Clemson revving up Spiller’s Heisman campaign

CLEMSON — C.J. Spiller’s Heisman Trophy campaign is on the verge of being ramped up again.

Clemson launched Spiller’s campaign with a splash in late July, distributing thousands of six-foot growth chart posters to both fans and national media. But the campaign stalled following the Tigers’ slow 2-3 start.

Following the Tigers’ two-game winning streak, including a 40-37 overtime upset at No. 8 Miami, the campaign has life, thanks to Spiller’s 310-yard all-purpose effort, a school single-game record.

ESPN.com’s Heisman Watch has Spiller seventh in this week’s voting. Clemson sports information director Tim Bourret said Tuesday that the university will launch a new site promoting Spiller’s candidacy, featuring videos of his big plays and statistics, which will be linked to ClemsonTigers.com.

National media and Heisman voters will also be directed to the site.

Spiller has a play of 60-plus yards in all seven games this season, including a 90-yard kick return score against Miami last week (he also added a 56-yard receiving score).

Spiller is thrilled with the idea, although he’s still putting team first.

“That’d mean a lot (to be a Heisman finalist),” he said. “To represent this whole team, this university, this town, it would mean a lot to me. It’d be a very humbling experience and I’d enjoy it.”

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, who recruited Spiller to Clemson, is his biggest, most vocal supporter.

“If he doesn’t play another snap this year, he ought to be in New York,” Swinney said. “He’s what it’s all about. I want the kids to enjoy playing with him. I’ve made a point to make sure these young guys observe how he works. If they want to know what a Heisman candidate looks like you’ve got one on your team. Watch him. Watch how he goes to class and handles his work.”

This week, Swinney spotlighted that message in a team meeting.

“I said we should have more pride about having a young man like that on our football team,” he said. “These kids, they know it. Nobody’s practiced harder, sacrificed more, been more all-in than C.J. Spiller. He does it right off the field, on the field. He’s been there as a leader and given teammates every ounce of what he’s had. He’s the first in the locker room to be an encourager. I told them yesterday, you should enjoy having the best player in the country on your football team.”

PALMER DOUBTFUL FOR COASTAL

Senior tight end Michael Palmer, the first Clemson tight end to reach 20 receptions for a season since 1984, is officially doubtful for Saturday’s visit from Coastal Carolina while working through concussion symptoms. Palmer took a nasty helmet-to-helmet hit in the fourth quarter Saturday at Miami, and said he’ll “see how it progresses the rest of the week.”

He didn’t practice Monday or Tuesday.

“I woke up Sunday thinking, ‘Wow, I can’t believe I feel this good,’ ” he said. “Monday I woke up and didn’t feel too good, Tuesday about the same. I’m doing all right, still got a little bit of a headache. Other than that I’m doing fine. It was a pretty physical game even without that hit.”

Palmer remembers the entire game; he was getting stitches for a cut on his elbow when Jacoby Ford scored the winning touchdown in overtime, and raced barefoot from an examination room onto Land Shark Stadium’s floor to celebrate with his teammates.

“I didn’t know what happened with (the hit) initially,” he said. “After watching it, that was a pretty nasty hit. It’s part of the game of football, but the guy got me pretty good, and it’s something you’ve got to deal with.”