Tony Elliot Post-Practice Interview
By: Darby Childress
Tony Elliott spoke with the media today following practice turned team bonding event. He spoke on the mindset the team has at the moment stating- “the biggest message is to control the controllable”, and “focus on the things that really matter”. He informed us they are handling this season just like every other year, “it is a one-game season just like it is every year”, taking it one game at a time, and not looking past what is right in front of them.
There were some concerns addressed about Travis Etienne potentially opting out of this season and according to Elliot he has no doubt that he is “ALL-IN” about playing this year if allowed. Elliott went on to state that his “heart goes out to the players from those leagues” in reference to the BIG 10 and PAC-12 canceling their fall seasons. Though he went on to state that he understood the presidents of those school’s decisions, and noting that he knows they did not come lightly.
He commended the ACC on their efforts to protect the players while trying to find every way to go on with the season.
Elliott spoke on the idea of a players association in the near future saying- “I know right here”, in Clemson, “ we support our players”, “everything we do is about the players”, “in college football, the voices of the players have to be heard”. Two Clemson athletes have been at the forefront of the push for a players association while advocating for a college football season, Trevor Lawrence and Darien Rencher. Tony said he is “extremely proud of Darien”, “he puts pressure on me to be the best version of myself”, “he is providing so much leadership not just for our team but for players across the nation”. When speaking about Trevor Lawrence he stated- “what better spokesperson”, for the players, “than Trevor Lawrence?”, “what I admire about Trevor is that he wanted to earn his voice” now that he has he is using it to speak up for the things he believes in while not belittling the issues at hand.
He later went on to speak about some players on the team, mentioning that DJ Uiagalelei is “cut from the same cloth as Trevor Lawrence”, and is “an impact in the quarterback run game”, and went on to compare him to Tajh Boyd. As for Kobe Pryor he stated that “I just keep getting lucky in those small towns”, “he is very light on his feet”, and “he’s got a great football mind”. He spoke on everyone on the team in saying “everyone is going to have to absorb their role, and be prepared to potentially step into another role if needed”.
