CAVALIERS DON'T GET ENOUGH RESPECT ... NOT SO CACH ELLIOTT

You might have noticed Virginia worked its way into the 

Associated Press Top 25 – barely – this week … thanks to some 

curious goings on in Ann Arbor Mich., where the home team 

edged heavy dog Western Michigan 13-12 on a last-play Hail 

Mary … even though the clock clearly ran out on the previous 

snap. And, while the NCAA refused to overturn the result, the 

Wolverines were made to pay, nevertheless, by the wire-service 

voters who dropped them from No.16 to nowhere to be found.

Don’t be surprised if UVA, 2-0 after Friday night’s 59-3 home 

rout of second-tier Norfolk State, finishes among the top 10. 

For the second straight season, coach TONY ELLIOTT’S 

Cavaliers have used the transfer portal well … most notably at 

quarterback where BEAU PRIBULA came from Missouri to 

replace last year’s one-and-done CHANDLER MORRIS who 

led them to a school-record 11 wins (3 losses) and runner-up for 

the ACC title. Included was a 13-7 victory in the Gator Bowl 

over Missou which was without Pribula who opted not to play. 

Ten days later he committed to UVA.

This is Elliott’s fifth season in Charlottesville … and could be 

his last … unless the Hoos’ hierarchy is willing to pay him 

really big bucks … say like the $11 million-plus Clemson 

ispaying DABO SWINNEY to coach the football team this 

year.

That would roughly double what Elliott is making under a new 

contract he signed after last year’s remarkable turnaround 

following three straight losing seasons and an overall record of 

11-23. His average compensation over the next five years will 

be $6.5 million in addition to such bonuses as $150,000 for 

winning a minimum of 12 games; and $750,000 if the Cavaliers 

qualify for the College Football Playoff. 

You might have heard Swinney, who was Elliott’s boss at 

Clemson, could be let go at any moment even though it will 

cost the school a whopping $57 million if it happens before 

January 1 … a mere estimated $47 mil thereafter.

Once the toast of Clemson, S.C., Swinney has become less than 

popular as his stock crashed and burned in direct proportion to 

a sudden downturn in fortune that began three years ago … and 

hit an all-time low when the Tigers were wasted by LSU 51-10 

in their 2026 opener – at home, no less … After the game, rival 

coach LANE KIFFIN really rubbed it in when he told ABC 

television’s national audience that his scout team scored as 

many points on his varsity that Clemson did. Ouch!

“We didn’t do football stuff well,” said Swinney, “and it’s my 

job to get us better.”

His critics suggest the coach, in his 20^th year in charge at 

Clemson, has not given recent teams a chance to get better 

because he has refused to keep up with the times. An early 

critic of the court-ordered policy of paying players, combined 

with ongoing resistance to using the transfer portal to its fullest, 

Swinney has been left behind, his teams no longer worthy of a 

national ranking, the naysayers insist ... What’s more, they have 

been put off by snippy, too-often combative responses when 

asked why he remains old-fashioned, relying on high school 

talent to build patiently from within. How dare they!

Meanwhile, if it wasn’t for the opportunity to bring in

experienced players because of the portal, Elliott would have 

been long gone from Mr. Jefferson’s University. As it was, 

athletic director CARLA WILLIAMS probably couldn’t have 

saved him -- possibly her own job as well -- had Elliott not 

revitalized his sagging program with a wholesale makeover of 

the roster prior to season four.

Not hesitating to embrace the portal, Elliott brought in 32 new 

but experienced faces in 2025 then added 28 more this year … 

continuing a knack for recognizing talent that invariably wasn’t 

rated THAT highly but, collectively, has been a testimony to 

him and his staff.

I mean, how many national headlines did Morris generate at 

North Texas State, his last of three previous schools, before 

being given a final albeit longshot of a chance to succeed by 

Elliott? 

Or, while most major-college programs try to wow fan bases by 

going after most-wanteds at the more glamorous positions, 

Elliott and associates have concentrated on building their 

rejuvenated program on the big, sturdy backs of offensive 

linemen ...They added five this year to go with 12 returnees 

from 2025, allowing for unbelievable depth and thereby 

creating what several unsolicited reports called “the best 

offensive line in the country.” Preseason, projected starters had 

logged 11,000 snaps and more than 200 starts.

Of course, size also matters, and the Cavaliers are up there with 

just about any NFL team. Check it out. From left to right tackle, 

Friday night’s starting O-line averaged 6-5, 310 pounds and, 

like the season-opening romp over N.C. State, dominated. Run 

or pass, it didn’t matter.

Add a sharp, imaginative, veteran staff to the mix, and you 

understand why Elliott has become a – likely THE – leading 

candidate to replace his former boss with whom he shared, as 

play-calling offensive assistant, NCAA championships in 2017 

and 2019. 

The fact that Elliott (Class of 2002) is a Clemson alumnus … 

and will tell anyone who asks how much he not only loves but 

also has retained great respect for his alma mater … likewise 

adds to his attractiveness in Death Valley.

You might remember the native of Los Angeles (raised in 

Charleston, S.C., after his mother was killed when he was nine) 

turned down offers from the University of Tennessee and Duke 

to come to UVA which had been reluctant to keep up with most 

of ACC when it came to open the bank account. Now it spends 

a reported $80 million annually on football. 

To date, Elliott, 46, hasn’t commented about the possibility of 

leaving Virginia, if indeed he might be so inclined. Meanwhile, 

Williams would be best advised to do everything she can to 

keep him. Stay tuned.

Until next time ...