'Love you, coach': Quinten Dormady shines, Jim McElwain succeeds in Central Michigan debut
Central Michigan quarterback Quinten Dormady scrabbles for a first down against Albany August 29 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
Not a bad first time out: 27-for-37, 285 yards and three touchdowns.
That stat line for senior graduate transfer Quinten Dormady was the best of his career as Central Michigan defeated Albany from the Football Championship Subdivision, 38-21, Thursday at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
Central Michigan (1-0) was looking to pull away from the Great Danes and did so in the first half, carrying a 24-7 lead to the break.
Dormady had just two miscues. He was “strip-sacked” twice, losing the ball once, which Albany returned for a touchdown, in his Chippewa debut.
He said that opening night was successful. The plan is to use it as a building block going forward.
“As a whole, we played together,” Dormady said. “Obviously, the times we didn’t, it showed up. We went three-and-out or we put the ball on the ground. When we played together, we were something special.”
A strong performance on opening night has been a long time coming for Dormady. He had a promising career at Tennessee, winning his first two starts in 2017 before throwing three interceptions in a loss to Florida, who was led by current CMU coach, Jim McElwain.
Dormady suffered a season-ending shoulder injury and transferred to Houston to try and play out his final season. However, he was beaten out for the job by D’Eriq King, who was playing at a high level while Dormady was not even fully healthy. Dormady took a redshirt and transferred to Central Michigan to play for McElwain.
For making his first start in two seasons, Dormady said he appreciated the little things after a long summer of workouts and fall camp.
“It’s just good to get back out with the guys again and play football,” Dormady said. “It’s hard to sit on the sideline as a backup and not play or been hurt, knowing you’ve earned the right to be out there.”
Central Michigan head coach Jim McElwain yells at referees as he paces the sidline against Albany August 29 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
McElwain has been the SEC Coach of the Year, revitalized the Colorado State program and the offensive coordinator on Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama. To say he has been well-traveled is an understatement. To say he has been under the microscope this offseason leading up to his first season leading the Chippewas is also an understatement.
There have been mixed expectations from McElwain and the 2019 team. Some are optimistic and that he will rebuild the program and lead it to a bowl game in the first season; others are the opposite, saying this team will struggle and need at least two seasons to even attempt to make a bowl game.
McElwain focuses on the players and his team. As for his team against Albany, he was proud of how the guys fought through adversity, namely after the Great Danes scored a touchdown via fumble recovery and return.
“There were times our guys could get edgy,” McElwain said. “Our guys had to fight through adversity and that was something I was worried about. But the way we put together that next drive and score that touchdown late was really good.
“We had some good performances and yet we’re going to have a lot better performances.”
The much-heralded offensive scheme, the run pass option/spread, seemed to work against Albany as the Chippewas moved the ball down the field at will. There were a couple of lulls, but overall, McElwain said he was pleased with how the offense played in its first time out.
As for Dormady’s performance, McElwain liked the way his quarterback played, but there is room for improvement before heading to take on Big Ten Conference foe Wisconsin next week in Madison.
“I thought he was good,” McElwain said of Dormady. “He had a chance to do a little better in some things and he’ll learn it. I expect him to make every throw, and I think he did a good job. He tucked it when he had to. I’m glad he’s here because he’s a heck of a player.”
Dormady responded to McElwain from the back of the media room.
“Love you, coach," he exclaimed, smiling.
The Texas native made a varied amount of throws his first time out in a Chippewa uniform. He hit redshirt freshman wide receiver Tyrone Scott on a flag route on the right side for his first touchdown pass. Dormady later found sophomore wide receiver Kalil Pimpleton on an underneath route in the end zone.
Towards the end of the third quarter, Dormady connected senior running back Jonathan Ward on a wheel route down the sideline. Dormady’s pass seemed wild, but it was put in a spot only Ward could elevate and snag it.
And, of course, Ward got his paws on the ball and hauled it in.
The proof is in the pudding, and the combination of McElwain and Dormady have come together nicely and led the Chippewas to a season-opening win. Now, the pair, and the rest of the team, will turn attention to the Badgers.
CMU and Wisconsin will battle at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 7 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. This will be the first time the two teams meet in program history.
