yards for the year, bettering the previous mark of 2,054 yards held by Thomas Jones of Virginia (1999).

Spiller needs 26 yards to become the fifth FBS player to reach 7,000 all-purpose yards for his career.

USC-Clemson to begin the season?

Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips was asked Saturday what he thought about moving the Clemson-South Carolina game to the season opener for both schools, thus avoiding the heavy lifting of a braggin' rights clash and ACC (or SEC) Championship Game in back-to-back weeks.

"That might be a good idea," Phillips said.

Phillips said he would like to talk to South Carolina athletic director Eric Hyman about the idea but first would "have to talk to people here at the university."

Ellis remembered

Steve Ellis, a Clemson graduate who was the longtime Florida State beat writer for the Tallahassee Democrat, was honored before the game with a pressbox moment of silence. Ellis, 54, died last week in a Tallahassee hospital. He covered the Clemson-Florida State game at Death Valley on Nov. 7.

Proper footing

The Tigers' kicking game was improved Saturday, after Spencer Benton and Richard Jackson combined for five missed extra points the previous two games.

After being benched last week for an academic infraction, Jackson returned to place-kicking duties, connecting on all four of his extra points and two of three field goal attempts. His miss came from 52 yards.

Flag exemption?

Clemson tight end Dwayne Allen was penalized for excessive celebration following Clemson's first score, a 16-yard strike he caught from Kyle Parker. It was his third touchdown catch of the season.

The flag seemed extreme considering Allen's gesture was a salute to uniform-clad military personnel lining the end zone. Moreover, it was Military Appreciation Day at Memorial Stadium, which is named in honor of Clemson soldiers.

Nice pants

If the officials didn't realize it was Military Appreciation Day they didn't check out the pants of Swinney and the rest of the Clemson coaching staff all sporting military fatigues.

Post-game Daboism

Swinney turned 40 on Friday and joked during the post-game press conference: "I'm a man. I'm 40," harkening back to Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy's famous post-game blowup. Swinney also received a No. 40 Clemson jersey signed by the Clemson seniors.

Extra points

Jacoby Ford recorded a career best 195 all-purpose yards Saturday. Ford also had a game-high 106 receiving yards ... Left guard Thomas Austin (foot sprain) appears to be fine, playing into the fourth quarter. ... On Military Appreciation Day, two F-15 fighter jets buzzed Memorial Stadium prior to kickoff. ... Spiller needs three more touchdowns to tie the Clemson single-season touchdown record set by Travis Zachery (18) in 2000. ... Linebacker Kavell Conner had a career-high 15 tackles.