Tony Elliott on returning to Death Valley to face Clemson: 'There's gonna be some emotion'

Virginia head coach Tony Elliot spent 11 seasons as assistant at Clemson before becoming the head man of the Cavaliers. The first head coaching job in the career of the former Clemson wide receiver ahead of his third season at the helm.

As a part of the Tigers’ coaching staff, Elliot won two national championships and seven ACC titles. Striving to bring Virginia to similar success as he continues to build up the foundation and culture of the program.

It hasn’t been easy in Charlottesville following two-straight three win seasons for Virginia under Elliot, and this season for the first time in Elliot’s tenure, the Tigers stand between the Cavaliers and a victory. Facing off in a Week 8 matchup at Memorial Stadium. And at ACC Media Days, Elliot spoke about his first return to Clemson as a head coach.

“I think to get a win, any win, we’re going to celebrate any win,” Elliot said. “But we also understand how difficult it is to win football games at the college football level and in the ACC.”

“To go back to Death Valley, obviously being an alum, and there’s gonna be some emotion prior to the game,” he admitted.

Clemson and Virginia haven’t faced off since 2020 when Elliot was still on the Tigers’ staff. Which represented the 40th win in the series for Clemson compared to Virginia’s eight, with the Tigers winning the last five matchups versus the Cavs.

But Elliot knows that in order to break that streak and shift things in the favor of Virginia, he’ll have to separate his emotions and history with Clemson and focus on the task at hand.

“But man, once the ball is kicked off I have a responsibility to these young men sitting right here and the other young men that are going to be on that travel squad,” Elliot said. “To make sure that I take myself out of it and that I’m the best that I can be to help these young men be successful so that they have an opportunity to go earn victory in the field.”

There’s no doubt that an upset win over the Tigers on their home field will be a tall task for the former Broyles Award winner and his squad. But regardless of the game’s outcome, there’s no question that the moment will serve as a significant one for Elliot in his career.