1997 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
American college football season
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 1997 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was led by 25th-year head coach Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Cornhuskers competed as members of the Big 12 Conference in the league's second year of existence.
| 1997 Nebraska Cornhuskers football | |
|---|---|
| |
Coaches Poll national champion Big 12 champion Big 12 North Division champion Orange Bowl champion | |
Big 12 Championship Game, W 54–15 vs. Texas A&M | |
| Conference | Big 12 Conference |
| North Division | |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 1 |
| AP | No. 2 |
| Record | 13–0 (8–0 Big 12) |
| Head coach |
|
| Offensive scheme | I formation |
| Defensive coordinator | Charlie McBride (17th season) |
| Base defense | 4–3 |
| Home stadium | Memorial Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| North Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 2 Nebraska † xy$ | 8 | – | 0 | 13 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 8 Kansas State % | 7 | – | 1 | 11 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 23 Missouri | 5 | – | 3 | 7 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colorado | 3 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kansas | 3 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iowa State | 1 | – | 7 | 1 | – | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 20 Texas A&M xy | 6 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 24 Oklahoma State | 5 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Texas Tech | 5 | – | 3 | 6 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Texas | 2 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oklahoma | 2 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Baylor | 1 | – | 7 | 2 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Championship: Nebraska 54, Texas A&M 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Cornhuskers compiled a perfect 13–0 record and claimed their third national championship in four years. Nebraska was ranked first in the final Coaches Poll of the year, but was ranked second behind Michigan (also undefeated, at 12–0) in the final AP Poll. Of the 20 official championship selectors designated by the NCAA, 13 selected Nebraska as national champions, six selected Michigan, and one declared them co-champions.[1] It remains one of the most hotly contested national championship debates in college football history.[2]
Nebraska secured their first Big 12 Conference championship by defeating Texas A&M by a score of 54–15 in the Big 12 Championship Game. Nebraska had been upset by Texas in the inaugural Big 12 Championship Game in 1996. The season ended with a 42–17 victory over No. 3 Tennessee in the 1998 Orange Bowl for their fourth consecutive major bowl victory.
The Nebraska offense, which led the country in scoring, was led by quarterback Scott Frost and running back Ahman Green. Frost became just the tenth player in college football history to both pass and run for 1,000 yards. Green finished second in the country in rushing yards with 1,877 yards, and tied for third in touchdowns with 22.[3] Offensive lineman Aaron Taylor was named a consensus All-American and was the recipient of the Outland Trophy. The Cornhusker defense was anchored by All-American defensive linemen Jason Peter and Grant Wistrom, winner of the Lombardi Award.
Head coach Tom Osborne announced after the regular season that the Orange Bowl would be his final game as head coach. He retired as Nebraska's all-time winningest coach, and was sixth in wins all-time in major college football history at the time of his retirement.[4]
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 30 | 1:00 pm | Akron* | No. 6 | W 59–14 | 75,124 | |||
| September 13 | 12:30 pm | UCF* | No. 6 |
| W 38–24 | 75,327 | ||
| September 20 | 2:30 pm | at No. 2 Washington* | No. 7 | ABC | W 27–14 | 74,023 | ||
| October 4 | 6:00 pm | No. 17 Kansas State | No. 3 |
| FSN | W 56–26 | 75,856 | |
| October 11 | 6:00 pm | at Baylor | No. 3 | W 49–21 | 38,175 | |||
| October 18 | 12:30 pm | Texas Tech | No. 2 |
| W 29–0 | 75,764 | ||
| October 25 | 6:00 pm | at Kansas | No. 1 | FSN | W 35–0 | 42,000 | ||
| November 1 | 2:30 pm | Oklahoma | No. 1 |
| ABC | W 69–7 | 75,926 | |
| November 8 | 2:30 pm | at Missouri | No. 1 | ABC | W 45–38 OT | 66,846 | ||
| November 15 | 11:30 am | Iowa State | No. 3 |
| FSN | W 77–14 | 75,613 | |
| November 28 | 1:30 pm | at Colorado | No. 2 | ABC | W 27–24 | 52,738 | ||
| December 6 | 3:30 pm | vs. No. 14 Texas A&M | No. 2 | ABC | W 54–15 | 64,824 | ||
| January 2, 1998 | 7:00 pm | vs. No. 3 Tennessee* | No. 2 | CBS | W 42–17 | 74,002 | [5] | |
| ||||||||
Rankings
Game summaries
Akron
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| • Nebraska | 14 | 24 | 14 | 7 | 59 |
- Date: 1997-08-30
- Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
- Game attendance: 75,126
UCF
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCF | 7 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
| • Nebraska | 0 | 14 | 17 | 7 | 38 |
- Date: 1997-09-13
- Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
- Game attendance: 75,327
Washington
