Virginia head coach Tony Elliott discusses Saturday's season-opener against Richmond.
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00:00 >> Season openers can be unpredictable even for
00:03 teams that have established coaching staffs.
00:07 Your situation is different than that.
00:09 Do you have a sense of what to expect on Saturday, of how your team's gonna play?
00:15 >> Well, how my team's gonna play, I have a vision.
00:20 Now I'm hoping that that vision comes to life.
00:23 But the things that are gonna be important for me are just the program,
00:28 philosophical, transferable aspects of what we've been working on.
00:32 Just the little things, playing hard, playing with toughness.
00:37 I wanna see them get lined up.
00:38 I wanna see them get on and off the field.
00:40 I wanna see how they handle adversity.
00:42 The Xs and Os in the scheme, really relying on the coordinators at this point.
00:48 Because it is, everything is new.
00:49 So I'm at the point where I'm still coaching the coaches,
00:53 coaching the players, doing a lot of that.
00:56 So the focus for me is gonna be on the little things.
00:58 Now, in terms of Richmond, I know they're gonna play hard.
01:01 They're gonna come here confident,
01:03 because they've won in Scott Stadium before against UVA.
01:08 They're well coached.
01:09 They got some transfers that have come to them.
01:12 Defensively, they know what they're doing.
01:14 They trust their scheme.
01:15 They got experience there.
01:17 Their linebacking court is really good.
01:19 They got some returners on the D line.
01:21 Their boundary corner is really, really good.
01:24 They can put him on an island, which allows them to play different types of
01:27 coverages to your three receiver surfaces and feel good about that.
01:32 Offensively, kind of a toss up, cuz they got a new coordinator coming over.
01:39 We anticipate it's gonna be similar to what he did last year.
01:41 So we're studying some of the things that he did last year, but still unknowns.
01:45 So the biggest thing I've challenged our guys is to own the plan,
01:49 the current plan, based off of what we've seen in the past, what we expect.
01:53 But in a season opener, everybody's gotta be ready to adjust.
01:56 And the only way we're gonna be able to adjust effectively is if we know
01:58 the plan going in.
02:00 So we're not caught off guard with what we see.
02:03 We can recognize what we see, which gives us confidence.
02:06 If we see something new, we can fix it on the sideline.
02:08 >> Does having a returning quarterback and a good one in Brennan give you
02:14 more peace of mind than you might have otherwise going into a game like this?
02:18 >> It does from the standpoint of just procedurally.
02:21 He's been in that situation.
02:23 He knows how to manage the play clock.
02:25 He knows the system.
02:27 He can get people lined up, so some of the young guys.
02:31 And that's the thing about college football is you don't have any preseason
02:34 games. So the first time you get to see some of these guys play,
02:37 it's in a situation where the real bullets are flying.
02:39 So it definitely gives you confidence from that standpoint.
02:43 Still at the same time too, the offense is a little bit new to him.
02:46 He's done a great job of commanding it thus far.
02:49 But once you get into a live situation and things start moving fast,
02:52 it may take him a second or two to just kinda get settled in.
02:55 But he'll get settled in before everybody else,
02:57 which will allow everybody else to make that transition.
03:00 >> Coach, through your career,
03:04 have you had a good sense of how your team was gonna look in the opener?
03:09 Or have you had a lot of, you thought one thing and you got out there for
03:13 better or worse and things looked real, what's been your experience, I guess?
03:18 >> Over the last probably seven years, you have a good sense of,
03:26 but again, it's your returning.
03:28 So you're basing that based off of what you've seen in the past.
03:31 I wasn't there for any of the games last year.
03:34 So I've seen things on tape and I know what I've seen on the practice field, but
03:38 I can't verify that with what I've seen in a game situation.
03:42 So it's gonna be fun.
03:45 Just really now trying to make sure that the guys are ready to have some fun.
03:50 Training camp's hard, it's difficult, it's challenging.
03:53 There's a lot being thrown at them.
03:55 You're putting them in adverse situations.
03:58 Now that we've had a little bit of extra time to prepare for Richmond,
04:01 which is different than a normal week because you've had all summer and
04:04 then you've had a portion of the last two weeks to prepare for them.
