Bronco vs. Leavitt in Fenway Bowl; Another UVA starting lineman leaps into transfer portal
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Up until Thursday, Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall wasn’t sure who he would be going up against in terms of a head-coaching matchup with SMU in the Fenway Bowl on Dec. 29 in Boston.
SMU has announced that its new head coach, Rhett Lashlee, will not coach the Mustangs in the bowl game. Instead, Jim Leavitt, who has been SMU’s defensive coordinator the past couple of seasons, will serve as the team’s head coach for the one game.
Leavitt was on former SMU head coach Sonny Dykes’ staff as defensive coordinator, but when Dykes moved on to become TCU’s head coach a few weeks ago, he did not bring Leavitt with him.
Leavitt is in his 40th season of coaching. He was Central Florida’s first coach in 1996 and he led UCF to 11 winning records in 13 seasons. Since then, he has made coaching stops as an assistant with the San Francisco 49ers, Colorado, Oregon, and Florida Atlantic prior to SMU.
Portal, portal on the wall …
Yet another Virginia player, starting right tackle Ryan Swoboda, has entered the transfer portal, making him the 22nd Cavalier to do so. That is the most players in the portal from any FBS program.
New UVA coach Tony Elliott could be in a bind if all three Cavalier offensive-line starters decide against returning. Who is going to protect quarterback Brennan Armstrong, who praised his offensive line all season long?
Swoboda was a regular starter at right tackle for the Cavaliers this season. He started all 10 games in 2020, played in 10 of 14 games for UVA in 2019 and appeared in 13 games in 2018.
Swoboda joins two fellow O-Line starters in the portal, starting left tackle Bobby Haskins and starting center Olusegun Oluwatimi, who was a finalist for the Remington Trophy, symbolic of the top lineman in the country.
Oluwatimi, who has already visited Michigan since declaring, has started 34 of the last 35 games for Virginia.
Haskins, who has scheduled a visit to Southern Cal, has started 20 of the last 22 games, plus played in 27 games in 2019 and 2018.
Douglass, Madden medal on first night at FINA Short Course World Championships
Courtesy UVA Media Relations
(© New Africa – stock.adobe.com)
Virginia junior Kate Douglass won gold as part of the 4×100 freestyle relay and UVA alum Paige Madden took bronze in the 200 freestyle on the first day of competition at the 2021 FINA Short Course World Championships on Thursday night in Abu Dhabi.
Madden picked up the first medal for Team USA with her bronze in the 200-meter freestyle. She placed third in 1:53.01 after posting a qualifying time of 1:53.30 in prelims.
Freshman Emma Weyant also took to the pool on Thursday, swimming the 400-meter individual medley. Weyant swam the fastest closing 50 in the prelims to just make the final in the event, qualifying in 4:32.97. In the final, the 400 IM Olympic silver medalist had the lead early and swam the second-fastest closing 50 as she took fourth in 4:27.45.
Junior Kate Douglass swam the leadoff leg of the 4×100 freestyle relay, going 52.39, in the finals to give Team USA a great start as the relay team tied Canada for gold with a time of 3:28.52.
Douglass qualified in the 200-meter individual medley, while Madden still has the 400-meter freestyle and Weyant has the 400-meter and 800-meter freestyle.
Bronco breaks down his final recruiting class at Virginia
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Outgoing Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall (Photo: UVA Athletics)
Outgoing Virginia football coach Bronco Mendenhall said on Wednesday — national signing day — that he is spending one hour every morning with incoming head coach Tony Elliott in order to brief him on the current roster, current staff and recruits.
“I want this program to succeed,” Mendenhall said, after giving Elliott an analysis on every single player and everything about the program. “That’s pretty unique.”
Mendenhall also said that from this point forward, all decisions about the program (other than coaching for the Dec. 29 Wasabi Fenway Bowl game) will be made by Elliott. From the time of Mendenhall’s announcement that he was stepping down until the announcement of Elliott as his replacement, those were Mendenhall’s decisions.
Virginia’s signing date was its smallest class in memory, 10 players, nine of them high-school commitments, the other a transfer from Wisconsin. Only one player was from Virginia.
Here is Mendenhall’s short breakdown of each player (Note: for brief bios on each player appear in an accompanying story about UVA’s recruiting class of 2022, click here):
Davis Lane, quarterback, Liberty Christian Academy (Lynchburg):
“Davis has unique skill sets,” said Mendenhall. “We vetted him, worked him in camp, all kinds of drills that we put him through and he kept answering the challenge. Arm strength, accuracy and leadership. (Quarterbacks coach) Jason Beck liked him, and he has developed three good quarterbacks here. We think (Lane) has a chance to be another one.”
Delaney Crawford, QB/athlete, Corona, Calif.:
“Is an electric, dynamic athlete. He’s more the Bryce Perkins-type quarterback. If he pulls it and runs, watch out. Amazing GPA, family and great values. I see a huge upside for him.”
Stevie Bracey, LB, Lovett School, Atlanta, Ga.: Will be an early enrollee.
“Production, production, production. If he and Nick Jackson lined up side-by-side, they would look like twins. Stevie fits Virginia in every way and is a really good football player. I love his physicality.”
Devin Chandler, WR, Huntersville, N.C.: Transfer from University of Wisconsin and has three years of eligibility remaining.
“I still remember Devin on his visit. It was down to us and Wisconsin. I thought at that time he would be a better fit for us. Exceptional wide receiver, great after-the-catch skills. We need a returner as well, and he is a skilled returner who addresses a need with a level of competency. Coach (Marques) Hagans has built a great relationship with him.”
Xavier Brown, RB, Lexington, Ky.: Was named the state of Kentucky’s Gatorade Player of the Year.
“Xavier is very good out of the backfield. He can line up in the slot. Very versatile. I like players who are versatile. [Gatorade POY] is a pretty high honor when you see what his peers and coaches think of him.”
Trey McDonald, linebacker, Chattanooga, Tenn.: One of two signees out of Chattanooga, but not the same high school.
“He’s also a great lacrosse player. Any kind of sport that requires a helmet, he’ll play it. I like everything about him. He loves contact. Exactly the kind of player I like to coach on defense. He’s all gas and no brakes.”
Karson Gay, tight end, Chattanooga, Tenn.:
“Wow, he’s somewhere between a flex Y [receiver] and a tight end. He has length, speed, athleticism. He’s not the same size of Jelani Woods (Gay is 6-foot-6, 226 pounds) or the elusiveness as KT (Keytaon Thompson), but has a huge upside, especially in the receiving game.”
Dakota Twitty, wide receiver, Columbus, N.C.:
“Like his size (6-5, 215), has very good hands and exceptional production. We like big targets at wideout. We like physical players. Those matchups are hard. We’re attracting as many players like that as possible.”
Sean Wilson, wide receiver, Brooklyn, N.Y.: Another 6-5 receiver.
“His upside is off the charts. Another big, physical football player. Lavel Davis (6-7 redshirt sophomore already on the roster) and Dakota being on the field at the same time along with Dontayvion (Wicks), wow. A lot of credit should go to Coach Hagans for attracting and building that (wide receivers) room.”
