CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) 鈥� Tony Elliott had just claimed the biggest win of his coaching career, leading Virginia to clinch a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game.
Yet as he stood at the podium for his postgame news conference, Elliott thanked three mothers before mentioning football.
鈥淭his one鈥檚 for them,鈥� Elliott said of the mothers of Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D鈥橲ean Perry, the players during Elliott’s first season. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not here without the inspiration that they provide us on a daily basis.鈥�
It was a reminder of how this has been a season of redemption for Elliott and a program that had a precipitous slide after former coach in 2021. The tragedy still lingers over a team picked to finish 14th in the ACC this year, yet the Cavs now have a chance to reach the College Football Playoff by beating Duke on Saturday night.
It’s the ultimate chance to turn Elliott鈥檚 talk of building 鈥渢he model program鈥� and his preseason declaration about hunting a championship from coachspeak to fact.
鈥淲hen I committed to come here and I signed on, I knew what the challenges were up front and I knew where we wanted to go,鈥� said tight end Sage Ennis, who transferred from Clemson. 鈥漈o reap the rewards and see the fruit that鈥檚 bearing from the long time this staff has been here … it means a lot that I get to be a part of it.鈥�
A difficult path
This season’s success is what Elliott envisioned when he left Clemson as offensive coordinator . Getting here was more difficult than anyone could imagine.
It started on the field, with returning star quarterback Brennan Armstrong struggling to adjust to Elliott鈥檚 pro-style offense after flourishing in the previous free-flowing style of play.
Then the slayings rocked the program and university itself, forcing the school to cancel its final two games to finish at 3-7. And for all the credit he deserved for shepherding the program through tragedy, Elliott was facing growing pressure for on-field results in years that followed as he went 11-23 in three seasons 鈥� including 6-17 in ACC play.
Elliott ratcheted up pressure a bit himself, declaring that this season鈥檚 roster 鈥� one infused with 50 new players, including a number of high-priced transfers 鈥� was his most talented and deepest yet.
And everything clicked for the Cavaliers (10-2).
Successful retooling
The roster full of free agents gelled. Quarterback Chandler Morris (North Texas), running back J鈥橫ari Taylor (N.C. Central), wide receiver Cam Ross (JMU) and center Brady Wilson (UAB) helped bring the offense to life.
Notably, the unit averaged 45.6 points during a 4-1 start, including of then-No. 8 Florida State, that stirred new expectations.
鈥淭his is not a place for everybody. This is not a program for everybody,鈥� said offensive coordinator Des Kitchings, who has gone from embattled to embraced. 鈥淭he characteristics and traits that we were seeking, it felt like we were able to get those type of guys. Now you鈥檙e seeing the benefit of that.鈥�
And when the offense cooled in October, the defense 鈥� led by linebacker Kam Robinson, defensive tackle Jahmeer Carter and multiple transfers 鈥� took over.
That unit allowed an average of 17.7 points for the last seven games. Overall, it leads the ACC in third-down defense (27.3%) while ranking third in total defense (312.3 yards) and second in scoring (20.0).
鈥淚 think, just like in life, you put in the work and sometimes you end up getting the results that you want,鈥� defensive coordinator John Rudzinski said.
Emotions remain strong
The impact of the slayings have remained with Elliott’s program amid this year’s success. That included the timing for the sentencing of the man who pleaded guilty to the killings of Chandler, Davis and Perry; it came during the Cavaliers’ November open week.
The judge . Elliott was in the courtroom, sitting with the victims鈥� families to support them.
That helps explain why he immediately brought them up after the win that sent the Cavs to Charlotte.
鈥淗opefully this brings them some joy,鈥� Elliott said. “It’s been a very long three years for them. But we believe that we got some just due. Now we can embark on the road to recovery, but it鈥檚 still going to be a long way.
“Hopefully tonight is just an opportunity for them to find some joy in the program their sons were a part of.鈥�
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