1997 LSU Tigers football team

1997 LSU Tigers football
SEC Western Division co-champion
Independence Bowl champion
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionWestern Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 13
APNo. 13
Record9–3 (6–2 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorMorris Watts (3rd season)
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorCarl Reese (3rd season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumTiger Stadium
1997 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Eastern Division
No. 7 Tennessee x$   7 – 1     11 – 2  
No. 10 Georgia   6 – 2     10 – 2  
No. 4 Florida   6 – 2     10 – 2  
South Carolina   3 – 5     5 – 6  
Kentucky   2 – 6     5 – 6  
Vanderbilt   0 – 8     3 – 8  
Western Division
No. 11 Auburn xy   6 – 2     10 – 3  
No. 13 x   6 – 2     9 – 3  
No. 22 Ole Miss   4 – 4     8 – 4  
Mississippi State   4 – 4     7 – 4  
Arkansas   2 – 6     4 – 7  
Alabama   2 – 6     4 – 7  
Championship: Tennessee 30, Auburn 29
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1997 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University as a member of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by third-year head coach Gerry DiNardo, the Tigers compiled an overall record of 9–3 with a mark of 6–2, sharing the SEC's Western Division title Auburn. By virtue of a head-to-head loss to Auburn, LSU was left out of the SEC Championship Game. The LSU Tigers were invited to the Independence Bowl, where they defeated Notre Dame. The team played home games at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The Tigers began the season with high expectations following their first 10-win season since 1987. LSU's season was highlighted by a stunning 28–21 home upset of the top ranked Florida Gators, ending Florida's 25-game winning streak in SEC play and nine-game winning streak against LSU. The Tigers also shut out Alabama 27–0 at Tuscaloosa, paying back the Crimson Tide for a 26–0 loss the previous season in Baton Rouge.

Despite the highs, LSU also experienced two embarrassing home losses. The first was to Ole Miss one week after the Tigers' conquest of then-No. 1 Florida, a loss made more perplexing by the 38–9 and 39–7 margins by which LSU crushed the Rebels in 1995 and 1996. The second was to Notre Dame, which came to Baton Rouge at 4–5, needing three consecutive victories just to qualify for a bowl. In a stunning 24–6 triumph, the Irish rushed for 232 yards and played their first penalty-free and turnover-free game in program history. LSU was also fortunate to escape with a 7–6 victory at Vanderbilt, DiNardo's former employer. The Commodores scored a late touchdown and were lined up to go for a two-point conversion and a potential 8–7 win, but two delay of game penalties convinced Vanderbilt coach Woody Widenhofer to instead play for overtime. LSU's Arnold Miller preserved the win by blocking the kick.

The Tigers tied for the SEC West title for the second straight year, but Auburn had won a dramatic game in Baton Rouge earlier in the season and therefore represented the West in the SEC Championship Game.[1]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 67:00 p.m.UTEP*No. 10
W 55–380,015[2]
September 138:00 p.m.at Mississippi StateNo. 10
ESPNW 24–940,030[3]
September 206:30 p.m.No. 12 AuburnNo. 10
  • Tiger Stadium
  • Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)
ESPNL 28–3180,538[4]
September 277:00 p.m.Akron*No. 13
  • Tiger Stadium
  • Baton Rouge, LA
W 56–079,772[5]
October 42:30 p.m.at VanderbiltNo. 13
PPVW 7–637,045[6]
October 116:00 p.m.No. 1 FloridaNo. 14
ESPNW 28–2180,677[7]
October 1811:30 a.m.Ole MissNo. 8
JPSL 21–3680,442[8]
November 15:30 p.m.at KentuckyNo. 16
ESPN2W 63–2858,450[9]
November 82:30 p.m.at AlabamaNo. 14
CBSW 27–070,123[10]
November 152:30 p.m.Notre Dame*No. 11
  • Tiger Stadium
  • Baton Rouge, LA
CBSL 6–2480,566[11]
November 281:30 p.m.ArkansasNo. 17
  • Tiger Stadium
  • Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)
CBSW 31–2179,619[12]
December 287:00 p.m.vs. Notre Dame*No. 15
ESPNW 27–950,459[13]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

Rankings

See also: 1997 NCAA Division I-A football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516Final
AP10101010101313148171614112017161513
Coaches1111111015141410151412111817161513

References

  1. ^ "LSU Football Guide". lsusports.net. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  2. ^ "Faulk scampers for 3 TDs in rout". The Tennessean. September 7, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Strong finish lifts LSU past Mississippi State". The Anniston Star. September 14, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Late TD sparks Auburn". The Charlotte Observer. September 21, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Faulk returns to action as LSU rolls over Akron". The Atlanta Journal. September 28, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Mistakes tear up Vandy". The Commercial Appeal. October 5, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Motivated Tigers upset Gators". Albuquerque Journal. October 12, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "LSU falls flat against Ole Miss". The Atlanta Constitution. October 19, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Kentucky pays for mistakes". Asheville Citizen-Times. November 2, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Faulk, LSU show true grit". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. November 9, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "With 2 more wins, Independence Bowl could be on". Chicago Tribune. November 16, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Balance propels Tigers; Quick-strike Arkansas throws scare into LSU". The Shreveport Times. November 29, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Irish buried on the bayou". The Indianapolis Star. December 29, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
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