If Saturday night is a precursor for what is to come, then Clemson may need to look for a long-term solution at head coach away from Dabo Swinney. Although he does have a $57 million buyout, what we have seen under Swinney's guidance the last few seasons is no longer acceptable. In a constantly evolving landscape, Swinney chose to remain steadfast in his coaching beliefs. It will cost him his job.
Fortunately for Clemson, there may be hope for a better tomorrow on the horizon. In the event that Swinney is coaching in his final season at Clemson, the perfect successor for him is not that far away in ACC country. Of course, we are referring to Virginia Cavaliers head coach Tony Elliott. He not only played at Clemson under Tommy Bowden, but he was on the Clemson staff from 2011 through 2021.
He too is a former wide receiver, but Elliott has proven to be a more savvy offensive mind, play-caller, and honestly, program galvanizer than Swinney over the last few years. Winning at Virginia is not the same as winning at Clemson. You can have success in Charlottesville, but it does not come as easily as it does for the Tigers. Elliott just had UVA one win away from reaching the College Football Playoff.
After what we saw the Cavaliers do to North Carolina State, Elliott's homecoming will be welcomed.
If Dabo Swinney fails, then Clemson needs to hire Tony Elliott right away
Besides winning at a far more difficult college football environment, there are three factors at hand that could make Elliott the right head-coaching upgrade for Clemson. The first is he embraced using the transfer portal from the get-go. He had to revamp the Cavaliers roster in the wake of Bronco Mendenhall stepping down after the 2021 season. Mendenhall left Virginia in a state of total disarray.
The second is Elliott runs an offense that caters to a quarterback's strengths, as opposed to shoving a square peg into a round hole. Des Kitchings may be running point as their offensive coordinator, but UVA has been both lean and adaptable at quarterback over the last few seasons. The rigidity we have out of the Clemson quarterback room in a post-Trevor Lawrence world is a far cry to what it once was.
As for the third, his team-building tactics seem to be based on something far more authentic than his past accomplishments. During his first season at Virginia, tragedy struck the entire Charlottesville community. The Cavaliers did not play their last two games because of it. While it took a minute for him to get going at Virginia, how he handled that horrible situation ingratiated him within the fanbase.
In short, Elliott is an ascending head coach with strong Clemson ties. He knows the conference and he knows what Clemson is all about. Furthermore, he is the one who could reset Clemson's football culture and help get the Tigers back on their feet. While the highest of highs under Swinney may not be replicated again, Elliott seems to have the the temperment to get Clemson back into contention.
It has not gotten totally untenable just yet under Swinney, but just know there is a solution out there.
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