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Nebraska | 14 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 27 |
| Washington | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
- Date: 1997-09-20
- Location: Husky Stadium, Seattle
- Game attendance: 74,023
Kansas State
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas State | 6 | 0 | 6 | 14 | 26 |
| • Nebraska | 10 | 10 | 21 | 15 | 56 |
- Date: 1997-10-04
- Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
- Game attendance: 75,856
Baylor
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Nebraska | 14 | 28 | 7 | 0 | 49 |
| Baylor | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
- Date: 1997-10-11
- Location: Floyd Casey Stadium, Waco, Texas
- Game attendance: 38,175
Texas Tech
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Tech | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| • Nebraska | 3 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 29 |
- Date: 1997-10-18
- Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
- Game attendance: 75,764
Kansas
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Nebraska | 7 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 35 |
| Kansas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
- Date: 1997-10-25
- Location: University of Kansas Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, Kansas
- Game attendance: 75,764
Oklahoma
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| • Nebraska | 20 | 14 | 21 | 14 | 69 |
- Date: 1997-11-01
- Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
- Game attendance: 75,926
Missouri
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Nebraska | 14 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 45 |
| Missouri | 7 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 38 |
- Date: 1997-11-08
- Location: Faurot Field, Columbia, Missouri
- Game attendance: 66,846
Iowa State
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa State | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| • Nebraska | 35 | 28 | 7 | 7 | 77 |
- Date: 1997-11-15
- Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
- Game attendance: 75,613
Colorado
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Nebraska | 3 | 7 | 17 | 0 | 27 |
| Colorado | 0 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 24 |
- Date: 1997-11-28
- Location: Folsom Field, Boulder, Colorado
- Game attendance: 52,738
Texas A&M
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M | 0 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 15 |
| • Nebraska | 16 | 21 | 3 | 14 | 54 |
- Date: 1997-12-06
- Location: Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
- Game attendance: 64,824
Tennessee
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 0 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 17 |
| • Nebraska | 7 | 7 | 21 | 7 | 42 |
- Date: 1998-01-02
- Location: Pro Player Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- Game attendance: 72,385
Personnel
Roster
| 1997 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
|
Defense
|
Special teams
|
Roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Depth chart
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Statistics
- QB Scott Frost: 88/159 (55.3%) for 1,237 yards (7.80) with 5 TD vs. 4 INT (2.52%). 176 carries for 1,095 yards (6.22) and 19 TD.
- RB Ahman Green: 278 carries for 1,877 yards (6.75) with 22 TD. 16 catches for 151 yards and 0 TD.
- FB Joel Makovicka: 105 carries for 685 yards (6.52) and 9 TD.
- RB Correll Buckhalter: 54 carries for 311 yards (5.76) and 6 TD.
- WR Lance Brown: 12 catches for 226 yards (18.83) and 0 TD.
- WR Matt Davison: 10 catches for 219 yards (21.90) and 1 TD.
After the season
Nebraska Head Coach Tom Osborne announced his retirement just prior to the 1998 Orange bowl, capping a remarkable career of success. The #2 Cornhuskers handily defeated the #3 Tennessee Volunteers 42–17, while #1 Michigan defeated #7 Washington State team 21–16. In postgame coverage on the field, Nebraska quarterback Scott Frost openly lobbied Coaches Poll voters for support based on performance comparisons between Nebraska and Michigan.[6] The voters apparently agreed, as Nebraska was ranked #1 in the final Coaches Poll, while Michigan retained their pre-bowl #1 ranking in the AP Poll, creating a split National Championship. The 1997 Huskers set an NCAA record that still stands by scoring an average of 5.5 rushing touchdowns per game (66 rushing touchdowns in twelve games, not including the six scored in the Orange Bowl).[7]
Awards
| Award | Name(s) |
|---|---|
| Lombardi Award | Grant Wistrom |
| Outland Trophy | Aaron Taylor |
| Big 12 Male Athlete of the Year | Grant Wistrom |
| All-America 1st team | Jason Peter, Aaron Taylor, Grant Wistrom |
| All-America 2nd team | Ahman Green |
| All-America 3rd team | Eric Anderson |
| All-Big 12 1st team | Eric Anderson, Mike Brown, Ralph Brown, Scott Frost, Ahman Green, Jason Peter, Aaron Taylor, Grant Wistrom |
| All-Big 12 2nd team | Jay Foreman |
| All-Big 12 3rd team | Josh Heskew, Chad Kelsay, Eric Warfield, Jon Zatechka |
| All-Big 12 honorable mention | Kris Brown, Jesse Kosch, Joel Makovicka, Fred Pollack, Mike Rucker, Jason Wiltz |
NFL and pro players
The following Nebraska players who participated in the 1997 season later moved on to the next level and joined a professional or semi-pro team as draftees or free agents.[9]