Clemson Punches Ticket To ACC Title Game

Sports News - November 22nd, 2009 - Written by John

Finally, there is some clarity in the ACC early in the year. Clearly Clemson and Georgia Tech have been head and shoulders above anyone in their divisions, and with the Yellow Jackets already in the championship game, the Tigers sealed their fate as well. Clemson routed Virginia, 34-21, on Saturday to earn the school's first-ever trip to the ACCCG, to put the two favorites for the title in College Football Betting into the final game.

Once again, C.J. Spiller carried his team on his shoulders. The most versatile back in all of college football, scoring a touchdown five different ways this season, finished with 114 total yards and a touchdown. It was a special day that carried extra meaning as the crowd began chanting his name on his last game in Death Valley.

"One of the referees came over and told me he got chills," Spiller told reporters.

The Tigers didn't completely clinch the division without a little help. That came thanks to a 31-13 loss by Boston College on the same day to erase a tie between the schools. Finding out before kickoff that he had won the division, head coach Dabo Swinney broke the good news and congratulated his team before the game started.

"But there's no celebrating," he said. "You're division champs, but champions take care of business and you've got business out on that field."

Spiller's touchdown, a four-yard scamper, opened the second quarter and broke Thomas Jones' all-purpose yardage record in a single season. Jones set the record in 1999 with a total of 2,059 with Virginia. His alma matter could only watch as Spiller diced around the field all game, and set up multiple scoring drives.

But it was the last time he ran around the field that made him famous, and he was the last to roll down the hill and kiss Howard's Rock during pre-game ceremonies, honoring the team's seniors.

"Clemson's been so good to me," he admitted. "To step into Death Valley one last time...I'll miss it."

Although so many seniors finished their careers with gut-wrenching losses this year -- like many years -- Spiller delivered his fans with the very result he strived for when he announced he would return for his senior season. Clemson has never been in any kind of championship game, nor have they played in a BCS bowl, although they did win the ACC in 1991 before the BCS was created. Beat Georgia Tech in two weeks, and the Tigers will likely be in the Orange Bowl against either Cincinnati, Iowa or Boise State.

"This is just an extremely special day," Swinney said.

"We're happy, very happy," said Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips.

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