Will Bettridge, kicker, Miami, Fla.:
“Another one of our several players from Gulliver Prep. I don’t think you could have more accolades than Will. Every (all-star) game you could have been invited to, or any (kicking) award you could receive, he’s got them all. He is someone we targeted early on, someone who can have elite production. I’m excited for what he will bring.”
Update: Missouri’s Luper would join Virginia staff as an offensive coordinator
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Missouri running backs coach Curtis Luper (Photo: mutigers.com)
A new report out of Columbia, Mo., said that Missouri running backs coach Curtis Luper is considering a move to new Virginia coach Tony Elliott’s staff. It was learned Tuesday that Elliott was interested in Luper, who is also regarded as one of the top recruiters in the nation.
On Wednesday, a report from 247Sports national writer Chris Hummer said that Luper could be brought on Virginia’s staff as either a sole offensive coordinator or a co-offensive coordinator.
Hummer wrote, “no decision has been made yet.”
Luper has been on the Missouri staff for two seasons and last year coached Tigers’ running back Tyler Badie as the SEC’s leading rusher with 1,612 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns, which tied for first in the conference.
Luper has coached at TCU, Oklahoma State and New Mexico. He has been credited with helping land several top-10 national recruiting classes, the type of recruiter that Virginia desperately needs.
Elliott thankful for Mendenhall giving him the scoop on Virginia’s 10-man class
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Photo: UVA Athletics
With Tony Elliott having just come onboard Virginia’s football program, he had nothing to do with the Cavaliers’ 10-man signing class announced Wednesday during the early signing period.
UVA’s new head coach has spent some Zoom time with the newcomers and has welcomed them to the family.
The Cavaliers lost several commitments during the coaching change to schools such as BYU, Virginia Tech and North Carolina, so Elliott was proud of the ones who remained committed.
“That’s unbelievable in this day and age and shows these young men are full of character,” Elliott said. “I know they had tremendous relationships with Bronco (Mendenhall) and his staff, but they remained committed to Virginia.”
Elliott acknowledged that this was a different signing day that he has become accustomed to during his years at Clemson.
He said that beginning tomorrow, he’s going to have to step back and look closer at all the positions on the roster, while accounting for the fact that some of the current players are making decisions on whether to stay or transfer out.
“I want to make sure we have appropriate depth for the season,” Elliott said. “It will be fun to piece those two together.”
Elliott has spent time with Mendenhall in talking about the incoming class, so that he will have a firmer grip on what makes new signees attractive.
“Five years from now, we’ll look back and say these are the best two weeks of my coaching career,” Elliott said. “Bronco actually has spent more time talking to my wife, and I said, ‘Hey, I’m the head coach,’ but now I see what he’s done. He’s trying to get her ready for the transition, the perspective he has had, and helping us process. Invaluable information and that speaks to his character.
“Bronco cares deeply about this football program and has been willing to invest his time when doesn’t have to, in order to prepare me.”
Tony 🤝 Bronco #GoHoos 🔶⚔️🔷 pic.twitter.com/rHWo0PxS2K
— Virginia Football (@UVAFootball) December 13, 2021
Because Elliott is experiencing the head-coaching role for the first time in his career, he hasn’t had enough experience to analyze the good and bad of the early signing period.
“If I was going to change something, I’d say let’s do what’s best for the student-athlete and high-school students,” Elliott said. “These guys, some who committed in the summer and are ready to sign in December, others wait. Now you have coaching changes and a dead period three days into signing day.
“For me, it’s the impact it has on young people to make decisions quickly. Then you have transfers in the equation. The ones impacted unintended are high-school kids because of the transfer portal.”
COMING UP NEXT: Bronco’s thoughts on signing day and breaking down Virginia’s class in his eyes.
Virginia’s Class of ’22 recruits make it official on early signing day
Courtesy UVA Media Relations
The Virginia football program signed 10 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent (NLI) or Grants in Aid for the 2022-23 academic school year. The 10 student-athletes were part of the early signing period for football adopted by the NCAA in 2017.
The following is a list of individuals who have signed National Letters of Intent to attend the University of Virginia on football grant-in-aid. The next period for signing football student-athletes begins on Feb. 2, 2022. Below are bios for the entire class.
Will Bettridge • K
Gulliver Prep
Miami, FL
Played at Gulliver Prep, where he kicked for head coach and former UVA linebacker Earl Sims… ranked the No. 1 kicker in the country by Kornblue Kicking… ranked No. 3 kicker according to 247Sports … five-star kicker and ranked sixth in the nation by Kohl’s Kicking … made 31-of-43 career field goal attempts, including a career-best 54-yard attempt, and was 148-for-159 on PAT attempts according to Max Preps … also handled the punting duties at Gulliver Prep… attended Kohl’s National Scholarship Camp in 2021 … named to MaxPreps preseason All-State team … GP went 9-2 as a senior and reached the regional finals of state 4A tournament … Kicked a 51-yarder in his final season against Cardinal Newman… also played basketball and baseball at GP.
Stevie Bracey • LB
Lovett School
Atlanta, GA
Played linebacker, tight end and long snapper at The Lovett School for head coach Michael Muschamp … three-star rated linebacker according to Rivals and 247 Sports … No. 95 linebacker in the nation and No. 79 prospect in the state of Georgia according to 247 Sports … earned all-region honors his junior season … AJC all-state honorable mention … 2020 Atlanta/South Fulton All-Metro Team selection … 2020 first team all-region … helped the Lions to an 8-4 record and second round of state AA playoffs as a senior … Credited with 90 tackles and two interceptions and as a tight end had 13 catches for 174 yards and two scores as a senior … also played basketball for the Lovett School … his grandfather, Steve Bracey, played three seasons in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks (1972-74) and the Golden State Warriors (1974-75).
Xavier Brown • RB
Lexington Christian
Lexington, KY
All-purpose back … three-star recruit according to Rivals.com, ESPN and 247Sports … ranked No. 20 in the nation for all-purpose backs and the eighth overall player by Rivals.com … Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year, the first ever at his high school … finalist for the Kentucky Football Association’s Mr. Football award … led his team to the state championship game in 2021 and a 14-1 record… as a senior, ran for 1,511 yards and 22 touchdowns on 117 carries (12.9 yards per carry) and caught 16 passes for 398 yards and six scores … 2A District 4 First Team All-District in 2021 … in his junior season finished with over 1,300 all-purpose yards and 17 touchdowns … also a standout prep track and field performer.
Devin Chandler • WR
Huntersville, NC
PREVIOUS SCHOOL (WISCONSIN) – 2021: Appeared in six games … returned a total of four kicks for 85 yards, 73 came on three returns against Notre Dame on Sept. 25. 2020: Earned first letter, playing in four games as a wide receiver and kickoff returner … had two catches for 28 yards (both at Iowa) … returned 6 kickoffs for 156 yards … had a 59-yard kickoff return and 18-yard rush in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against Wake Forest.
High School: Three-star recruit by 247 Sports … first-team I-Meck Conference as a senior in 2019 … started his prep career at Arlington High School in Tennessee where he played wide receiver and defensive back before transferring to William Amos Hough High School in North Carolina for his senior season … hauled in 128 receptions for 2,391 yards during his prep career and caught 33 touchdowns and tallied 7 interceptions … scored 14 touchdowns his senior year while hauling in 50 catches for 905 yards … caught 28 passes for 728 yards and 8 touchdowns his junior season … caught 43 passes for 758 yards and 11 touchdowns his sophomore year while posting 5 interceptions … also competed in track and field where he was the Tennessee state runner-up in the 110 hurdles in 2019 … honor-roll student … high school coach was Matthew Jenkins.
