Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney and Virginia head coach Tony Elliott have been close for 20-plus years. Elliott played for Swinney when he was the receivers coach at Clemson back in 2003, before joining Swinney’s staff a few years later.

Tony Elliott was a walk-on graduate receiver in 2003 who finally thought he’d have a chance for more playing time at Clemson when his position coach left and in walked a young, energetic assistant in Dabo Swinney who himself had returned to college football after selling commercial real estate.