Clemson’s offensive coordinator, Tony Elliott, will not be available to train on Friday due to COVID-19 protocols, the school announced on Wednesday.
Elliott did not travel with the team to New Orleans on Wednesday afternoon. Clemson (10-1) is preparing to play at Ohio State (6-0) at the 2021 Allstate Sugar Bowl.
Clemson’s head coach, Dabo Swinney, said Elliott is doing very well and has no symptoms of COVID-19.
Elliott trained with Swinney for nine seasons. He was initially hired as the team’s running back trainer in 2011. Elliott won the Broyles Award in 2017 for his excellent work as a co-offensive coordinator for Clemson.
The Tigers are 80-6 during Elliott’s time calling the attack.
Swinney said quarterback coach and passing game coordinator Brandon Streeter will call the Tigers’ attack moves into the press room. Clemson’s graduate assistant and former running back, CJ Spiller, will train running backs on the field.
The news arrives on the same day that the College Football Playoff released its “Plan B”.
According to CFP executive director Bill Hancock, if a situation arises where any of the first four teams cannot compete at Colégio Futebol Playoff because of COVID-19, the CFP set makeup dates in January for the games of the semifinal and the national championship.
There is no current indication from either team or the College Football Playoff that a change will be necessary.
The makeup date for the College Football Playoff National Championship game would be January 18 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.