Delaney Crawford • ATH
Corona Senior
Corona, CA
Played quarterback for Corona HS for head coach Ronnie Gueringer … three-star rated quarterback according to 247Sports … threw a 45-yard touchdown pass as time expired in 35-30 win over Vista Del Lago/Moreno Valley on Sept. 17, 2021… one of the top high school hurdlers in California, earning all-state recognition from MileStat in the 300-meter hurdles and the 100-meter dash … his 36.64 in the 300-meter hurdles was the best time in the state (and fifth nationally) in 2021 … he also ranked in the top 10 in California in the 110-meter hurdles and the 100-meter dash.
Karson Gay • TE
Boyd-Buchanan School
Chattanooga, TN
Played tight end at Boyd Buchanan School for head coach Jeremy Bosken … three-star rated tight end according to Rivals and 247 Sports … No. 35 tight end in the nation No. 21 prospect in the state of Tennessee according to 247 Sports … as a sophomore, had 21 catches for 256 yards and three TDs in five games … Eagle Scout … Father, Kyle, was a defensive lineman at Middle Tennessee State.
Davis Lane Jr. • QB
Liberty Christian Academy
Lynchburg, VA
Dual-threat QB … three-star recruit according to Rivals.com, 247Sports and ESPN … ranked the No. 38 player in the state of Virginia by Rivals.com … listed as top QB prospect in Virginia for the Class of ’22 by 247Sports … led Liberty Christian to its first ever state championship game as a senior and a 13-1 overall record in the fall of 2021 … passed for over 1,500 yards and threw for 18 touchdowns as a senior… rushed for more than 600 yards and added 12 touchdowns on the ground … was not sacked during his senior season until state championship game … helped LCA reach semifinals of state championships as a junior … at the 2021 VHSL Indoor championships in March of 2021, recorded a 55-meter dash time of 6.41 seconds—the 15th fastest time set by any high school athlete during the 2021 indoor season… his mother, Kim, was a two-time All-American track star at Mary Washington, where she is a member of the school’s Hall of Fame.
Trey McDonald • LB
Baylor School
Chattanooga, TN
Played linebacker and tight end at Baylor School (Chattanooga, Tenn.) for head coach Phil Massey … three-star rated linebacker according to Rivals and 247Sports … No. 39 prospect in the state of Tennessee according to Rivals and 247 Sports … TSSAA East/Middle all-region selection … Tennessee East-West All-Star game participant … Baylor reached the quarterfinals of TSSAA Division II Class AA playoffs after a 7-5 record in 2021…. also played lacrosse at Baylor School … grew up in Hartland, Wisconsin, where he played football, hockey and lacrosse.
Dakota Twitty • WR
Thomas Jefferson Classical
Columbus, N.C.
Four-star recruit according to 247Sports and ESPN … No. 9 overall recruit from North Carolina and the No. 50 WR in the nation according to 247Sports … selected to play in the North Carolina Shrine Bowl … 2021 Southern Piedmont 1A/2A All-Conference selection … amassed 2,200 yards receiving and caught 35 touchdown passes in four years at TJCA … as a senior had 10 touchdowns and 693 yards receiving and helped TJCA reach the second round of 1A playoffs in 2021 … averaged 14.7 yards per catch on 47 receptions as a senior … matched season high with eight catches for 130 yards and two scores in opening round of 1A state playoff win … caught a career-high 15 touchdowns as a sophomore (2019) … also a standout on TJCA’s basketball team.
Sean Wilson • WR
Canarsie
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Three-star recruit according to 247Sports and Rivals.com … No. 7 wide receiver in New York according to 247Sports … suffered an injury after three games of his junior season (spring of 2021) … began his career at Christ the King High School and finished his prep career at Canarsie.
| Name | POS | HT | WT | Hometown | HS/Previous School |
| Will Bettridge | K | 5-10 | 156 | Miami, Fla. | Gulliver Prep |
| Stevie Bracey | LB | 6-0 | 219 | Atlanta, Ga. | Lovett School |
| Xavier Brown | RB | 5-11 | 175 | Lexington, Ky. | Lexington Christian |
| Devin Chandler | WR | 6-0 | 178 | Huntersville, N.C. | Hough/Wisconsin |
| Delaney Crawford | ATH | 6-3 | 180 | Corona, Calif. | Corona School |
| Karson Gay | TE | 6-6 | 226 | Chattanooga, Tenn. | Boyd-Buchanan School |
| Davis Lane Jr. | QB | 6-1 | 184 | Lynchburg, Va. | Liberty Christian |
| Trey McDonald | LB | 6-4 | 212 | Chattanooga, Tenn. | Baylor School |
| Dakota Twitty | WR | 6-5 | 213 | Columbus, N.C. | Thomas Jefferson Classical |
| Sean Wilson | WR | 6-5 | 214 | Brooklyn, N.Y. | Canarsie |
Elliott targeting one of the nation’s best recruiters to join Virginia staff?
By Jerry Ratcliffe
New Virginia football coach Tony Elliott may be looking to the SEC to fill a position on his staff.
Brandon Marcello, a national college football writer for 247Sports, reported that Missouri running backs coach Curtis Luper has been targeted as a leading candidate to join Elliott’s Virginia staff.
Luper is considered one of the nation’s top recruiters and has 25 years in coaching. He has helped put together recruiting classes ranked consistently in the nation’s top 10 by Rivals.com, Scout.com and ESPN. In fact, he hauled in a top five class for Auburn in 2010 and was named by Rivals on its list of the nation’s top 25 recruiters and one of the SEC’s top 10 recruiters.
Luper has coached at TCU, Auburn, and Oklahoma State prior to joining Mizzou’s staff in December of 2019. He has coached numerous successful running backs at the various schools where he has worked.
Elliott bringing Clemson’s assistant strength coach with him to UVA
By Jerry Ratcliffe
According to reports out of Clemson, new Virginia football coach Tony Elliott has made his first staff hire, Adam Smotherman, the Tigers’ senior assistant football strength and conditioning coach.
Smotherman is a 10-year veteran of Clemson’s football program and was known as the Tigers’ “Get Back Coach,” responsible for keeping coaches and players on the sidelines and not on the field during games. Prior to his arrival at Clemson, Smotherman was assistant director of strength and conditioning at Furman (2012-13).
He also was a grad assistant strength and conditioning coach at Clemson (2011-12).
The Tony Elliott era begins at Virginia
Jerry Ratcliffe and Chris Graham break down the rollout of new Virginia football coach Tony Elliott.
Virginia tight end Jelani Woods will declare for NFL Draft
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Virginia tight end Jelani Woods celebrates his first touchdown as a Cavalier in Saturday’s win over Illinois. (Photo: UVA Athletics)
Virginia is losing one of its offensive weapons in tight end Jelani Woods, who will be declaring for the 2022 NFL Draft.
