Mount Pleasant Magazine Sept/Oct 2021

34 www.MountPl easantPodcas t . com | www. ReadMPM. com | www. I LoveMountPl easant . com Current Clemson Assistant Coach Tony Elliott previously played as a walk-on for the Tigers, lettering all four years. His position coach at the time was none other than his current head coach, Dabo Swinney. After coaching stints at both Furman and South Carolina State, Elliott joined Clemson’s coaching staff in 2011 as a running backs coach and was named offensive coordinator this year. “Understanding the big picture gave me the ability to transition into my current job,” Elliott said. In 2017, Elliott was honored with the Broyles Award as the top assistant coach in the nation. He is also credited with helping former Tigers’ standout running back and current Jacksonville Jaguar Travis Etienne make ACC and college football history, with his record of more than 4,000 rushing yards and more than 1,000 receiving yards. With a raft of veterans returning this season — on both sides of the line — and always-dangerous wide receiver Justyn Ross cleared to play, Elliott would be justified in looking forward to a winning season for the Tigers. But he also never eased up on his players during spring and summer training. “We’ve got a lot of potential leaders,” he commented. “Our job as coaches is to empower those leaders. We challenge all our players to understand that it doesn’t matter where you are on the depth chart. You always prepare as if you were the starter.” One of those players who now will be a starter is quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, who will be filling the rather large shoes of four-year star quarterback and now Jacksonville Jaguar Trevor Lawrence. When asked whether Uiagalelei might be able to match Lawrence’s fabled mobility, Elliott said, “We’ll see what he’s comfortable with. Then as this offense creates its identity, we’ll see how the quarterback run fits into it.” Whether you cheer for the Gamecocks or root for the Tigers, you can be sure that the arrival of fall means USC and Clemson will dominate South Carolina’s heated football conversations. Just make sure to watch your team carefully, so you know what to say. Tony E l l i ot t , the Of fens i ve Coord i nator at Cl emson Un i ver s i t y, was born and ra i sed on James I s l and. Memor ial Stadium is the home of Clemson Universi ty ’s footbal l team.