Spiller Force Behind Clemson Revival

Much of the credit for Clemson's turnaround this season goes to its offense. Let us count the ways.

During Clemson's current five-game winning streak -- the program's longest in three seasons -- the Tigers have scored at least 38 points in each game, a program first. During that span, Clemson has averaged 42 points per game, 425 total yards per game, 6.87 yards per play and 220 passing yards a game.

No wonder the Tigers, who had lost three of their first five games by a total of 10 points, are positioned to clinch their first trip to the ACC title game with a home victory Saturday against struggling Virginia.

Of course, Clemson's success on offense revolves around all-purpose back and Heisman Trophy hopeful C.J. Spiller. Spiller needs 103 all-purpose yards to break the ACC single-season record of 2,054, held by Virginia's Thomas Jones.

In last Saturday's victory over N.C. State, Spiller had a 16-yard touchdown run, caught a 34-yard scoring pass and threw a 17-yard touchdown to Xavier Dye, becoming the first Clemson player to do all three in one game.

"I'm just proud of C.J. -- another ho-hum day for him," coach Dabo Swinney said.

"I don't know how many other 'first evers' the guy can have."

Clemson has gained at least 200 yards passing and 200 yards rushing in each of the last two games. Clemson is 52-0-1 when it has at least 200 yards of each in the history of the school.

The Tigers also have gotten a big boost lately from freshman Kyle Parker. He's thrown 10 touchdowns and two interceptions in the Tigers' four wins over FBS opponents during their five-game winning streak while compiling a 164.9 passer rating.

Swinney's defense, meanwhile, allows 299.3 yards per game to rank second in the ACC and 20th nationally. Clemson's 20 interceptions (12 in the last five games) lead the FBS.

Clemson has not won an ACC Championship since 1991, when a defense led by future NFL players Levon Kirkland, Chester McGlockton and Brentson Buckner, led the nation in rushing defense.

The Tigers were 9-1-1 in the regular season that year and had a 6-0-1 record in the ACC, good enough for the league championship. Clemson defeated Maryland in the final home game on Nov. 16, 1991 and that was the last time Clemson clinched any type of title.

The Tigers have the opportunity to make history on Senior Day Saturday.

"I think that would be really special for those guys," Swinney said.

"I still remember my high school senior game. They work so hard and these guys put so much into it for those 12 Saturdays. It is just a special day and then that it is your last game and an opportunity to win the Division title on the same day. These guys were four years old the last time we won one. It is a great opportunity for them.

"That is why you play the game. All year long they have been working towards their goals and now the second goal is right there in reach. I think it would be really special."

Ann's Still Hot

It was nearly two months ago when Ann Bowden -- wife of FSU coach Bobby Bowden -- said she felt her husband was being betrayed by those who had called for the veteran coach to retire at season's end. She is obviously no less upset these days.

Bobby Bowden has indicated many times that he wants to continue to coach at FSU next season. His status will be determined by school officials at regular-season's end. Here's what Ann had to say in a USA Today story earlier this week concerning her 80-year-old husband's future.

"You know, we don't need the university as much as they need us -- as much as they need him and his connections and reputation and everything," Ann said in the story.

"If they want to pull that trick, we'll just shake the dirt off our feet and go to Europe or go on a long cruise or something. ... They'll have to fire him for him not to go another year. ... If they've got guts enough to do it, let them do it."

Spirit Award

Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich, who recently overcame a rare form of bone cancer and helped inspire more than $120,000 in donations for cancer-related causes, has been selected for the Disney Spirit Award given annually by Disney Sports to college football's most inspirational figure.

Herzlich will be presented with the award during The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards at Walt Disney World Resort on Thursday, Dec. 10.

"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 in a prepared statement.

"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. To be recognized with this award is an honor and I hope that it shows people around the world that there is hope and that it will encourage them to continue to battle."

Buyout for Groh?

For embattled Virginia coach Al Groh, it's business as usual.

The Cavs are on the cusp of having consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1981-82. Add in a four-game losing streak and factor in a decline in attendance, season-ticket sales, and fund-raising, and one would suspect Groh's future in Charlottesville, Va., appears bleak.

Groh, in his ninth season, knows there is not much he can do about the future, so he deals with the present. And he believes his team has prepared well for Saturday's game against Clemson.

"Pick out your target, block out all distractions and take dead aim," Groh said, explaining Virginia's mentality heading into the Clemson game.

"It takes everything a team and a player has got to get ready to compete successfully, much less think about those extraneous things."

According to media reports, it would coast Virginia more than $4 million to pay Groh for the two years that remain on the contract.

Must-Win for Blue Devils

Duke (5-5), which has dropped its past two games to North Carolina and No. 7 Georgia Tech, finds itself in a must-win situation Saturday at Miami if Blue Devils hold any hope of becoming bowl eligible for the first time since 1994.

It doesn't help that the banged-up Blue Devils haven't won against the Hurricanes since 1976 and have lost the past five games.

Enough of those negative vibes, says Duke coach David Cutcliffe.

"When I get on that plane, I want to believe we are going down there not with the hopes of winning, but planning to win," Cutcliffe said.

"I can tell you 5,000 reasons we won't win. If I tell you 5,000 reasons we won't win, then I have to tell you 5,000 things we are going to do about it. I talked about the challenges, what they are and what we are going to do about them.

"If you don't prepare well, you won't believe you have a chance to win or are going to win when you are playing. It all comes down to the preparation; the sincere, focused, intense preparation."