CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) -- This was why C.J. Spiller came back to Clemson. The Tigers' star senior awaited a Virginia punt in the fourth quarter with Clemson's 34-21 victory all but secure when the 77,000 at Death Valley broke into chants of his name over and over. "One of the referees came over and told me he got chills," a smiling Spiller said Saturday. There may be more special moments ahead for Spiller and the 18th-ranked Tigers, who advanced to their first Atlantic Coast Conference title game. The drama was over before kickoff when Boston College lost 31-13 to North Carolina. Coach Dabo Swinney reversed course and congratulated his team for winning the Atlantic Division before taking the field. "But there's no celebrating," he ordered. "You're division champs, but champions take care of business and you've got business out on that field." The Tigers (8-3, 6-2 ACC) won their sixth straight since starting the season 2-3. Now, after facing state rival South Carolina next Saturday, they'll head to Tampa, Fla., to take on Coastal division winner Georgia Tech in two weeks. Spiller had a 4-yard touchdown run and set the ACC's single-season all-purpose yardage mark, surpassing the 2,059 of Virginia's Thomas Jones in 1999. Virginia (3-8, 2-5) kept things close in the first half, its 21points more than it had put up in any of its previous five games. But the Cavaliers were shut out the final 30 minutes and lost their fifth straight. "Unfortunately, we had some mistakes against a team that can now be called championship-caliber, having won their division," Cavaliers coach Al Groh said. It's Clemson first visit to the title game after years of near misses. In 2006, Clemson lost four of its last five after starting 7-1 to fall from contention. A year after that, the Tigers were beaten by Boston College 20-17 in a division showdown. This time, Spiller got to hold his hand up in triumph as he jogged off the field to the adoring calls of the Death Valley crowd. Earlier, fans sang "Happy Birthday" to Swinney, who turned 40 on Friday. When the game ended, spectators filled the field to join in a celebration not seen around here since Clemson's last ACC title in 1991. "This is just an extremely special day," Swinney said. And a profitable one for Clemson's coach. Reaching the ACC title game kicked in a contractual bonus that will raise Swinney's salary from the league bottom at $800,000 to the median of all ACC coaches -- around $1.8 million annually. "We're happy, very happy," said Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips, given a game ball by Swinney. Spiller had been on a Heisman-type tear in Clemson's win streak, posting record-setting performances of 310 and 312 all-purpose yards in victories over Miami and Florida State. But Virginia had Spiller's number -- again. After holding him to just 18 yards rushing a season ago, the Cavaliers never let Spiller break free for one of his highlight reel romps. He finished with 58 yards rushing and 114 all-purpose. Still, it was a day of memories for a player who one day will likely have his name enshrined in Death Valley's Ring of Honor.
