A TALE OF TWO FORMER CLEMSON ASSISTANTS PLUS ...

You are … Tony Elliott, and you’ve got to be asking … Was I crazy, or what, to take the job at Virginia when I could have gone to Duke? Better yet … why did I leave Clemson? And, you are Anthony Poindexter, Penn State assistant and former UVA aide and All-American defensive back, who continues to thank the gods of football for not accepting the opportunity to return to Hooville. He could have been Bronco Mendenhall’s successor but someone (someones?) close to the program advised AP to stay put. Now was not the time. So Elliott, Clemson’s offensive coordinator for seven years, accepts Virginia’s offer in December of 2021 after reportedly being involved in vacancies at Tennessee and Auburn previously. A week earlier Brent Venables, the Tigers’ defensive coordinator, was named Oklahoma coach and, in less than two seasons, has become a leading candidate for national honors after his 6-0 Sooners knocked off No. 3 and previously unbeaten Texas Saturday … while Elliott’s Cavaliers were snapping a 0-5 start with a 27-13 win over second-tier William & Mary in what might be the last (only?) time they will be favored in 2023. You are … Tyrod Taylor, VaTech alumnus and NY Football Giants backup quarterback who has every right to ask: Why me, Lord? Why me? He came on in the fourth quarter of yesterday’s 41-16 loss to Miami when starter Daniel Jones, under season-long duress because of the NFL’s worst offensive line (no argument here), suffered a game-ending injury. The former Duke QB was sacked six times, building his total for the season to 28 in five starts. That’s ridiculous! So on comes Taylor, who looks to pass and, before he can get his right arm in position to throw, is victim of another collapsed pocket. Down goes Tyrod! Down goes Tyrod!! Your turn: Sack City. You are … A Manchester United fan. What horrible thing did you do to deserve that? And, you are Erik ten Hag, the Man U., coach who has accumulated all that talent … proving once again teams not individuals win championships. The Red Devils spend more money than any side in the English Premier League yet seemingly lack organization on the field. Too often they look like a bunch of guys playing weekend pickup, running around … every man for himself. Reserve midfielder Scott McTominay was THE man Saturday, coming on in the 87th minute to score goals in the third and seventh minutes of stoppage to give Man U a 2-1 win over Brentford at Old Trafford … and quite possibly save ten Hag from mutiny by the hometown fans -- if not his job. “How bad did they need that?” said NBC/USA studio host Rebecca Lowe. You are … Richie Floyd, St. Petersburg, Fla., councilman and lone voice against building a new stadium for baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays. Projected cost to taxpayers was said to be around $600 million or about half of the projected $1.3 billion, sharing the overall bill with team ownership. Now, thanks to a recent FOI request, it was learned the amount could be as much as $1.29 BILLION in public money after the bonds – and interest thereof -- used to fund the project are paid off. No wonder Floyd is concerned. Nevertheless, the Tampa Bay Times quoted an expert on such things as saying the financial document was typical and, the paper said, “While parts of it didn’t entirely make sense, it was clear the plan was still coming together.” Meanwhile, Rays’ ownership faces a lawsuit from minority stake holders who claim they are being low-balled in bid to sell back their shares. Finally … you are QB Arch Manning, top 2023 recruit who chose Texas over Ole Miss (where grandfather Archie and father Eli excelled) and Tennessee (where uncle Peyton was All-American) and – barring injury – is destined to play behind Ohio State transfer Quinn Ewers for three years. Actually, Manning’s final three included Alabama and Georgia but he came to Texas, he told reporters, because he wanted to play for coach Steve Sarkisian. Currently, Manning is listed third on the depth chart below Ewers and redshirt freshman Maalik Murphy, a 6-4, 240 pounder who had an outstanding spring game. The plan calls for Manning to be redshirted himself this year ... and apparently has been put off-limits to inquiring minds who might ask: Hey, Arch, where are you going to play next year? The transfer portal beckons. Let the recruiting begin all over again. Until next time ...