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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. | Brent Venables and Tony Elliott sat on risers about 50 feet apart in a massive ballroom earlier this week at the Camelback Inn in Scottsdale.

It was a bit of an odd sight because Jeff Scott was not present, giving the media an early glimpse of Clemson having two coordinators instead of three.

In a certain sense, Scott and his departure for South Florida were the elephant in the room.

As in: How much longer before the other two coordinators find an opportunity ideal enough to leave a positively splendid situation at Clemson?

This coordinator triumvirate lasted five seasons, a remarkable fact given the incredible success experienced on both sides of the ball, in the win column and inside the trophy case over that stretch.