04:08 The next couple days is really just getting those guys to control their nerves,
04:13 not to play the game too soon, but show up feeling good, ready to play,
04:17 excited, ready to have some fun.
04:19 >> Tony, a couple of roster questions.
04:24 Mikhail Bully, freshman starting in left tackle.
04:26 Can you tell us a little bit about him and how he won that job?
04:30 >> So a lot of it is Leach being injured.
04:33 So he was the next guy up, but for him to even be in a position to be the next guy
04:38 up, he comes from a pedigree.
04:40 His dad was a college football player, played in the NFL.
04:44 So he has that background.
04:45 He came in with good size, still could improve from a strength standpoint, but
04:50 he has the functional strength and he's big, he's athletic.
04:54 And it didn't seem to overwhelm him, which allowed him to be able to perform,
04:59 to give us the confidence to say, you know what, if Leach is down for
05:03 the game, then he's gonna be the first one to run out there.
05:05 So I'm excited for him and his opportunity.
05:07 And Jim let me know that this is the first freshman tackle that's started,
05:12 since a really good one, started as a true freshman.
05:16 So not gonna put that on it, but that's a special accomplishment to be in that
05:21 situation.
05:22 >> The last true freshman to start a season over here was DeBricka Shaw.
05:25 >> DeBricka Shaw.
05:26 >> In 2002.
05:27 >> Matter of fact, as we were walking on the practice field,
05:30 somebody let him know that today.
05:32 Yeah, he said, one of the guys said, yeah,
05:34 the last freshman to start at tackle was also the fourth pick in the draft.
05:38 So hopefully that didn't scare him.
05:41 I'm trying to get him to calm down, not to put any pressure on him.
05:44 But he loves football, it's important to him.
05:47 And you can tell that he put in the work to be able to understand the concepts we're
05:52 asking him to understand and then be able to physically go out and play.
05:56 >> The other spot was running back, and I know you said a couple weeks ago,
06:00 had you had to start with somebody at that moment, it would have been Paris.
06:04 How did he finish off the job in training camp?
06:06 >> Still going with that rotation.
06:09 Paris will start and then Mike will be the next guy up.
06:12 And I love Mike and challenging Mike.
06:15 I just believe Mike's got another gear that we can get him to go to.
06:19 And if he'll push to that gear, then he has a chance to be really good and
06:24 reach his potential.
06:26 And again, new staff, different philosophy running the football,
06:30 little bit of a change.
06:31 But Paris is a guy that has always done everything you ask him to do.
06:35 And his confidence is at an all time high.
06:38 He's put in the work for this moment and he just took advantage of his opportunities.
06:42 And he was the most consistent day in and day out.
06:45 Not that Mike was bad, but we all feel like Mike has an extra gear and
06:51 you're gonna earn it.
06:53 I mean, you're gonna earn the right to run out there first.
06:57 But Mike will be in there.
06:59 And I hope that it doesn't become a situation where he's a gamer, right?
07:05 We need to earn trust and practice, not just in the game.
07:09 >> Coach, James Jackson is a guy that you praise as having really high potential.
07:12 Obviously, he's starting now in his second year.
07:15 What did you see from him in camp and what are you expecting out of him Saturday?
07:19 >> Right, James is a guy at the linebacker position that we feel
07:24 probably has the best movement skills of those guys.
07:30 So he's a really, really good athlete.
07:32 He loves football, it's important to him.
07:34 You can see that he's been able to internalize the defense and process it.
07:38 And now a lot of the reason that he's in that spot is because Ahern is gonna be
07:42 down from the targeting call.
07:45 We got verification from the ACC office that because we didn't play the Fenway Bowl,
07:49 he has to sit the first half of this game.
07:52 So James got bumped up, but James will be in the rotation.
07:56 And he's a guy that you could say or if you wanted to,
08:01 with him because of the progress that he's made.
08:04 But it just comes down to, he's a linebacker through and through.
08:08 He's a physical guy, a contact guy, really, really good instincts,
08:12 movement skills.
08:13 And you can see that he's commanding the defense better than he did in the spring,
08:17 which gives him a chance to play fast.
08:20 >> When you evaluate this team at the start of game week,
08:23 do you think this is exactly where you guys thought this team would be as far as
08:27 evaluation and developmental point of it?