Woods, who played one season for the Cavaliers after transferring to UVA from Oklahoma State after the 2020 season, made the announcement on his Twitter account on Tuesday.
A massive tight end at 6-foot-7, 265 pounds, Woods had uncommon speed and route running ability for his size, in addition to being a quality blocker. He played in 11 games this past season and caught 8 touchdown passes, second-most on the team to Dontayvion Wicks (9).
Woods hauled in 44 receptions (fourth-most on the team) for 598 yards (fifth-most on the team) and was exceptionally difficult to bring down, often dragging a horde of tacklers with him for extra yardage.
“I want to first start off by thanking all the coaches at UVA, especially Coach Mendenhall for providing the opportunity for me to play at the University of Virginia,” Woods tweeted. “I would also like to thank Coach Anae, Hagans, Beck, tujague, Atuia and the whole staff for helping me become a better man and player.”
Woods also thanked Virginia fans for all the support.
“I have learned a lot from the adversity and opportunities throughout my time in college and it has blessed me to be in the position I’m in today,” Woods said. “A dream of mine has always been to reach the next level and I’m confident that I will give it my all to reach that goal.”
Notebook: Chick-fil-A, Olu visits Michigan, recruiting news and more
By Jerry Ratcliffe
When Tony Elliott came back for a second interview for the Virginia job last week, he was accompanied by his family, and while it was a short visit, he got quick approval from his wife, Tamika and two young sons, A.J. and Ace.
“I’m going to get some brownie points … happy wife, happy life,” Elliott said. “If they didn’t give me the thumbs up, it’s not happening. We’ve got three Chick-fil-A’s, I believe, in Charlottesville, right? There’s three of them and a Target. Target was important, almost a deal-breaker. Ain’t that right, Ace?”
One of the Chick-fil-A’s is in the Barrack’s Road shopping center, only a Brennan Armstrong deep ball from Virginia’s football offices.
Wahoo stars turn out
There was a strong representation of former Virginia players at Elliott’s press conference (we will have stories from a few of them on Tuesday).
Among those we spotted or talked to was Chris Slade, who recently resigned his head-coaching position at a private school in Atlanta after 10 successful years. Also, Wali Rainer, who had an eight-year NFL career, along with Charlottesville resident Chris Long and Fredericksburg’s Charles McDaniel, among others.
The transfer portal
Brennan Armstrong said he will be spending some of his energy in the coming days in attempting to change the minds of some of Virginia’s players who have entered the transfer portal.
Two of them, both veteran starters on the offensive line, seem to be keys to the Cavaliers’ offensive success next season: left tackle Bobby Haskins and center Olusegun Oluwatimi, who was one of three finalists for the prestigious Rimington Award as the nation’s best lineman.
Oluwatimi has already taken a visit to Michigan, while Haskins has a scheduled trip to Southern Cal.
“There was a lot that went into that decision, but I felt like it was the right decision for me,” Oluwatimi said. “I spoke to [offensive line coach Garett Tujague] and to Coach Mendenhall and they were all for it. I’m in a stressful time, and gotta make a decision coming up, see what’s happening next year. I’ve got to respect Coach Elliott’s time and scholarships and other school’s situations.”
Recruiting news & more
- UVA DL Aaron Faumui has entered the transfer portal.
- Four-star OL prospect Trent Ramsey from Florida will announce his commitment Wednesday afternoon. UVA is in the mix, but he’s projected to choose Mississippi State.
- Virginia safety commit Will Hardy has flipped and will sign with North Carolina.
- Also, the 3-star speedster twins from Utah, Dominique and Marcus McKenzie, flipped their commitments from UVA to BYU on Monday.
- Good news/bad news: Billy Kemp IV announced on Instagram that he will miss the Fenway Bowl, but added that he will return for another year of college football in 2022. Kemp was pictured in a hospital bed with a huge cast on his left leg.
- Asked about his meeting with Bronco Mendenhall, new Virginia coach Tony Elliott said: “Oh my gosh. Unbelievable. I’ve got to go dust off some books.”
- According to Pro Football Focus analysts, Virginia’s Armstrong leads all Power Five quarterbacks in “big-time” (bombs) throws with 32.
Armstrong hints at return, would like another year with Beck, hoping portal guys will come back
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Brennan Armstrong talks with reporters after Virginia introduced Tony Elliott as the new head football coach. Photo by Crystal Graham.
Virginia’s record-breaking quarterback Brennan Armstrong said Monday that he will not be transferring to another football program and that his future in the game will be determined by the NFL’s analysis of whether he should go pro or return to school.
“It’s either here or the NFL,” Armstrong said after showing up for new Virginia coach Tony Elliott’s press conference. “Me and Coach Elliott will sit down and talk about a bunch of stuff and figure things out and base my decision on that.”
Bronco Mendenhall and Armstrong filled out paperwork to send to the NFL not long ago to gain an opinion from NFL personnel on what Armstrong’s draft status might be. Normally, players won’t make the move unless advised they are legitimate candidates to be drafted in the first or second round. Armstrong said he has received the NFL’s feedback but had not examined it, but would likely read it Monday night.
Talking with Armstrong, he seemed to be thinking about a return. When asked about Elliott’s comments that he had been intrigued about Virginia’s offense, Armstrong was gung ho.
“I think [Virginia’s offense] is a little different from what he ran at Clemson,” Armstrong said. “I’m excited if I have to learn some new stuff. [Elliott] has the resume. He’s been to the best of the best games and had some of the best players. I’m glad I can be coached by him and build off that.”
Elliott has been Clemson’s offensive play-caller for the last seven seasons, including national championships and College Football Playoff games.
“I think we ran [UVA’s offense] well and we had enough skill position players to do it,” Armstrong said. “Depending on how we can figure out our offensive line, because we had a great O-line last year to protect me. That’s another thing we’ll have to maybe grab people from the portal depending on who stays, who doesn’t stay. We still have a lot of weapons.”
UVA’s dual-threat quarterback, who was runner-up for both ACC Offensive Player of the Year and overall player of the year, is likely the odds on favorite for ACC Player of the Year next season and a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate, should he return.
Armstrong would like to see a familiar face on the coaching staff if that were to happen. He would like to see quarterbacks coach Jason Beck be retained.
“I talked to Coach Beck,” the quarterback said. “I’d love to finish one last season with him. We click well. He understands me, I understand him.”
Armstrong said he passed along those sentiments to Elliott in their brief meeting Sunday.
“We chatted about it, still it’s [Elliott’s] decision,” Armstrong said. “I’d love to have some of the guys stay, but whatever happens, happens. I trust Coach Elliott. We’ll have more conversations about that moving forward.”
Meanwhile, other than preparing for Virginia’s bowl game against SMU, Armstrong said he’s working to convince players to not transfer, but stick with Elliott’s program.
“I think all [the transfer portal guys] like [Elliott],” the QB said. “In a sense, you didn’t know who [the new coach] was going to be, so they wanted to have an opportunity to go somewhere else. But I think a lot of the guys like him.
“They’ve had impact here already, so that’s different than going to a new school and learn new things or try to build yourself back up to a new school. There are a lot of positive things that they’ve built here that they can stay and have.”
Armstrong was surprised about Mendenhall’s sudden resignation only four days after the Cavaliers’ loss to rival Virginia Tech.
