I’m a Spiller for Heisman supporter. Are you?
No one could forecast the fates of the once favorite Heisman candidates Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy. But after Bradford’s injury and Tebow and McCoy’s less than dazzling perfomances so far this season (McCoy’s 70% completion percentage includes passes consistently thrown for five yards of less against mediocre teams, and Tebow’s concussion has failed to ignite the Florida offense many anticipated), it’s looking like the Heisman trophy could legitimately be up for grabs by anyone. However, everyone DID know Spiller would have a big season. How big, no one could say for sure, because no one knew how the cards might fall for Clemson itself. And while the Tigers’ finish is yet to be determined–and could easily lean toward either an ACC Championship or another unprecedented meltdown of which Clemson fans have unfortunately become all too accustomed, such as a season-ending loss to an inferior N.C. State or Florida State team–C.J. Spiller’s individual finish will be of a nature grander than any Clemson football player in history. He breaks records every week. He scores touchdowns every game, and makes it look so effortless that his teammates come to him on the sidelines during games, asking him to make a play for them. This season alone, C.J.’s scored nine of Clemson’s 21 touchdowns and achieved 1,455 all-purpose yards of the team’s 3, 452. You do the math. What Spiller needs, though, is another chance to shine in the national spotlight like he did last weekend against Miami. His feats that we Clemson fans are lucky enough to witness every weekend need to be televised more often. His awe-inspiring performances need to be seen by the national audience so that people don’t think a Spiller for Heisman campaign is a sweet little grassroots movement begun by the always enthusiastic supporters of a lackluster football team. Hopefully, Clemson can make it to the ACC title game in Tampa Bay. I feel this way for obvious reasons, of course; but also because the rest of the Clemson team owes it to Spiller to get him that needed exposure. It’s unfortunate that the Heisman trophy race is notoriously consumed by political interests, but let this be known: if Spiller doesn’t at least make it to NYC for the Heisman trophy presentation, it will be an injustice to the entire sport of college football. A renewed Spiller for Heisman campaign by the University’s Athletic Department is now underway with the creation of this web site [http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/ spec-rel/spiller-for-heisman.html] released today, and Clemson fans can also do their part in supporting Spiller by voting daily on ESPN’s web site as part of a Nissan promotion.
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