Tony Elliott and Rich Rodriguez to face off as head coaches

Virginia head coach Tony Elliott and West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez are set to face each other in a highly anticipated college football matchup. The game features a unique dynamic as the two men previously worked together at Clemson in the early 2000s, where Rodriguez served as the offensive coordinator and Elliott was a wide receiver.

Elliott, who played 31 games for the Tigers and served as a co-captain, described Rodriguez as an intense and demanding coach who ‘coached you hard, loved you just as hard.’ Rodriguez noted Elliott’s intelligence and work ethic during their time at Clemson, once remarking that the player would likely become a successful coach in the future.

The matchup pits the No. 25 ranked Virginia Cavaliers against the West Virginia Mountaineers. The game also features a connection between the coaching staffs, as West Virginia defensive coordinator Zac Alley previously worked with Elliott at Clemson during their national championship seasons.