1997 LSU Tigers football team

1997 LSU Tigers football
SEC Western Division co-champion
Independence Bowl, W 27–9 vs. Notre Dame
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Division	Western Division
Ranking
Coaches	No. 13
AP	No. 13
1997 record	9–3 (6–2 SEC)
Head coach	Gerry DiNardo (3rd year)
Offensive coordinator	Morris Watts
Offensive scheme	Multiple
Defensive coordinator	Carl Reese (relieved of coordinator duties after 7 games)
Base defense	4-2-5
Home stadium	Tiger Stadium (Capacity: 79,940)

1997 SEC football standings
	Conf				Overall
Team		W		L		W		L
Eastern Division
#7 Tennessee x$		7	–	1		11	–	2
#10 Georgia		6	–	2		10	–	2
#4 Florida		6	–	2		10	–	2
South Carolina		3	–	5		5	–	6
Kentucky		2	–	6		5	–	6
Vanderbilt		0	–	8		3	–	8
Western Division
#11 Auburn xy		6	–	2		10	–	3
#13 LSU x		6	–	2		9	–	3
#22 Ole Miss		4	–	4		8	–	4
Mississippi State		4	–	4		7	–	4
Alabama		2	–	6		4	–	7
Arkansas		2	–	6		4	–	7
Championship: Tennessee 30, Auburn 29
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant Rankings from AP Poll

The 1997 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University in the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. Coached by Gerry DiNardo in his third season at LSU, the Tigers played their home games at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.^[1]

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 an Independence Bowl victory over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, who had defeated the Tigers in Baton Rouge during the regular season.

LSU 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. 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 quite 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 2-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 2nd 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.^[2]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent^#	Rank^#	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 6	7:00 PM	UTEP*	No. 10	Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA		W 55-3	80,015
September 13	8:00 PM	at Mississippi State	No. 10	Scott Field • Starkville, MS (Rivalry)	ESPN	W 24-9	40,030
September 20	6:30 PM	No. 12 Auburn	No. 10	Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA (Tiger Bowl)	ESPN	L 28-31	80,538
September 27	7:00 PM	Akron*	No. 13	Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA		W 56-0	79,772
October 4	2:30 PM	at Vanderbilt	No. 13	Vanderbilt Stadium • Nashville, TN	PPV	W 7-6	37,045
October 11	6:00 PM	No. 1 Florida	No. 14	Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA (Rivalry)	ESPN	W 28-21	80,677
October 18	11:30 AM	Ole Miss	No. 8	Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA (Magnolia Bowl)	JPS	L 21-36	80,442
November 1	5:30 PM	at Kentucky	No. 16	Commonwealth Stadium • Lexington, KY	ESPN2	W 63-28	58,450
November 8	2:30 PM	at Alabama	No. 14	Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL (Rivalry)	CBS	W 27-0	70,123
November 15	2:30 PM	Notre Dame*	No. 11	Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA	CBS	L 24-6	80,566
November 28	1:30 PM	Arkansas	No. 17	Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA (Battle for the Golden Boot)	CBS	W 31-21	79,619
December 28	7:00 PM	vs. Notre Dame*	No. 15	Independence Stadium • Shreveport, LA (Independence Bowl)	ESPN	W 27-9	50,459
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. ^#Rankings from AP Poll. All times are in Central Time.

References

↑ Rabalais, Scott. The Fighting Tigers 1993-2008 [Into a New Century of LSU Football]. Baton Rouge: LSU University Press. ISBN 0807133701. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
↑ "LSU Football Guide". lsusports.net. Retrieved 2013-07-28.

LSU Tigers football

Venues	State Field (1893–1924) Tiger Stadium (1924–present) Charles McClendon Practice Facility LSU Football Operations Center LSU Indoor Practice Facility LSU Academic Center for Student-Athletes

Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Alabama Arkansas Auburn Florida Mississippi State Ole Miss: Magnolia Bowl Texas A&M Tulane: Battle for the Rag

Culture & lore	History Traditions Mike the Tiger LSU Tiger Marching Band Songs of LSU Chinese Bandits Cannon's Halloween Run Earthquake Game Bluegrass Miracle 2011 "Game of the Century"

People	Head coaches All-Americans LSU Hall of Fame inductees College Football Hall of Fame inductees NFL draftees Statistical leaders

Seasons	1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

National championship seasons in bold

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