08:29 >> Truthfully, offensive line wise,
08:33 it's ahead of where I thought offensive line wise.
08:38 And I've talked about the guys that have been in the program
08:41 that may not have the game experience, but they're veteran guys.
08:45 You look at Devine is a guy that's been here,
08:49 Leach is a guy that's been here, Justice has been here for a couple years.
08:52 Furnish is a younger guy, but they've really started to gel.
08:57 So I'm excited to see those guys, cuz the progress that I've seen them make
09:02 over the last couple of weeks has been impressive.
09:06 And that's a positive for us because I believe with their progression,
09:11 we're also gonna get more leadership out of that group.
09:14 So pleasantly surprised with where they are.
09:18 The receivers are the receivers, we know those guys can make plays.
09:22 Brennan has looked sharp.
09:25 So I think offensively, those guys are starting to develop a chemistry and
09:31 kinda hit the rhythm.
09:32 Now we just gotta put it in the practice on the game setting and
09:37 make sure that we have it.
09:38 Now defensively, still challenging the back end to show up
09:44 a little bit more than what I've seen so far.
09:47 I know they're capable, again, with the system, we play with three safeties.
09:51 So those guys have to make a lot of calls, a lot of checks,
09:53 all the formation adjustments.
09:55 And so hopefully, and this is gonna be a challenge for these guys.
09:58 So hopefully, they'll have it ready to go by Saturday.
10:03 Defensive line wise, man, I'm anxious to see these guys get turned loose.
10:07 Smiley, man, Smiley, and I keep talking about Smiley, but
10:11 I think Smiley has a very, very bright future.
10:15 Fumui, we know what we got in Fumui.
10:16 I think you guys are gonna like what you're seeing in Jameer Carter.
10:21 And then these grad transfers have really helped us.
10:24 And the linebacking core is very solid with Nick and Ahern and James and
10:30 Stewart and Perry.
10:31 I think Perry is gonna help us too at linebacker.
10:34 So overall, I feel like because of the addition of the grad transfers,
10:40 with the progress of the offensive line,
10:42 I think we're probably a little bit ahead of what I was expecting.
10:46 But now they gotta turn it into performance.
10:48 And that's what I told them earlier this week,
10:50 that this game is not about potential, it's about performance.
10:54 So we gotta go out and we gotta perform on Saturday.
10:56 >> Beyond just winning your first game, what are your objectives for
11:00 the team, your benchmarks for success that you wanna see in game one?
11:04 >> It's gonna come down to the core values.
11:06 First, it starts with effort.
11:07 These guys play hard from snap to snap.
11:10 When we come in on Monday and we meet as an entire team, how many guys am I gonna
11:15 have to call out for not giving maximum effort?
11:18 Those are things I wanna see.
11:20 Do we do the little things?
11:21 Do we get on and off the field the way we're supposed to?
11:24 Are we in tune to the game?
11:26 Are we not having any substitution issues?
11:29 Do we transition smoothly from offense to special teams,
11:32 special teams to defense, and vice versa?
11:35 Do we do all those things right?
11:37 Do guys buy into the concept of dressing the right way?
11:42 So for me, it's the little things.
11:44 We talk about Saturday, everybody looking the same, for the most part, being a team.
11:49 So those are the things that I'm gonna be evaluating the most after this game.
11:53 And then, really, you talked about win.
11:57 For me, it's not so much the winning as much as it is seeing the joy and
12:01 the smiles and the excitement on the guy's face in the locker room.
12:05 So that's what I'm looking forward to the most.
12:08 And then also evaluating, and again, still I'm teaching.
12:11 So I'm teaching the team, cuz we've never been in a game setting, right?
12:14 I'm teaching the staff what the expectations are.
12:16 So that's what I'm looking for this Saturday.
12:19 >> Did you come out of spring ball thinking that Ty Furnish
12:23 would be the starting center for the opener?
12:27 Or did he win, make a move during camp?
12:28 >> He made a move during camp.
12:30 For us coming out of spring, just being transparent,
12:34 we were pushing Justice to be the guy, right?
12:37 Pushing Justice to be the guy, to be the guy.
