The long offseason can lead to a lot of debates around the country. When the LSU Tigers and Clemson Tigers were set to play in Week 1, it’s no surprise that who has the real Death Valley became a popular debate.
LSU came into the season needing to answer some questions. That included just how legitimate a threat they are to make the College Football Playoff and whether or not Brian Kelly could win a big season opening game. Those both turned out to be an emphatic yes. In the process, as alumni and current analyst Booger McFarland explained on Pardon My Take, they also proved that LSU has the real Death Valley.
“A couple of things,” Booger McFarland said. “I think that’s very astute of you, saying that’s the biggest win outside of Alabama, because it is. It kind of puts the narrative to bed that BK can’t win a big game, he can’t win the opener. That’s number one. Number two, can we end the debate about who’s the real Death Valley?”
Clemson’s usage of the name Death Valley does go back further than LSU’s. The name is typically attributed to Presbyterian College Head Coach Lonnie McMillian in the 1940s, who made the comparison. Then, Howard’s Rock would later be added, coming from Death Valley itself.
There is some debate about how LSU’s Tiger Stadium earned the Death Valley nickname. A common one stems from Crowe Peele’s Shell gas station in town. It was nicknamed “Deaf Valley Shell” due to its proximity to the loud stadium. Of course, after beating Clemson in the 1959 Sugar Bowl, LSU fans began to embrace the nickname even more than they had before.
“I mean, at some point, if we’re gonna show up at your house and kick your door down when you take the bus around the stadium and run down the hill and touch the rock and all that stuff. Then we just shut you out in the second half,” McFarland said. “At some point, you’ve got to realize that there’s only one Death Valley and, oh, by the way, you get to come see it next year. That’s number two.”
Clemson is going to have to return the favor and make a road trip to Baton Rouge in early September next season. With a win, there’s a chance that they can reclaim that Death Valley nickname from LSU. For now, though, their focus is going to be on getting back on track in the 2025 season. After all, there’s a good chance these are both CFP teams.