“Yeah, pretty stunned, caught us by surprise,” Armstrong said. “But I’ve always respected Bronco and decisions he makes. We all have choices to make in what’s best for us. I think it was the best decision for him. It’s a sad thing but keep moving forward. I’m excited he can coach us one more time in a bowl game, and hopefully we can send him off with a win.”
Armstrong said he felt like UVA AD Carla Williams did a great job in finding someone that fits the program.
“[Elliott] fits us well,” the quarterback said. “I think he has the right mentality, right credentials and experience to take this program to the next step. We went from 9-3 to a Covid year, to 6-6. It’s just waiting to go to the next step and I’m excited to see where it goes.”
Elliott: He was sold on Virginia when Dabo told him it was a Perfect Fit
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Virginia welcomed new football coach Tony Elliott, his wife, Tamika, and their sons, A.J. and Ace. Photo by Crystal Graham.
It’s no secret that Clemson coach Dabo Swinney considers himself a father figure to new Virginia hire Tony Elliott. They were together for 11 years as Swinney built the Tigers into a national football power.
Elliott, who was Clemson’s offensive play-caller for the last seven years, has been offered head coaching jobs before UVA’s position became available a little more than a week ago. So when Virginia athletics director Carla Williams approached the Tigers’ offensive coordinator about replacing Bronco Mendenhall, it was only natural that Elliott reached out for Swinney’s counsel.
“[Swinney] has been the one that’s helped me stay patient, to look for the right fit, to make sure that I get into a situation where there’s alignment,” Elliott said Monday afternoon during his introductory press conference outside the George Welsh indoor practice facility.
“There are jobs that he would give me his blessing on, and there were jobs that he wouldn’t give me his blessing on, and when I heard him say that he felt like Virginia was the perfect fit for Tony Elliott, then that’s all I needed to hear.”
Elliott made friends easily during his first meeting with Wahoo Nation. Several present players, former players _ some of them legends _ and program supporters, all liked what they heard from their new head football coach. He won the room, a very big room because it was held outdoors amid moderate temperatures for mid-December.
Elliott has turned down some good jobs in the past, including Auburn and Tennessee. What made this time different, what made him bite?
After all, he would be inheriting a program that had enjoyed only three winning seasons over the past 16 years, has the worst football support facilities in the 14-member ACC, has had lousy attendance, and has lost its grip in recruiting the Commonwealth and has tough academic standards.
Even AD Williams cracked that she had been “brutally honest” with Elliott about UVA’s facilities, shown him photographs of the facilities, even took him on a tour, “and he still chose to come,” drawing laughter from the crowd.
Elliott responded to the challenges with positive answers about how he hopes to do something special at Virginia and to prove to the college football world that it’s possible to win at a high-caliber institution.
“I sat down probably three years ago an kind of outlined really what I was looking for, and I made mention of those things, the high standards academically, the ability to recruit high-character young men, the conference, the ability to play in a championship-level conference, alignment, and then just a shared vision,” Elliott said.
“For me, I’d been looking for those things, and part of the process. It happened so fast, and very rarely do you have an opportunity to get to know the people that you’re getting ready to hitch your saddle to. This year, this cycle allowed me to explore more options because [Clemson] wasn’t in a situation. I might not be here (had Clemson been involved in the College Football Playoffs), because I would have stayed loyal to my values of my team of not interviewing while we’re on a championship run.”
Facilities have been an issue around Virginia dating back to the beginning of this century when Al Groh warned the administration that while the ACC had expanded with many schools that had a successful tradition in football, that UVA had not done anything to enhance its own program. Groh said, “We’re one misstep from being Duke.”
George Welsh, who had retired after the 2000 season, but still hung around the program he had built, had also said that Virginia had really fallen behind the rest of the ACC in terms of facilities, a notion echoed by Bronco Mendenhall upon his introductory press conference six years ago.
“First and foremost, we’re not going to make any excuses,” Elliott said of facilities. “We’re going to be appreciative of what we’ve got because in order for you to appreciate and be good stewards of the big things, you’ve got to be good stewards of the little things. So the focus for us is going to be about building the team.”
Elliott said he was aware that the school’s Board of Visitors unanimously approved $10.3 million in funding toward the beginning of construction to a new football support building for the program, but he wants to build his team’s culture before the building goes up.
“Bricks and mortar is nice and the young people want to see bricks and mortar, but we all know that’s not what makes a home,” the new coach said. “It’s the people inside, so we’ve got to establish that first and build. As we build, then we’ll continue to branch out, but we’re going to take it one step at a time.”
Elliott met with Virginia’s team on Sunday night and believed it was a positive gathering and that the team was engaged. He wanted to let them know who he was and what he was all about, what direction the program is heading and then directed them to “finish” the season under the leadership to Mendenhall, who will coach the Cavaliers in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl in Boston on Dec. 29 against SMU.
Elliott met with Mendenhall and was impressed with the Cavaliers’ former coach, who just stepped down at the end of the season. Elliott will observe the team as it prepares for the bowl game, but doesn’t want to be a distraction.
In terms of his offensive and defensive philosophy, Elliott put it plain and simple.
“I want to score and I want to stop people,” he said amid another round of laughter from onlookers.
“So my background is a two-back, no-huddle spread,” Elliott explained about his offense. “But if you’ve watched over the years, it has been very multiple and I think you have to adapt your system to the personnel that you have. I told the guys last night, the offense that they run here, man, it’s always been intriguing to me, so it’s going to be fun to be able to watch these guys practice and prepare.”
Defensively, Elliott wants to be known for a controlled aggressive defense, meaning that Virginia is aggressive, but under control, sound, 11 hats to the football, plus being very good at disguising coverages.
“We can be multiple, find ways to disrupt the decision maker and then stop the run.”
The academics at Virginia has been a challenge over the decades and coaches have learned to embrace it. As Hall of Famer Welsh once put it, “I learned a long time ago not to fight academics.”
Elliott won’t either.
There’s two lines of thinking out there and one of them is that a football program can’t do both, champion academics and win big at football. Elliott doesn’t buy into that philosophy.
“For me, that’s what I was looking for, because I think in order to be the best football player, you’ve got to be the best student, and you can’t have one without the other,” Elliott said. “They complement each other, and all of those skills are transferable. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Perhaps his main priority is to begin building a staff, something Elliott described as a unique transition. Unique in terms that he’s onboard, the former staff is coaching the bowl game, recruiting and the transfer portal are active. Should he keep some of the former staff? Should he look for assistants with Virginia ties? Should he bring in a completely new staff. Should it be a combination of all of the above?
He addressed the present staff and by watching bowl preparation, he gets a chance to see what they can do and the direction in which he needs to go.
“I’m going to be very patient and make sure first and foremost that I get the right people,” Elliott said. “That’s going to be the approach. It’s not about the X’s and O’s to start, it’s about the people, because at the end of the day this program is going to be about developing young men, and in order to develop young men you’ve got to have good people in place to pour into their lives and plant the proper seeds.”
He told the present staff they’ll have an opportunity to be evaluated moving forward. He will get feedback from the players _ he’s already talked to some, such as record-setting quarterback Brennan Armstrong _ and he’ll talk to Menenhall to get a full understanding of the challenges he’s had in building the program.