12:39 And in fairness to Justice, he'd been a guard, and
12:42 we're trying to make him a center, right?
12:43 So it didn't happen as fast.
12:45 And so in that process, we were rolling guys, we were rolling Justice,
12:49 we were rolling Ty.
12:50 But Ty just, man, he finally said, you know what, I wanna win the job.
12:55 And not that Justice didn't do what he's supposed to do, but
12:58 Justice feels a little bit more comfortable at guard.
13:01 And then be a guy that rolls in at center.
13:03 So I'm excited about that.
13:05 It actually worked out better for us that Ty took that step,
13:08 because now we have more versatility.
13:11 We have more flexibility, as if, let's say Ty doesn't make that step,
13:15 you're pushing Justice in the center, then you lose a little bit of depth.
13:17 But now with where Ty is, we got some flexibility.
13:21 And then we're also training up John Paul as a center as well,
13:26 to give us some more flexibility.
13:27 >> You joked about this recently, being a head coach for the first time.
13:31 You've gotta do stuff this Saturday that you haven't done before.
13:34 What have you done to prepare?
13:36 Do you play video games?
13:37 Every fan out there thinks they know when to call a time out.
13:40 >> Exactly, exactly.
13:41 So the capo is what we did last Friday.
13:47 And it's a scripted dress rehearsal run through of game situations.
13:53 So trying to put myself in that mindset of transitioning between all of
13:58 the different things that happen, and also preparing the players for those things.
14:03 Don't play any video games, cuz I'm adamant that the video games know when
14:07 they have an experienced person, cuz they always cheat.
14:10 There's no way that's cover two, right?
14:12 You gotta run the football on cover two.
14:13 You can't stop it with that, right?
14:15 And the same thing with in the passing game.
14:17 So I just gave up on Madden.
14:18 Great game.
14:19 Boys love it, the guys love it.
14:21 But I'm like, man, I'm not gonna play that.
14:22 I know too much.
14:23 And it's unrealistic.
14:24 And then the computer always just speeds up, don't it?
14:27 And he makes that interception.
14:28 So no video game for me.
14:30 But more it's just reviewing situations, going back through my mind and
14:35 thinking about situations that I've been a part of, right?
14:38 Starting to think about into the game situations, okay?
14:42 What are we gonna do if it's overtime?
14:45 Do you take the ball?
14:47 Do you go on defense?
14:49 Or do you go on offense?
14:50 Just things of that nature.
14:52 So I got a little checklist of things, and I'm just running through my mind to make
14:55 sure that I've at least processed those things so that in that moment,
14:59 it's not something that I'm thinking about for the first time.
15:01 >> Coach, you have to say, cuz the guy that missed all of the spring,
15:04 what has he kind of done to get his name on top of the depth chart?
15:07 >> Very good athlete, first and foremost.
15:10 I mean, he's a good athlete, and he's a conscientious guy, and he makes plays.
15:16 He makes plays.
15:17 That's what he's done.
15:18 Now, we gotta see where he is with the shoulder and
15:20 actually getting guys on the ground.
15:22 But just athletically, he brings something on the back end that makes us better.
15:27 He's got a nose for the football.
15:29 He tries hard.
15:30 So that's the biggest thing is his athleticism and his versatility,
15:34 cuz we can play him in multiple spots in the three safety look that we have.
15:38 >> I think Chris kinda alluded to it, but this has been a year of firsts for you.
15:42 How does game week one kind of equate to all that and just kind of,
15:46 I know you said at the beginning of fall camp, it's not about you.
15:48 But do you kinda take a moment this week to kinda think about that?
15:52 >> No, I haven't yet, cuz it's just constantly,
15:55 I mean, every day is something new for me.
15:58 So it hasn't become routine yet to where I can think about it.
16:01 But cool moment today, though, is the guys got their suits for travel.
16:06 And we also got a little garment bag.
16:09 And you'd be surprised how many of them had no idea how to hang their suit and
16:15 put it in a garment bag.
16:16 I mean, that's what it's all about to me, and just to see those guys be excited.
16:21 But I'm gonna try not to, like I always do, and not make it about me,
16:24 make it about these players.
16:26 Cuz at the end of the day, on Saturday, I can't step on the field.
