CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) -Clemson’s Dabo Swinney has an idea how to get star tailback C.J. Spiller a bit more attention in his Heisman Trophy drive.
And the Tigers’ head coach isn’t afraid to steal a publicity stunt by Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad “Ocho Cinco” Johnson.
“I am going to officially change (Spiller’s) name, in hopes of creating more awareness, he is officially, ‘Dos Ocho,’ two-eight. He is officially C.J. “Dos Ocho” Spiller. Maybe some people will figure him out then.”
Swinney’s been on a hardcore campaign the past few weeks to get his No. 28, Spiller, to New York City as one of Heisman Trophy finalists. Spiller’s done his share on the field to wow potential voters as well.
He set a school record with 310 all-purpose yards in No. 18 Clemson’s 40-37 overtime win at Miami, then broke the mark with 312 two games later in a 40-24 victory over Florida State.
“I don’t know what else we have to do to recognize what he’s done,” Swinney said.
Spiller would be proud to represent Clemson at the New York Heisman announcement.
ake another big step for Spiller and their team goals on Saturday. Clemson can wrap up the ACC’s Atlantic Division and gain a spot in the league’s championship game with a win over Virginia (3-7, 2-4).
Spiller plays his final game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. His favorite Death Valley moments? Clemson’s 31-7 over Georgia Tech in 2006 when he had a 50-yard touchdown run and a 50-yard TD catch as a freshman, and two games ago against Florida State, the team he grew up pulling for Lake Butler, Fla.
Swinney’s highlight?
“When he said he was staying at Clemson” last January, Swinney said.
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HERZLICH AWARD: Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich was picked for the Disney Spirit Award given each year to college football’s most inspirational figure.
Herzlich recently overcame a rare form of bone cancer. Last year’s Atlantic Coast Conference defensive player of the year also helped bring about over $120,000 in donations for cancer-related causes.
Herzlich, who sat out this season but expects to play next year, will receive the award Dec. 10 in Orlando, Fla.
“The Disney Spirit Award is an award that means more to me than any award based on statistics and on-the-field achievements,” Herzlich said. “I have had to battle a deadly rare disease this past year and, along with beating the disease, I was fortunate to be able to help others along the way.”
was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a malignant tumor that most frequently appears in soft tissue or bone. Herzlich’s final treatment came earlier this month. He’s announced that he’s cancer free.
Herzlich will have a rod put his leg to support and strengthen the bone with an eye toward a 2010 return.
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PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT: North Carolina’s Butch Davis is getting some support from the professional ranks.
During last weekend’s upset of Miami, North Carolina had former Tar Heel receiver and NFL rookie Hakeem Nicks on its sideline. Last month, current Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers joined famed retired linebacker Lawrence Taylor on the sideline for the home game against Florida State.
It’s something Davis said is key to continuing his rebuilding efforts at the program.
“I want to try to reconnect this entire football program with every generation that’s ever played at Carolina,” Davis said. “I don’t care what coach they played for, I don’t care when they went to school.
“I think it’s very important to the program. Kids on the sideline, they love to see the guys – some that they’ve played with, some they’ve only read about or seen in the National Football League.”
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PLAYING FOR PRIDE: With a 3-7 record and no chance of going to a bowl game for the third time in four years, many Virginia players have said what they play for now is pride.
oach Al Groh has a theory on why that is.
“I think perhaps players say that because they’ve heard it or it’s the answer to a question: `Now that you guys aren’t playing for the championship, are you playing for pride?’ And the reason I preface my answer with that is I thought that’s what we were doing every week.
“You know, I thought we were trying to prove something every week. I thought we were playing for pride every week. So I think you hear it at the end of the season because players have heard other players say it, or as I said, the question gets posed that way.”
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FAST START: Florida State’s EJ Manuel didn’t let the rust get in the way of a stellar performance last week.
Manuel got the start for injured Seminoles quarterback Christian Ponder last week at Wake Forest and responded by winning Atlantic Coast Conference rookie of the week honors.
Manuel said he felt there were times he tried to do too much. Turns out he did about everything right in a 41-28 win over the Demon Deacons, passing for 220 yards and rushing for 45 more.
Manuel went 15 of 20 passing with a touchdown and an interception.
“It’s been a long time since I played a football game,” said Manuel, a redshirt freshman. “It was fun. … I was surprised how fun it was. It was a lot more fun than high school with all these weapons out here.”
land. After that comes the rivalry with No. 1 Florida.
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TOP ASSISTANT: A big reason for Duke’s improved season gained a national award.
The Blue Devils second-year defensive coordinator, Mike McIntyre, was named the national assistant coach of the year by the American Football Coaches Association.
With two regular-season games left, Duke (5-5, 3-3) remains in the hunt for a bowl game, in large part because of its defensive play. For the first time in 15 seasons, the Blue Devils held three straight ACC opponents (Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina) to fewer than 20 points.
In 2008, Duke’s defense gave up the program’s fewest average points in 20 seasons (23.4 a game) and held three opponents to less than 10 points for the first time since 1976.
Duke coach David Cutcliffe said McIntyre deserved the recognition. “Mike is one of the finest football coaches I’ve been around over the course of my career,” Cutcliffe said. “I couldn’t be happier for Mike to receive this award.”
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AP Sports Writers Aaron Beard in Chapel Hill, N.C., and Hank Kurz Jr. in Richmond, Va., contributed to this report.
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