Jim McElwain knows what coaching in Death Valley is like

Central Michigan head coach Jim McElwain is no stranger to the environment his team will experience in Death Valley when the Chippewas take on LSU on Saturday.

“The atmosphere is like no other,” McElwain said. “The fans are great. They are rabid about their home team and they make it something special. They don’t cut you any slack.”

Jim McElwain has coached at Death Valley numerous times from his time in his time as offensive coordinator for Alabama from 2008 to 2011 and his time as head coach at Florida from 2015 to 2017.

“Believe me when I tell you this: The difference between playing at Missouri and playing at LSU in Death Valley at night – it’s quite a bit different,” McElwain said.

In his time at Alabama, McElwain coached at Death Valley in 2008 and 2010. In 2008, No. 1 Alabama defeated No. 15 LSU 27-21 in overtime. In 2010, No. 10 LSU defeated No. 5 Alabama 24-21.

McElwain recorded just one win in Death Valley in his time as head coach at Florida. In 2016, Florida was scheduled to host LSU in Gainesville, however, the game was rescheduled from Oct. 8, due to Hurricane Matthew and played in Death Valley in November. No. 23 Florida defeated No. 16 LSU, 16-10. In 2015, No. 8 Florida lost to No. 5 LSU, 35-28. It was the Gators’ first loss of the year. tIn 2017, McElwain’s final year in Florida before he was fired, unranked LSU defeated No. 21 Florida, 17-16.

Jim McElwain was fired midway through his third season at Florida in 2017, after Florida lost 42-7 to Georgia, dropping to 3-4 on the season.

McElwain was hired in 2018 as wide receivers coach at Michigan, but held the position for just one year before leaving to become head coach at Central Michigan.

In his time at Central Michigan, Jim McElwain has led the Chippewas to a 12-10 record through three seasons. The Chippewas opened the season with a loss to Missouri, but rallied in Week Two with a dominant 45-0 win over Robert Morris.

Pair of impact defenders likely out for LSU vs. Central Michigan

LSU will be without defensive end Ali Gaye against Central Michigan while safety Jay Ward is doubtful to play as well.

“Ali (Gaye) is a tremendous pass rusher. He is unavailable,” Orgeron said Wednesday on the SEC coaches teleconference. “He was unavailable last week, he’s going to be unavailable this week. But what I’ve seen from him is he’s continued to grow and I think he’s going to be an outstanding end for us.”

Ward is unlikely to play, but should return for conference play.

“Hopefully we’ll have him by next week,” said Orgeron. “It’s day-by-day right now. He’s very doubtful for this week, probably (for) Mississippi State, but not sure yet.”

Note: The author noted originally that Jim McElwain had never recorded a win in Death Valley in his time at Florida. That was false, due to Hurricane Matthew, the 2016 Florida-LSU matchup was rescheduled and moved to Death Valley in November, where Florida recorded the win.