CLEMSON — If you cannot be in the ACC Championship Game, then having someone who means so much to you in the title game is the next best thing.

Since 2009, no ACC team has played in or won the ACC Championship Game more than Clemson. The Tigers, all under head coach Dabo Swinney, have played in the league’s championship game 10 times and won it nine times.

In seven of those championships, Swinney had someone he thinks about like a son by his side. Tony Elliott, who played for Swinney at Clemson in 2003 when Swinney was Tommy Bowden’s wide receivers coach, helped the Tigers win all seven championships, one as the running backs coach and the other six as Swinney’s co-offensive coordinator.

On Saturday, Swinney was in Charlotte, N.C., not just acting as an analyst on the ACC Network, but also supporting his long-time friend, who he watched grow as a man and as a coach. Elliott, of course, is the head coach at Virginia where he is attempting to win the program its first outright ACC Championship.

The Cavaliers played Duke at Bank of America Stadium in the ACC Championship Game. A Virginia win would punch their ticket to the College Football Playoff. Elliott, of course, was Clemson’s co-offensive coordinator during Clemson’s six consecutive playoff runs from 2015-’20 that resulted in two national championships.

Elliott said earlier this week that he “can’t put into words” how much he’s learned from Swinney, and that he planned to reach out to Swinney for advice heading into the ACC title game.

“Just being around Coach, man, I learned so much,” Elliott said.

Swinney, who interviewed Elliott prior to Saturday’s title game for the ACC Network, has spoken about Elliott’s success at Virginia several times this season. The Cavaliers went 10-2 in the regular season, including 7-1 in the ACC, and are making their second appearance in the title game, and their first since Elliott and the Tigers beat them in the 2019 Championship Game.

“I am super proud of Tony,” Swinney said back in October. “They are the epitome of a team that believes. They are playing together and they believe. That is a powerful thing.”

Elliott is not the only connection to the Clemson program. His quarterback, Chandler Morris, is the son of former Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris, who coached the Tigers from 2011-’14.

During the pre-game show Saturday, Swinney talked about Chandler growing up around the program and how they were also neighbors. He shared how his sons and Chandler would toss each other down the laundry chute at the Clemson football facility.

“I have known Chandler forever, since he was a little bitty kid,” Swinney said back in October. “The team has kind of taken on his personality. He is a fighter. He is gritty. He has a chip on his shoulder. I do not think he gets a lot of credit, but he is a tough little gritty dude.”

Swinney says Virginia’s story is a remarkable one. From the tragedy when three football players were shot and killed on November 13, 2022, to three straight losing seasons that followed, Eliott has kept the program together, though. Now, here they are trying to do something no one thought was possible four months ago.

“They have been through a lot,” Swinney said. “I couldn’t be more proud of Tony. I am so happy for him.”