And, he might even bend Dabo’s ear a bit.
“He is like a father to me. Our relationship started in 2003 when he came to Clemson. I was asked to come back for my last year (as a player), and right after the bowl game, Rick Stockstill leaves to take another job, and we’re sitting in limbo,” Elliott said.
“I was already a graduate and I was debating whether or not I was going to come back and then Coach Swinney came along. He didn’t have any reason to believe in me, but I was a former walk-on, wasn’t a scholarship guy, asked to come back. There was some dudes coming back in that (wide receiver) room. But he saw something in me and he gave me an opportunity.
“From there, the bond has been strong ever since. He was a mentor.”
Still, for all the great advice Swinney has provided Elliott over the years, Elliott couldn’t help but bring up the worst advice Swinney gave him.
“The worst advice he gave me was to not get into coaching … he tried to talk me out of it when I was trying to leave the engineering field,” Elliott chuckled.
Good thing he didn’t listen.
Hootie empties his notebook: UVA hoops signees, Poindexter, and much more
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Photo: twitter.com/brandon_traudt
A shorter version of a late-night Scattershooting around the ACC to enhance your nightcap …
Virginia’s Class of 2022 signees are off to strong starts in their final high-school seasons. Isaac McKneely (Poca, W.Va.), Isaac Traudt (Grand Island, Neb.), Leon Bond (Milwaukee) and Ryan Dunn (Freeport, N.Y.) certainly should be able to cure the Cavaliers’ scoring woes next season.
On Saturday, Traudt and his teammates bounced back from a loss Friday (see more below) in the Norm Stewart Classic at the University of Missouri, with a dominating win over Blue Valley (Kansas). Traudt was named the game’s MVP after scoring a game-high 30 points, including some impressive dunks and 3-point shots. He also became Grand Island’s all-time leading scorer with 1,147 points thus far in his career.
Traudt scored 24 points in his team’s loss Friday to Vashon of St. Louis. He was 10 of 18 from the field and 2 of 6 from behind the arc, along with 8 rebounds.
However, he gave the basketball world a lasting memory with an eye-popping, power slam (see accompanying photo and video below) that actually made SportsCenter’s Top 10 (No. 5).
Yeah, that’s a poster for @ittraudt. My goodness. pic.twitter.com/fF9ryGfina
— Jacob Padilla (@JacobPadilla_) December 10, 2021
Here are a few highlights from Traudt’s record-breaking performance Saturday:
WATCH: @UVAMensHoops commit Isaac Traudt (@ittraudt) is a walking HIGHLIGHT REEL! @IslanderBB‘s senior forward finished with 30 points and won the game’s MVP award! The future is looking bright for the Virginia MBB program!
Grand Island: 50 | Blue Valley: 31
FINAL pic.twitter.com/bPc2Zii5bl— Kyle Helms (@khelms2023) December 12, 2021
Meanwhile, Bond poured in 30 points in an overtime win against his crosstown rival. Also, McNeely is averaging 19.5 points per game after his first two contests, including a season-high 22 in Poca’s opener. Dunn scored a game-high 29 for Perkiomen School in a tough loss at Blair Academy this past week. In their season opener on Dec. 1, Dunn also led the team with 19 points in a win over Olympus Prep.
Penn State hires Manny from Miami
After losing his defensive coordinator to Virginia Tech, Penn State’s James Franklin hired recently fired Miami head coach Manny Diaz as the Lions’ new defensive boss.
So where does that leave Anthony Poindexter, who last week was approached by UVA AD Carla Williams to become the Cavaliers’ defensive coordinator prior to Bronco Mendenhall’s resignation, then interviewed in Las Vegas this past Monday night about replacing Mendenhall?
Poindexter was “co-defensive coordinator” with Brent Pry, who left Happy Valley to become head coach of the Hokies.
Franklin said of Diaz, 47, who was fired at Miami after three seasons (21-15), “Manny is a veteran defensive play-caller whose head-coaching experience will bring tremendous value to our organization. He has an innovative approach to complement his extensive X’s-and-O’s knowledge, which he developed through his stops at multiple Power Five conferences. Manny’s defensive philosophy is in line with our scheme and will help in the transition with our current team.”
There was no mention of Poindexter concerning the transition.
Blank the NCAA
Remember the booster who made the NIL deal last summer that gave Miami scholarship players $500 monthly payments to promote his gym and Mixed Martial Arts team?
Well, now Dan Lambert’s deal is being looked at by the NCAA in terms of whether or not the Miami deal violates NIL rules. Naturally, Lambert wasn’t happy and didn’t hold back in an interview with The Miami Herald about his feelings toward the NCAA.
“[Expletive] the NCAA, Lambert told the newspaper. “I would love to sue those scumbags. I hired the pre-eminent attorney on NIL (Darren Heitner) and he crossed every T, dotted every I and they still want to look into it. Maybe [the NCAA is] scared they’re losing their power. They’re all pieces of [expletive].”
Heitner told the Herald that no rules have been violated. Lambert said that he’s planning on upping the NLI payments to players to $1,000 per player.
Stay tuned.
Quick hits
- One way or the other, new Virginia football coach Tony Elliott was going to face Syracuse QB Tommy DeVito next season. The Cavaliers are scheduled to play at Syracuse, but DeVito announced he is transferring to Illinois. UVA plays at Illinois in the second game next season.
- Elliott needs to act quickly on the Bobby Haskins case. Haskins, who started at left tackle for the Cavaliers, entered the transfer portal and has already announced he plans to visit Southern Cal in the near future. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
- In case you haven’t heard, former UVA commitment Joe Brown has decided to commit to BYU.
- Brennan Armstrong has won the 2021 Dudley Award, presented to the state’s player of the year, becoming the 11th Cavalier to win the honor and the fourth in the past five years.
- Former Wahoo and undrafted free agent Charles Snowden will suit up for his first NFL contest this Sunday. The Silver Spring, Md., outside linebacker was promoted to the Chicago Bears’ active roster Saturday, and Snowden will make his official regular-season professional debut against NFC North rival Green Bay (8:20 p.m., NBC). Snowden, who left UVA tied for 15th on the school’s all-time sacks list (15.0), played for the Bears in the preseason, but has been a practice-squad member across Chicago’s first 12 games.
- According to Basketball Reference, former Virginia guard Kyle Guy of the Cleveland Charge was second in the G League in points scored going into Saturday’s play with 229 points. He’s a dozen points behind first-place Alfonzo McKinnie. In addition, he’s ninth in total defensive rebounds (69), second in true shooting percentage (.630), third in made field goals (78), fourth in field-goal attempts (169), first in 3-point makes (34), first in 3-point attempts (93), tied for 10th in free-throw attempts (29), tied for ninth in minutes played (356) and third in offensive rating (110.6). He’s averaging 22.9 points per game, 8.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists, while shooting 46 percent from the field and 36 percent from behind the arc.
It’s the 50th anniversary of Barry Parkhill’s UVA record-scoring night
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Fifty years ago today, a mop-haired, floppy-socked combo guard lit up University Hall like never before — or since — when Barry Parkhill poured in a UVA single-game record 51 points, a mark that stands to this day.
