News - Sports - College

Friday, Sep. 05, 2008

Davis, Spiller hope to return to form

CLEMSON -- People haven't stopped talking about the numbers, or lack of them, put up last weekend by Clemson's "Thunder and Lightning."

The question is simple: How can a team with two of the most dynamic rushers in college football in James Davis and C.J. Spiller end with zero yards rushing, a glaring statistic from last Saturday's 34-10 loss to Alabama.

Davis and Spiller don't know. But both are eager to flip the switch and get Clemson's offense running again.

"One game's not going to define what type of players we have here," Spiller said.

Davis, a senior, had declared for the NFL draft last January then changed his mind a short time later for a final shot at college success. And he set the bar awfully high this preseason, often talking national championship. That seemed like a pipe dream after the Alabama game, and an embarrassed Davis focused on what's ahead.

"I didn't answer my phone for a while, it hurt that much," Davis said. "But we've got a lot of things we can accomplish."

First on that list is gaining positive yardage.

Davis finished with 13 yards rushing on 6 carries. Spiller had 7 yards on two attempts. For an offense pegged on those two stars, it was a paltry performance.

There were many reasons, Spiller says. Clemson fell behind early, forcing the team to throw to get back in it. The Tigers had four new starters on the offensive line, figuring into the domination of Alabama's defense. Clemson's runners can only run the plays called by offensive coordinator Rob Spence. And anyway, "it's not how many times you get the ball, it's what you do with it when you get it," Spiller said.

Usually, Davis and Spiller do much more with their carries.

The two introduced themselves to the college football world in 2006, Davis rushing for a career best 216 yards and Spiller 116 in Clemson's 31-7 national TV showdown with Georgia Tech.

That was the first of Davis' two straight 1,000-yard seasons, while Spiller set a school record for touchdown plays of 50 yards or better.

The two looked capable of rewriting record books, not just at Clemson, but for the NCAA.

The pair took a step back last season, in part because of the emergence of quarterback Cullen Harper. Davis rushed for about 100 fewer yards and 10 touchdowns, down seven from his record-tying 2006. Spiller had just three games with 100 or more yards on the ground after five as a freshman.

Still, Clemson won nine games and finished second in the ACC's Atlantic Division. With both returning for one final time, the hopes of fans and players soared throughout the preseason.

Then came the Crimson Tide defense.

Spiller says he and Davis have talked about not getting too down about opening week. Spiller had Clemson's brightest moment, a 96-yard touchdown return of the second-half kickoff that cut the Tide's lead to 23-10 and briefly gave the Tigers hope of a comeback.

Instead, Alabama shut down Clemson's runners the few times they got the ball.

The Tigers expect to recover Saturday against The Citadel, a Championship Subdivision opponent who last beat Clemson in 1931.

Still, Spence says players who act untouchable one moment can transform into doubt the next.

"You always concern yourself with that. People are fragile. Athletes you coach are fragile," Spence said. "You always worry about the confidence of athletes."

There's no secret to restoring lost attitude or swagger, he said. "You keep practicing hard and, hopefully, the results will be there as you practice and prepare," Spence said.

Spiller, a junior, says he and Davis have talked about keeping their confidence high as an example to the Tigers' younger players. If they give in to a frustrating game, "it could be like a virus spread to the team," Spiller said. "Right now, our spirit's high" for The Citadel.

Perhaps after Saturday, "Thunder and Lightning" can again post numbers they enjoy talking about.