16:29 All I can do is be there to support them and guide them and
16:32 help them if they need be helped.
16:34 >> Coach, Vernon Armstrong's on pace and
16:38 on track to break several school records this upcoming season.
16:41 What are your expectations for Vernon coming into this year?
16:44 >> I just want Vernon to win, cuz that's what he came back to do,
16:48 is to win and be the best version of himself.
16:51 And hopefully, the offense will allow for him to be able to break those records.
16:58 But for us, and as I told him, is we're installing a Virginia offense, okay?
17:04 And there's things that are gonna help you for the future,
17:07 things that are gonna be different than what you've done in the past.
17:09 We're gonna work really, really hard to be a balanced team and
17:13 establish the run.
17:15 And then allow you to benefit with all the things that come off of it.
17:19 But play in the system and not put that pressure on you to always come up with
17:22 the play and be the guy that's gotta make a play.
17:25 Use your playmakers around.
17:27 And I think if we can establish the run,
17:29 then he'll have his opportunities to deliver the ball.
17:32 And down the field, intermediate, and in the quick game, and
17:36 in our outlet run game, I mean our screen game, which is our outlet run game.
17:41 So I think he's got a chance to do anything he wants to do.
17:44 But my expectation for him is to lead,
17:46 improve in the areas that he's identified he wants to improve.
17:51 And then have fun and go win a bunch of games.
17:54 >> These guys are still kind of new to you.
17:57 Like you said, you haven't seen them in the game.
17:59 What's your approach to making sure they don't take an SCS opponent lightly?
18:05 Did you have a way you went about it at Clemson?
18:08 What's the plan?
18:10 >> Right, so and again, I spent 11 years at Clemson.
18:15 So it's like it's my DNA.
18:17 And I played for Coach Sweeney.
18:19 And even prior to us meeting, we had a lot of shared values and ideals.
18:25 And so the thing that I'm trying to instill in these guys and
18:30 get them to buy into is that, man, every game is the biggest game on your schedule.
18:34 That Richmond, no offense to them, but they're just a nameless, faceless opponent.
18:40 And it's about us.
18:40 It doesn't matter who we're playing.
18:42 And I'm challenging them to establish what is gonna be our standard of play.
18:47 I know what the standard should be, but I want them to establish the standard.
18:53 Okay, and then I can guide them and say, okay, that's the standard.
18:56 Or no, you need to push yourself a little more to reach that standard.
19:00 So for us, it's a daily focus.
19:02 We just talk about, hey, what can we control today?
19:04 So all we talked about today was take over.
19:06 Let's take over the day.
19:07 Let's take it over.
19:08 Let's do all the things that we need to do on the situations.
19:12 Be intentional, be appreciative, and then be present.
19:15 Those were the key words today.
19:18 And we talked a little bit about desire and that motivation.
19:21 And part of the passage that I shared with them in the description of desire is that,
19:28 metaphorically, desire is the breakfast of champions.
19:32 So just kind of get these guys to understand that it's about us.
19:36 It's not about your opponent.
19:38 And then also, be honest with them.
19:40 And if this is not the biggest game on the schedule, lose it and
19:45 see what happens.
19:46 So this is the biggest game on the schedule.
19:48 We can't worry about anything else.
19:49 All we know is there's a really, really good football team that's well coached.
19:54 It's probably got a chip on their shoulder because they want what you got.
19:57 Let's embrace that.
19:58 And let's go, but let's not make it about them.
20:02 Let's make it about us.
20:03 And if we do that each week and treat every week like it's the biggest game of
20:06 the year, then you'll develop that consistency because now you're working to
20:11 a standard and not an opponent.
20:13 So that's been the message throughout just the day one since I've gotten here.
20:17 It's never about the opponent.
20:19 It's never about the time.
20:20 It's never about the uniform.
20:21 It's never about any of those things.
20:23 It's about, okay, a standard that we're trying to establish.
20:27 And Clemson, rightfully so, they've established that standard.
20:31 We, this group right here, which is so awesome, is they get to start a legacy.
20:37 All right, they get to be the ones that set the expectations and
20:40 the standard of performance for Virginia football.
