1997 LSU Tigers football team

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]

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

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
Alabama		2	–	6					4	–	7
Arkansas		2	–	6					4	–	7
Championship: Tennessee 30, Auburn 29
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

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 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

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

References

1. 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.
2. "LSU Football Guide". lsusports.net. Retrieved 2013-07-28.