1997 Washington State Cougars football team explained

Year:1997
Team:Washington State Cougars
Sport:football
Conference:Pacific-10 Conference
Short Conf:Pac-10
Coachrank:9
Aprank:9
Record:10–2
Conf Record:7–1
Head Coach:Mike Price
Hc Year:9th
Off Coach:Jim McDonell
Oc Year:4th
Off Scheme:Spread
Def Coach:Bill Doba
Dc Year:4th
Def Scheme:4–3
Stadium:Martin Stadium
Champion:Pac-10 co-champion
Bowl:Rose Bowl
Bowl Result:L 16–21 vs. Michigan

The 1997 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University in the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) during the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their ninth season under head coach Mike Price, the Cougars went 10–1 in the regular season (7–1 in Pac-10), won the conference championship,[1] lost to #1 Michigan in the Rose Bowl,[2] [3] [4] and outscored their opponents 483 to 296.[5] [6] They played their home games on campus at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Washington, and were ninth in the final rankings.

The team's statistical leaders included Ryan Leaf with 3,968 passing yards, Michael Black with 1,181 rushing yards, and Chris Jackson with 1,005 receiving yards.[7] Freshman defensive back Lamont Thompson led the team with 6 interceptions.[8]

The Rose Bowl appearance was the first for Washington State in 67 years;[1] [9] the next was five years later.[10] [11]

Leaf decided to forgo his remaining season of eligibility (1998) and entered the 1998 NFL draft,[12] [13] where he was the second overall selection.[14] [15] [16]

Schedule

Conference opponent not played this season: Oregon State

Rankings

See also: 1997 NCAA Division I-A football rankings.

Roster

[17] [18]

Game summaries

UCLA

See also: 1997 UCLA Bruins football team.

UCLA took a 14-3 lead early in the second quarter, but Washington State exploded for 27 unanswered points to end the half. The Cougars led by as many as 16 on two occasions, but clung to just a 3-point lead late in the game. UCLA had a 4th and goal from the one-yard line with 2:50 remaining, but the Cougars stood tall to emerge victorious.[19]

At No. 23 USC

See also: 1997 USC Trojans football team.

Washington State defeated No. 23 USC in Los Angeles for the first time since 1957.[20] [21]

At Illinois

[22]

Boise State

[23]

At Oregon

California

See also: 1997 California Golden Bears football team.

[24]

Arizona

See also: 1997 Arizona Wildcats football team.

[25]

At No. 20 Arizona State

See also: 1997 Arizona State Sun Devils football team.

After trailing 24–0 midway through the second quarter, Washington State rallied to take a 25–24 lead early in the fourth quarter. After Arizona State answered with a touchdown, the Cougars were driving again. However, the Cougars were doomed by two late fumbles that were both returned for touchdowns.[26]

Southwestern Louisiana

See also: 1997 Southwestern Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team.

[27]

Stanford

See also: 1997 Stanford Cardinal football team.

[28]

At No. 20 Washington

See also: 1997 Washington Huskies football team.

[29]

Vs. No. 1 Michigan (Rose Bowl)

See main article: 1998 Rose Bowl.

See also: 1997 Michigan Wolverines football team.

[30]

Awards and honors

NFL Draft

Four Cougars were selected in the 1998 NFL draft; quarterback Ryan Leaf was taken second overall.

Ryan LeafQB12San Diego Chargers
Leon Bender2 31Oakland Raiders
DT2 56New York Jets
7 197Seattle Seahawks
[14] [16] [31]

Notes and References

  1. News: A Wazzu bouquet . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington) . de Leon . Virginia . Sorensen . Eric . November 23, 1997 . A1.
  2. News: Cougs fall one miracle short . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Grummert . Dale . January 2, 1998 . 1A.
  3. News: A Rose to remember . Moscow-Pullman Daily News . (Idaho-Washington) . Kearney . Trevor . January 2, 1998 . 1B.
  4. News: Michigan's No. 1 bid blooms . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon) . Associated Press . Rosenblatt . Richard . January 2, 1998 . 1C.
  5. Web site: 1997 Washington State Cougars Schedule and Results. Sports Reference LLC. SR/College Football. October 24, 2016.
  6. Web site: 2016 Media Guide. WSUCougars.com. Washington State Cougars Athletics. October 24, 2016. 77. October 21, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161021004149/http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/wsu.sidearmsports.com/documents/2016/8/25/2016_Football_Media_Guide_Color.pdf. dead.
  7. Web site: 1997 Washington State Cougars Stats. Sports Reference LLC. SR/College Football. October 24, 2016.
  8. Web site: 1997 Washington State Cougars Stats .
  9. News: Moment of truth . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Grummert . Dale . January 1, 1998 . 1B.
  10. News: The game has arrived . Moscow-Pullman Daily News . (Idaho-Washington) . Richardson . Vince . January 1, 2003 . 1B.
  11. News: A thorny sendoff . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Grummert . Dale . January 2, 2003 . 1B.
  12. News: Change of venue . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Grummert . Dale . January 3, 1998 . 1B.
  13. News: Cougars' Leaf bound for NFL . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon) . (Seattle Post-Intelligencer) . Bruscas . Angelo . January 3, 1998 . 3D.
  14. News: Manning No. 1, Leaf gladly No. 2 . Lewiston Morning Tribune . staff and wire reports . April 19, 1998 . 1B.
  15. News: Indianapolis snaps up Manning at No. 1 . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon) . Associated Press . April 19, 1998 . 1G.
  16. News: Draft goes over well in Pullman . Moscow-Pullman Daily News . (Idaho-Washington) . Associated Press . Jewell . Mark . April 20, 1998 . 1C.
  17. News: Oregon Outlook . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon) . October 4, 1997 . 4D.
  18. News: Stanford at WSU: stat leaders . Lewiston Morning Tribune . November 15, 1997 . 4B.
  19. News: No More Please, Bruins Stuffed . . August 31, 1997 . September 24, 2022.
  20. News: It Was a History-Making Event for Cougars . . September 14, 1997 . September 24, 2022.
  21. Web site: The Catch. The Block. Vanquishing History. . . September 1, 2013 . September 24, 2022.
  22. News: Cougs Wake Up In Time Illinois Can’t Capitalize On WSU’s Sloppy Play . . September 21, 1997 . September 25, 2022.
  23. News: Cougs Win, No Sweat Unbeaten WSU Outmuscles Boise State . . September 28, 1997 . September 25, 2022.
  24. News: Cougars Get It Done Quickly . . October 19, 1997 . September 25, 2022.
  25. News: Wildcats Go for Broke, Fall Short . . October 26, 1997 . September 25, 2022.
  26. News: Sun Devils Turn Over a Leaf in Pac-10 . . November 2, 1997 . September 25, 2022.
  27. News: Washington St. Rights Itself With 77-7 Win . . November 9, 1997 . September 25, 2022.
  28. News: Washington St. Still Standing . . November 16, 1997 . September 25, 2022.
  29. News: Leaf Has Turned in Washington . . November 23, 1997 . September 24, 2022.
  30. News: 'Mistake' Costs WSU Final Play . . January 2, 1998 . September 25, 2022.
  31. Web site: 1998 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20071221030108/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1998.htm. 2007-12-21. Pro-Football-Reference.com.

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