Father To See Spiller Play For First Time

When Clemson takes the field at Land Shark Stadium this Saturday, there will be another Spiller in the venue wearing the number 28 jersey.

Clifford Spiller, father of the Clemson running back, will be attending one of his son’s games for the first time ever, when the Tigers face No.8 Miami.

Spiller, the Tigers senior running back, has re-written the record books in Clemson, South Carolina.

Entering Saturday, Spiller has totaled 2,801 yards in his four years with the program and added 23 rushing touchdowns.

For Spiller, a Lake Butler, Fl native, his mother, Patricia Watkins, raised him in the rural town.  Along with his two siblings he had limited interactions with his father Clifford.

The elder Spiller has spent the past 20 years driving a sanitation truck in Miami-Dade County. 

C.J. said that he and his father managed to stay in touch in his youth but the 375-mile separation kept the relationship distant.

C.J.’s strong faithful background sought him to contact Clifford.

"Growing up with a faith background, you're supposed to honor your mother and father," Spiller said to 5 News.  "And I wanted to get to know him and know what he was about.

"Unfortunately some guys go through life never knowing their father. I didn't want to be that guy." 

Their relationship has now developed into weekly phone calls between the two, with C.J. inviting Clifford to team hotel this Friday night before the game.

On Saturday afternoon Clifford will be one of the loudest supporters for the Tigers and C.J. when they take on the Hurricanes.

"This is going to be special for me," Clifford said to 5 News.

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