The Wiz of Odds

Show of Speed by Former Clemson Players at Combine

College coaches and fans like to toss around the mind-blowing speed of Player A or B. The reality is that they often are blowing smoke up your backside. That's what makes the NFL combine unique. You actually know how fast a player is in the 40-yard dash, or how many reps of 225 pounds he can do in the bench press.

Clemson won nine games last season, and one has to think the Tigers will be pressed to get to that number in 2010 after the loss of speedy running back C.J. Spiller, left, and receiver Jacoby Ford.

Spiller ran a 4.37-second 40 and Ford clocked 4.28, the fastest time at the combine. Ford's time tied for the second-fastest in combine history with Jerome Mathis in 2005. Only Chris Johnson's 4.24 in 2008 is better.

Blown Call in Clemson-North Carolina State Game

North Carolina State trailed Clemson, 24-14, when the Tigers' C.J. Spiller fumbled on this run in the third quarter. The officials ruled that Spiller was down before he lost the ball, but replays showed otherwise.

The replay official upholds the call and two plays afterward, Spiller runs 16 yards for a touchdown to give Clemson a 30-14 lead. The Tigers cruised from that point, winning 43-23.

Turning the Page

Longtime readers of the Wiz might remember this image of Clemson recruit Kenneth Page holding a stack of $20 bills that first appeared on Page's MySpace page shortly after he decided to sign with the Tigers. It was eventually taken down, but a copy made its way the site Brahsome along with the the Wiz.

Now comes word that Page has left the team after appearing in only two games. Page, a four-star recruit, was not in uniform for Clemson's last home game two weeks ago.

Clemson Cheap Shot

Watch Clemson defensive end Andre Branch try to rip the head off Florida State guard David Spurlock during a scramble for a loose ball in Saturday's game at Clemson.

Spurlock then gets up and confronts Branch, who points toward the scoreboard. What a classless jackass.

SI.com's Andy Staples writes: "This won't get the attention the Brandon Spikes' gouge got because Branch isn't one of the best five defensive players in the country — and because, let's face it, New Mexico soccer player Elizabeth Lambert set a new standard for away-from-the-play violence last week — but Branch deserves punishment just as much as Spikes did. I know Clemson coach Dabo Swinney doesn't teach this garbage, and Swinney needs to act swiftly to eradicate such behavior from his program. He should suspend branch for a game before Branch has the chance to completely copy Spikes and suspends himself."

Thanks to Tomahawk Nation.

Big Hits

Three big hits from Saturday, starting with Virginia's Chase Minnifield getting decked by Georgia Tech's Malcolm Munroe. Minnifield was not hurt.

It's Only One Game, Buddy!

A distraught Clemson fan is caught by ESPN cameras after the Tigers lost at Georgia Tech, 30-27, on Sept. 10. The video is taken directly from ESPN's broadcast feed, and Chris Fowler, Craig James and Jesse Palmer all share a laugh during a commercial break. They tone it down considerably when they come back live. Thanks to Dashiell Bennett of Deadspin.