Rumor mill cranks: Is Napier CU's new tight ends coach?

Tigernet's message board is crackling with the as-yet-unverified news that Clemson has hired Billy Napier to fill the position vacated by the resignation of Jack Hines. Napier is a former quarterback at Furman who is currently working as an assistant coach at South Carolina State. A Tigernet poster says Napier's father is a longtime high school football coach in Georgia, which should really help recruiting.

Stay tuned.

* Did a Gator snub sway Spiller to CU? Maybe. According to this story, star running back C.J. Spiller decided to sign with Clemson because the University of Florida didn't offer a scholarship to his longtime friend and high school teammate, linebacker Kevin Alexander. Alexander, an all-state performer, signed with Clemson. From the story:

"I'm sure he (Spiller) based his decision on Kevin's decision," said Patricia Watkins, Spiller's mother. "If Kevin had gotten an offer from Florida, no doubt about it (they both) would have been at Florida. ... I felt Florida was the better place for (C.J.). I met with the coaches, I met with the wives, I met with some of the family members. I just felt Florida was the best place for him."

So, was Alexander the bait that lured Spiller to Tigertown? We'll probably never know.

* Hill gets some love from The Network: In advance of Sunday's Super Bowl, ESPN has a feature on the Seattle Seahawks' young linebackers. Former Clemson star Leroy Hill gets a plug.

* We love Gardocki, too: Former Clemson punter Chris Gardocki, who has seemingly been in the NFL since John Facenda was voicing those classic NFL films, will be kicking for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Sunday's big game. Here's a nice Q&A with Gardocki from his hometown paper, the Island Packet of Hilton Head.