Parkhill, who went on to become a legend in Virginia basketball, probably won’t celebrate. He’s perhaps the most modest athlete that ever stepped foot in Charlottesville.
“I give it zero thought,” Parkhill said in an interview a few years ago. “If it comes up, I’ll say, ‘Yeah, I had 51 against UCLA,’ and [people] don’t know (followed by a laugh).”
His 51 actually came against Baldwin-Wallace in a 117-83 win by UVA.
In truth, at least one person knows, longtime friend Louis Lerner, a former circuit-court judge for Virginia’s 8th Judicial Circuit. Lerner never lets the anniversary go by without busting Parkhill’s chops, annually calling the former Cavalier to remind him of the deed. In fact, a couple of years ago, Lerner conspired with Parkhill’s wife, Pat, to deliver a special Christmas present to the former Wahoo star.
Lerner sent a wrapped present and directed Pat to place it deep under the Christmas tree, where it would be the last present to be unwrapped. No name on the package, just that it was for Barry.
Turned out to be a Baldwin-Wallace T-shirt.
“It was one of those nights when everything went in,” Parkhill said.
That was all he was going to say about the feat. We told you he was modest.
On that day, Dec. 11, 1971, Parkhill made 19 of 33 field-goal attempts and all 13 of his free throws to establish a record that has stood for half a century. He also had seven assists in a game in which Virginia attempted 99 field goals.
“Coaches were aware that Barry was headed toward a record,” said former backcourt mate Jim Hobgood on Saturday. “We were directed to get him the ball and let him do his thing. He clearly had an exceptional night, but you have to remember there were no 3-point baskets in those days. I’m sure some of those shots would have been 3’s. To get 51 and they’re all 2’s or free throws, well that’s a career for some people.”
Hobgood was UVA’s second-leading scorer in the game with 17 points. A fellow named Dean Martin led Baldwin-Wallace with 30 points.
“I think I had nine rebounds too,” Hobgood chuckled. “I was Mr. Windex back in the day.”
It was only the fourth game of the season, as Virginia would go on to post an 18-1 record and make the AP Top-20 poll (rising as high as 10th) for the first time in school history. The team finished 21-7, but as Parkhill said, “We proved Virginia could be competitive in basketball.”
A junior that season, Parkhill went on to be voted ACC Player of the Year and ACC Athlete of the Year, not to mention All-American. He went on to become only the second player in Cavalier basketball history to have his jersey number (40) retired.
Hobgood said there was no big deal made about Parkhill’s 51-point night. No ceremony, no game-ball presentation, no public-address system announcement.
“Barry would have been embarrassed if they had made a big deal out of it,” Hobgood said. “He has as much humility as any athlete I have ever encountered, but that scoring record only added to the BP mystique.”
Fans called him BP, and one of them even wrote a song about it entitled “Mr. BP,” which Hobgood said Parkhill hated with a passion.
Parkhill didn’t like attention then and still doesn’t now.
“I’ve known him for 50 years and he probably has gotten as much attention as any Virginia basketball player other than Ralph Sampson,” Hobgood said. “If you took the top 5-to-10 athletes that have contributed most to Virginia in the past century, Barry would have to be on that list.”
Parkhill broke the single-game record of Buzzy Wilkinson, who scored between 42 and 48 points nine times from 1953 to 1955. Since then, the closest any Virginia player has come to approaching Parkhill’s mark was Donald Hand (41 vs. NC State in 1999) and Sean Singletary (41 vs. Miami in 2008).
Sampson had 40 against Ohio State in 1981, while J.R. Reynolds scored 40 in 2007 and Devin Smith posted 40 vs. Iowa State in 2004.
Parkhill, who has spent the last 20-plus years raising funds for UVA — and spearheaded the drive to build John Paul Jones Arena and the school’s golf home for the men’s and women’s teams — was named to the ACC’s Golden Anniversary team in 2003, one of three Cavaliers to make the 50-man team.
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney on Virginia’s hiring of Tony Elliott
Dabo Swinney (Photo: Walt Unks/ACC Media Services)
“I just can’t tell you how happy I am for Tony and Tamika and Ace and A.J. and also just how proud I am of Tony.
“Man, it’s really, really been an amazing journey for me to watch Tony since 2003. He was in my first receiver group — a captain. And I’m not quite old enough to be his dad but I look at him like a son. He really is special. I love him and his family with all my heart. I’m just so proud of him and all that he’s done since I hired him in 2011. And then obviously he had never called plays, and he’s leaving here as one of the best to do it. What he did from that bowl game in 2014 to now is just incredible.
“To see him now have a chance to go be the head coach at Virginia — like Brent [Venables] having the chance to go be the head coach at Oklahoma — it’s a blessing because I know what he’s going to bring. Those young men will be blessed by the way we do things here at Clemson. I have no doubt he’s going to be successful. And I’m super excited I’m still going to have a chance to interact with him on head coach calls, our ACC head coach meetings, etc.
“It’s good to see him move on and sad to see him move on, but it’s also exciting for new opportunity here as well.”
It’s official: Clemson’s Tony Elliott is Virginia’s new head football coach
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Tony Elliott is officially Virginia’s new head football coach.
After being offered the job earlier this week, then returning home to make a decision, Elliott agreed to terms today and will be introduced at a press conference early next week.
“This is an awesome opportunity for the University of Virginia as we welcome Coach Tony Elliott into the UVA football family,” said athletics director Carla Williams. “Coach Elliott is a winner in every sense of the word. He is known for his character, humility, work ethic, skill set and passion for education.
“Coach Elliott is an exceptional leader of young men and he is highly regarded across college football as a talented teacher and coach. He is an outstanding recruiter.”
While at Clemson, Elliott has been Dabo Swinney’s play-caller for seven seasons and part of a 10-season domination of the ACC, while the Tigers have won 10 or more games over that span, including six ACC Championships, four appearances in the College Football Playoff National Championship game and capture two titles in 2016 and 2018.
𝙒𝘼𝙃𝙊𝙊𝙒𝘼🔶⚔️🔷
A proven champion ✅
An offensive mastermind ✅
A developer of NFL talent ✅We got our guy! Welcome to Charlottesville, Coach Tony Elliott!
🔶⚔️🔷#GoHoos pic.twitter.com/bq9oenL8Qk
— Virginia Cavaliers (@VirginiaSports) December 10, 2021
Elliott is a past (2017) Frank Broyles Award winner, symbolizing the nation’s top assistant coach. He was promoted by Swinney to co-offensive coordinator before the 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl. Since then, the Tigers have gone 89-10 and ranked among the top 12 nationally in total offense.
Clemson led or ranked second in the conference in total offense in five of his seven seasons as an offensive coordinator. His offense in 2018 and 2019 were responsible for two of the 22 650-point seasons in major college football history.
He was a walk-on wide receiver under former Tigers coach Tommy Bowden in 1999 and finished up as a scholarship player and team captain in 2003, earning four letters after playing in 44 games. Swinney was Elliott’s position coach (wide receiver).
Elliott spent three seasons on Furman’s coaching staff (2008-10) and two more at South Carolina State (2006-07), coaching wide receivers at both, prior to returning to his alma mater. He worked for Michelin North America for two years before beginning his coaching career.
