Swinney Says Virginia Matchup Will Be 'Little Strange'

For the first time ever, Dabo Swinney will face off with a head coach who was at one time a member of his coaching staff.

When No. 10 Clemson hosts Virginia on Saturday (noon/ACCN), former assistant Tony Elliott will be roaming the opposing sideline. Elliott played football at Clemson during the Tommy Bowden era, and after getting his feet wet with coaching stints at SC State and Furman, Swinney hired him as his running backs coach in 2011.

Three years later, Elliott was promoted to co-offensive coordinator and he would call the plays for both of Clemson’s national title teams in 2016 and 2018. Following the 2022 season, Elliott was hired as the head coach at Virginia, and after going 6-16 during his first two seasons at the helm, the Cavaliers off to a 4-2 start in 2024.

With Elliott set to return to Clemson for the first time as an opposing head coach, Swinney admitted that looking across the field and seeing a former protege will take some getting used to.

“That’s going to be a little strange for sure,” Swinney said during his weekly Zoom conference on Sunday. “Tony is just family to me. Not just somebody that I have worked with. Just that whole family, I have been around since 2003. We have had some great times doing life together.”

Despite the close 24-20 loss to Louisville on Saturday, Elliott brings a Virginia team to town that looks to be much improved and on both sides of the ball.

“Great to see them having some success,” Swinney added. “I know they had a tough loss this past week, but Tony’s a great coach. He’s a great leader. He’s about all the right things.”

Elliott was a central figure in the Tigers’ run of unprecedented success, as he helped guide the team to its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance in 2015, his first year calling the plays. Clemson would make the playoff in six straight seasons with his help. The Tigers also won the ACC eight times while he was a member of the staff.

While there are bound to be some emotions from both head coaches, at the end of the day, this week is no different than any other. Both men have jobs to do and that is to prepare their teams for what is a big game for both programs.

“That part is different,” Swinney said. “It’s always about the game. I have never gone against a head coach that worked for me, but that part is different. You just focus on the game. That is really what it comes down to. He will do the same thing.”

“I’m sure there will be some cool moments for him coming in. Maybe a little weird moment here or there. Being in the visiting locker room and all that type of stuff on the other side of it. But at the end of the day, it’s about the game and not any circumstances. You don’t get distracted by any circumstances of the game. Just focus on the game and what you got to do to be ready to play.”

A limited number of signed replica road signs from Cade Klubnik are available!  Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!