Special day for Spiller

The applause for RB C.J. Spiller figures to be boisterous today, the line for autographs afterward lengthy.

Only the venue will be Littlejohn Coliseum, not Memorial Stadium. And folks will probably be asking for their commencement program to be signed, not a football.

Spiller is one of six Clemson football players given practice off today because they are officially graduating late this (Thursday) morning. Others include WR Jacoby Ford, LB Kavell Conner, reserve OLs Jamarcus Grant and Cory Lambert and walk-on RB Ronald Watson. But it should be noted Spiller is graduating in 3 1/2 years.

It has to be a rewarding feeling for Spiller, who will become the first person on either side of his family – mother’s or father’s – to receive a college diploma.

His mother, Patricia Watkins, arrived from Lake Butler, Fla., on Wednesday night, along with Spiller’s older brother and younger sister. His once distant father, Clifford Sr., is supposed to travel in from Miami.

Plus 10-15 members of Spiller’s church, Victory Christian Center – hence the “VCC” Spiller has worn on his eye black throughout his career – are slated to attend.

What’s rather unique, if not poignant, is not even his family thought Spiller would get his degree, at least this soon – coming out of high school, and as late as last January, they still presumed he would follow his dream and bolt early for the NFL after his junior season.

If you’re interested, we’ll have a story setting the scene from Spiller’s graduation celebration in Friday’s paper.