“We aspire to elevate UVA football in a manner that is consistent with the University’s core mission and purpose,” Williams said. “Coach Elliott understands and embraces this amazing opportunity to do something really special at the University of Virginia. I am thrilled for the young men in our football program. We are honored to welcome him, his wife Tamika and their sons, A.J. and Ace to Virginia.”
New flight from Clemson due to touchdown in Charlottesville this afternoon: Have Elliott and UVA worked out ‘snags?’
By Jerry Ratcliffe
There is a flight scheduled from the airport near Clemson to Charlottesville this afternoon, scheduled to land at CHO at approximately 4:41 p.m.
Perhaps Tony Elliott left his phone charger at the Boar’s Head Inn?
Elliott, who is Clemson’s offensive coordinator, and his family flew to Charlottesville earlier this week, met with Virginia athletics director Carla Williams for a second interview concerning the head football coaching job, then returned home, noting there was a “snag” in the negotiations.
Apparently Williams offered him the job, because upon returning to Clemson he told reporters that the decision whether to take the Virginia job was “his decision.” He said he would decide Friday morning whether he will accept UVA’s offer, move on to Duke’s coaching search (where he was also interviewed) or remain at Clemson.
In somewhat related news, UVA’s Board of Visitors approved the athletic department’s request for $10.3 million from the special gift fund to go toward the department’s Master Plan, particularly a new football center. Bronco Mendenhall, who stepped down as the Cavaliers’ head football coach last week, had pleaded with the school to upgrade facilities, noting that Virginia had the worst football facilities in the entire ACC.
Such a gift would clear the way (along with some previous financial commitments, including $500,000 from Mendenhall) to put shovels in the ground and begin construction of the $65 million football program home.
UVA has lost 4-star commitment Andrew Gentry from Columbine High School in Littleton, Col., who committed to the Cavaliers before going on mission for his church. The massive offensive tackle signed in 2020. Gentry has now committed to Michigan.
Several Cavaliers have entered the transfer portal over the past week, and two more entered today: wide receiver Zack Kindel and defensive lineman Nusi Malani. Previously, linebacker Noah Taylor, center Olu Oluwatimi (a Remington Award finalist), and left offensive tackle Bobby Haskins were in the portal along with reserve quarterbacks Jacob Rodgriguez and Ira Armstead. Armstead has already committed to Eastern Illinois University.
Michigan OC reportedly was in Charlottesville on Thursday night
By Jerry Ratcliffe
According to Wolverine Digest, a publication that covers Michigan football, Josh Gattis, the team’s offensive coordinator, interviewed for the Virginia football job Thursday night in Charlottesville.
Gattis, 37, who is in his third year as Jim Harbaugh’s play caller, was the 2021 recipient of the Frank Broyles Award, which recognizes the top assistant coach in the nation.
Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott was in Charlottesville on Thursday morning but left town after negotiations for the job hit a “snag.” Apparently Elliott was offered the job.
Upon arrival back home, Elliott told “Clemson Insider,” that it was “his decision,” on whether to take the Virginia job and that he hoped to reach that decision no later than Friday morning. There is no word on that decision.
Elliott said he would weigh Virginia’s offer along with possibilities to become head coach at Duke. He also said he may return to Clemson, where he has been Dabo Swinney’s play caller for the past seven seasons.
Back to Gattis, who enjoyed his best season as the Wolverines’ offensive coordinator this past season …
Michigan decided to go with a a power running game this past season, which led to a Big Ten championship, a dominating win over rival Ohio State, and a berth in the College Football Playoff.
The Wolverines presently rank No. 13 nationally in scoring (37.7 points per game), No. 19 in total offense (451.9), No. 9 in rushing offense (223.9 per game), and tied for No. 3 in runs longer than 40 yards (nine), No. 20 in third-down conversion percentage (45.4 percent), first in fewest tackles for loss allowed (27), tied for second in fewest sacks allowed (10) and tied for No. 15 in fewest turnovers (11).
Harbaugh and Gattis decided to go away from spread concepts that Gattis had brought to Michigan from Alabama and instead convert to a run-heavy philosophy behind a dominant offensive line.
“When everyone said we can’t do anything (through the air), it’s not that we couldn’t do anything, it’s that we were choosing to do things differently,” Gattis said on the “Inside Michigan Football” radio show. “I think that’s the biggest narrative that needed to be changed. A lot of people thought we couldn’t throw the ball just because we didn’t choose to throw the ball, not because throwing the ball wasn’t successful. A lot of people thought we can’t throw it deep. It’s because we were choosing not to.”
Gattis said the offensive staff was doing what they felt allowed the team to be most successful.
Gattis has ties to the ACC. He’s a native of Durham, N.C., and played at Wake Forest. After a short NFL career, Gattis started his coaching career at UNC in 2010.
He was a member of James Franklin’s staff and both Vanderbilt and Penn State before moving on to Alabama in 2018, serving as Nick Saban’s co-offensive coordinator. The Crimson Tide played in the College Football Playoff that season.
Harbaugh quickly lured Gattis to Ann Arbor.
Clemson’s Elliott returns home after hitting ‘snags’ in Virginia search process
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott flew back home to South Carolina on Thursday afternoon after his negotiations to become Virginia’s head football coach hit “snags.”
Sources said that Elliott has not completely pulled out of the Virginia job, but returned home to consider UVA, Duke, or to remain at Clemson. The Tigers’ coach confirmed that once he touched down back home.
Once he returned to the Oconee County Airport late Thursday, Elliott told the “Clemson Insider” that there has been “no decision yet” on the Virginia job. When asked who’s decision it is (for him to become head coach of the Cavaliers), he said, “It’s my decision.”
Reports out of the Clemson camp said last night that “it appeared an agreement to make Elliott the Cavaliers’ next head coach was imminent.”
Almost the exact terminology used from sources extremely close to the Anthony Poindexter interviews in Las Vegas last Monday, when negotiations between Virginia and Penn State’s co-defensive coordinator hit “snags.”
Should Elliott decide to go in a different direction, UVA would be 0-for-2 with its top two choices to succeed Bronco Mendenhall, who suddenly resigned last week.
It was Elliott’s second interview with UVA athletics director Carla Williams. This time, Elliott brought his family with him on Wednesday, normally a high indicator that the candidate plans on accepting and staying around for an announcement. Not this time.
Elliott has turned down at least seven other coaching opportunities in the past and is intensively thorough in researching a potential job.
Duke has made him its top candidate, although has others lined up should he opt out of replacing longtime Blue Devils coach David Cutcliffe. Elliott has been the play-caller for Dabo Swinney’s offense for the past seven years.
Reports out of Michigan indicate that UVA is looking at Wolverines’ offensive coordinator Josh Gattis, who, like Elliott, is a Frank Broyles Award winner, which recognizes the top assistant coach in the nation. Another unsubstantiated report claimed that Gattis was in Charlottesville on Thursday night to talk about the job.
Yet another unsubstantiated report was that Virginia’s plane was in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Thursday night with a flight plan returning to Charlottesville on Friday morning. Pete Golding, the Crimson Tide’s defensive coordinator, is believed to be on Virginia’s radar. Golding, who also coaches the inside linebackers, has been on Nick Saban’s staff for the past four years.