20:43 So I know they got some statistical records that they could chase, but
20:47 more importantly, I think they got something that'll live forever.
20:51 They get a chance to set the legacy and the standards and
20:54 the expectations for what Virginia football looks like this year and
20:58 moving forward.
20:59 >> Do you get the sense, just to follow up, that they wanna be part of that and
21:03 they wanna be the guys to set the standard and start building something?
21:07 >> Well, yeah, first and foremost,
21:10 they wanna become champions in their own right and not, and
21:14 I'm not talking about champions on the field per se, but just in their personal lives.
21:18 They wanna be the best versions of themselves.
21:21 They love challenges, that's why they came to UVA.
21:23 If you're not a person that embraces the challenges,
21:26 then you don't come to UVA because this environment here is a challenging
21:30 environment both physically and mentally, every day that you're on ground.
21:34 So they want to win, they have the expectations to win.
21:39 It's my job as the leader of the program to empower the staff to develop them so
21:44 that they have the proper mindset to be able to not just win on the field, but
21:49 win in their daily lives.
21:51 >> Do you have a good feel for the excitement level outside of the program?
21:56 The fans, community for your debut?
21:59 >> I don't, cuz I really haven't paid attention.
22:01 I've heard people say that people are excited, but if you know me,
22:07 I keep my life simple.
22:09 I don't go on Twitter, I don't pay attention to any of that.
22:13 Because one, you can always get caught up in what that excitement is,
22:20 and I want them to maintain that excitement.
22:23 So I'm focused on working every single day as hard as I can to do what I'm
22:27 supposed to do to prove that the excitement needs to stay where it is.
22:33 So I'm excited for the guys, man, I'm excited for Wahoo Walk,
22:37 that the fans are gonna get to embrace the players.
22:40 That the players are gonna get to embrace the fans.
22:43 The players are gonna get to see their families.
22:45 Just again, creating that appreciation.
22:48 There's a connection, so there's an appreciation.
22:50 So I'm excited about those things, but in terms of just my presence,
22:56 I don't pay much attention to that.
23:00 >> You had a pretty strong home field advantage at your last job.
23:04 >> [LAUGH] >> How important can that be, and
23:09 how important is it to you to build that here at Virginia?
23:12 >> It's critical.
23:13 So before you can go on the road and consider yourself a road warrior,
23:19 you gotta defend your home turf.
23:21 And you gotta take pride in that, and that's where it starts.
23:24 And then also, you have a responsibility of those that came before you
23:29 to defend the home turf.
23:31 So that's where it starts.
23:33 And I believe that at Scott Stadium,
23:37 we can create the most difficult place for other teams to play in the ACC.
23:43 I've seen, just in brief glimpses, going out there with the first years,
23:48 the class of 26, and the amount of noise that they made, just themselves,
23:53 let you know that we can create an environment at Scott Stadium
23:58 that is a lot of fun for the guys, that just fuels that desire to defend it.
24:04 But then also makes it a difficult place for opponents to come in.
24:08 And so it starts with defending your home turf before you can be ready to go on
24:12 the road and be victorious.
24:15 >> One on Richmond, that their quarterback,
24:18 their quarterback transfer receiver, they're a pretty accomplished duo.
24:21 >> That's right.
24:21 >> Going back to their time at VMI, what stands out to you about that?
24:25 >> Just, first of all, a tremendous amount of respect for what those guys do.
24:29 Quarterback's athletic, he can pull the ball, he can run it.
24:32 Receiver's big, versatile, they got him back there, catching points.
24:37 So he's a big athlete that can run around and do a lot of things.
24:42 So our guys are gonna have to be ready to play.
24:44 And again, they're gonna come in with a chip on their shoulder,
24:47 with something to prove.
24:49 So I'm excited for our guys and the challenge that those two guys, and
24:53 the rest of the team.
24:54 I mean, everyone, their kids are gonna play hard.
24:57 You can't expect anything less of those guys, but that's how you want it.
25:00 I've also told the team too, that we wanna expect to win and
25:06 not hope that our opponent doesn't show up, or
25:08 hope that our opponent makes a mistake so that we win.
25:11 We want everybody's best shot, so that when we win,
25:15 we have a great appreciation for it, all right?