Davis, Spiller only focused on winning

CLEMSON -- They eat most meals together, use the other as his primary sounding board and exchange stories about their infant daughters.

Clemson running backs James Davis and C.J. Spiller contend they are closer friends than ever.

Which is why they fail to understand concern for whether they will still share the ball, too.

"We're pretty comfortable with how we're doing it," Davis said. "The good thing about it is you don't have two selfish guys trying to take all the practice reps.

"If we win games, everybody will be happy. The stats will show at the end of the season."

At least that is the presumption Davis and Spiller are working under in hope their faith is rewarded.

During preseason camp, coach Tommy Bowden has harped on the need for Clemson's numerous decorated offensive skill players to accept their roles on a game-to-game basis as sacrifice for the potentially greater team good.

Bowden could well have flashed an arrow toward the Tigers' backfield, where the marquee is brightest, perhaps most crowded and -- given precedent -- certainly most high-maintenance.

Davis and Spiller agreed to retain last year's plan for distributing carries; namely, they will continue alternating series as the featured back.

There seemed no better alternative.

"That's the only way we can be unselfish, unless a guy's hot," Spiller said. "Of course, we're still trying to find ways to get both of us on the field at the same time."

Of course, that caveat gets to the root of their recurring source of frustration.

Last season, Davis referred to that promise of satisfying both as one of the discouraging elements of Clemson's loss to Virginia Tech. Davis questioned his role after netting a total of 11 relevant carries in the Tigers' two defeats.

It was reminiscent of the 2006 season, after which Spiller contemplated transferring in part because neither back garnered more than eight carries in the Music City Bowl loss to Kentucky.

A month earlier, none of the three parties involved were happy when the hot hand of senior Reggie Merriweather was yanked in a momentous last-minute drive against USC, which culminated in a stalled drive and missed game-tying field goal.

Each time, Bowden has expressed no qualm with their sentiment because running backs should inherently want the ball more if they are confident in their abilities.

"I still like rotating them to keep them fresh unless we get them on the field at the same time," Bowden said recently.

"You want to get your best 11 on the field as much as you possibly can. Of course, defenses will dictate what combination."

The situation also dictates that the personal stakes will be significantly higher this season.

Davis, a senior, declared early entry into last year's NFL Draft but withdrew in the 11th-hour in part to raise his stock from that of a second- to third-rounder.

In doing so, he likely put himself into eventual competition with Spiller, a junior expected to bolt for the pros after this season as a projected early-round pick.

With that in mind, they must also adjust to the backfield addition of Jamie Harper, a 235-pound freshman billed as the bulldozing runner Clemson lacked in its stable.

"Jamie's going to bring a lot to this team," Davis said. "He's a guy we've been missing as far as short-yardage plays. Even on the goal line."

If utilized as advertised, Harper threatens to cut into Davis and Spiller's touchdown totals, an intriguing storyline all its own.

Davis needs five scores to tie the school's career rushing record, and if he matched last season's 10 touchdowns, would move into second on the ACC's all-time rushing list. Furthermore, Spiller figures to desire more than last year's three-touchdown tally to prove he can be an every-down NFL back.

So far, Harper suggests Davis and Spiller have welcomed him with open arms.

After Saturday's scrimmage, Davis raved about the revamped personnel package that puts all three on the field at the same time as a potential ball-carrier.

To that end, Davis said he and Spiller have honed in on just one self-serving stat: yards per carry.

Of Clemson's four losses last season, three were to teams that held it below 100 yards rushing (Boston College, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech).

If they are rushing for large chunks of yardage, there is no justifying limiting their carries -- unless, of course, the Tigers have mounted a huge lead.

"I'm just here trying to win," Davis said. "I just want to hold up that trophy at the end."

This story was originally published August 13, 2008 at 12:25 AM with the headline "Davis, Spiller only focused on winning."