1997 LSU Tigers football team

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1997
Tiger Stadium
Seasons
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 LSU 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

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 nine-game winning streak vs. LSU) 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, a loss made more perplexing by the 38-9 and 39-7 margins by which LSU crushed the Rebels in 1995 and '96. 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 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.[2]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 67:00 p.m.
Tiger Stadium
  • Baton Rouge, LA
    		• W 55–380,015
    September 138:00 p.m.at Mississippi StateNo. 10
    		ESPNW 24–940,030
    September 206:30 p.m.No. 12 AuburnNo. 10
    		ESPNL 28–3180,538
    September 277:00 p.m.Akron*daggerNo. 13
    • Tiger Stadium
    • Baton Rouge, LA
    		W 56-079,772
    October 42:30 p.m.at
    Vanderbilt Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
    		• PPVW 7–637,045
    October 116:00 p.m.No. 1
    College GameDay
    )    		ESPNW 28–2180,677
    October 1811:30 a.m.
    JPS
    		L 21–3680,442
    November 15:30 p.m.at
    Commonwealth Stadium
  • Lexington, KY
    		• ESPN2W 63–2858,450
    November 82:30 p.m.at
    CBS
    		W 27–070,123
    November 152:30 p.m.Notre Dame*No. 11
    • Tiger Stadium
    • Baton Rouge, LA
    		CBSL 6–2480,566
    November 281:30 p.m.ArkansasNo. 17
    		CBSW 31–2179,619
    December 287:00 p.m.vs. Notre Dame*No. 15
    		ESPNW 27–950,459
    • *Non-conference game
    • daggerHomecoming
    • 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
    AP
    		10101010101313148171614112017161513
    Coaches1111111015141410151412111817161513

    References

    1. ISBN 0807133701
      . Retrieved January 3, 2015.
    2. ^ "LSU Football Guide". lsusports.net. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved July 28, 2013.


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