1997 USC Trojans football team

NCAATeamFootballSeason
Year=1997
Team=USC Trojans


Conference=Pac-10 Conference
Division=
ShortConference=Pac-10
Record=6–5
ConfRecord=4–4
BCSRank=
CoachRank=
APRank=
HeadCoach=John Robinson
OffCoach=Hue Jackson
DefCoach=Keith Burns
OScheme=
DScheme=
Stadium=Los Angeles Coliseum (c. 92,000, grass)
Champion=
BowlTourney=
BowlTourneyResult=The 1997 University of Southern California Trojans football team (variously "Trojans" or "USC") represented the University of Southern California during the college football season of 1997, finishing with a 6–5 record and tied for fifth place in the Pacific-10 Conference with a 4–4 conference record; despite a qualifying record, the Trojans were not invited to a bowl game. The team was coached by John Robinson, in his second stint as head coach of the Trojans, and played their home games at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

Before the season

USC entered the preseason with 75 players from its 1996 squad that went a disappointing 6–6; it returned starters at 14 positions, eight on offense and six on defense along with both the punter and placekicker. The Trojans had a top 10-ranked recruiting class with 18 high school players and two transfer players from junior college programs; 16 of the 20 incoming players were All-Americans at previous levels.Tim Tessalone, [http://www.usc.edu/dept/pubrel/trojan_family/autumn97/Football/football.html It's a "Prove It" Year for USC] , "Trojan Family Magazine", Autumn 1997, Accessed July 16, 2008.] The Trojan running game, led by Delon Washington, hoped to improve a ground game that was ranked 90th in the nation; considered very disappointing at a school that had been known as "Tailback U".Robyn Norwood, [http://articles.latimes.com/1997/sep/10/sports/sp-30866 There Seem to Be Holes in Trojan Running Game] , "Los Angeles Times", September 10, 1997, Accessed July 17, 2008.] USC brought in Hue Jackson as the new Offensive Coordinator.Tim Tessalone, [http://www.usc.edu/dept/pubrel/trojan_family/autumn97/Football/football.html It's a "Prove It" Year for USC] , "Trojan Family Magazine", Autumn 1997, Accessed July 16, 2008.]

chedule

CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = l
date = 9/6/1997
nonconf = yes
time = 5:00 p.m.
rank = 23
opprank = 5
opponent = Florida State
site_stadium = Los Angeles Coliseum
site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
tv = ABC
score = 7–14
attend = 72,783CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = l
date = 9/13/1997
nonconf =
time = 3:30 p.m.
rank = 23
opprank =
opponent = Washington State
site_stadium = Los Angeles Coliseum
site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
tv = FSN West
score = 21–28
attend = 51,655CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = w
date = 9/27/1997
nonconf =
time =
rank =
away = yes
opprank =
opponent = California
site_stadium = California Memorial Stadium
site_cityst = Berkeley, CA
tv =
score = 27–17
attend = 54,000CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = w
date = 10/4/1997
nonconf = yes
time =
rank =
opprank =
opponent = UNLV
site_stadium = Los Angeles Coliseum
site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
tv =
score = 35–21
attend = 48,404CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = l
date = 10/11/1997
nonconf =
time =
rank =
away = yes
opprank =
opponent = Arizona State
site_stadium = Sun Devil Stadium
site_cityst = Tempe, AZ
tv =
score = 7–35
attend = 61,802CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = w
date = 10/18/1997
nonconf = yes
time =
rank =
away = yes
opprank =
opponent = Notre Dame
site_stadium = Notre Dame Stadium
site_cityst = South Bend, IN
tv =
score = 20–17
attend = 80,225CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = w
date = 10/25/1997
homecoming = yes
nonconf =
time =
rank =
opprank =
opponent = Oregon
site_stadium = Los Angeles Coliseum
site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
tv =
score = 24–22
attend = 53,640CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = l
date = 11/1/1997
nonconf =
time =
rank =
away = yes
opprank = 7
opponent = Washington
site_stadium = Husky Stadium
site_cityst = Seattle, WA
tv =
score = 0–27
attend = 73,401CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = w
date = 11/8/1997
nonconf =
time =
rank =
opprank =
opponent = Stanford
site_stadium = Los Angeles Coliseum
site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
tv =
score = 45–21
attend = 58,900CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = w
date = 11/15/1997
nonconf =
time =
rank =
away = yes
opprank =
opponent = Oregon State
site_stadium = Reser Stadium
site_cityst = Corvallis, OR
tv =
score = 23–0
attend = 20,938CFB Schedule Entry
w/l = l
date = 11/22/1997
homecoming =
time =
rank =
opprank = 7
opponent = UCLA
site_stadium = Los Angeles Coliseum
site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
gamename =
tv =
score = 24–31
attend = 91,350

Roster

The Cougars defeated the Trojans, 28–21; it was the first time the Cougars had ever defeated UCLA and USC in the same season, and the first time they had won in the Coliseum in 40 years.Scott Howard-Cooper, [http://articles.latimes.com/1997/sep/14/sports/sp-32373 It Was a History-Making Event for Cougars] , "Los Angeles Times", September 14, 1997, Accessed July 17, 2008.] [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/college/scoreboards/1997/09/13/recap.usc.washington_state.html NCAA Football Recap (Washington St-USC)] , SI.com, September 14, 1997, Accessed August 25, 2008.] Washington State had a strong first half, leading 21–6 at the end of the second quarter; the Trojans only touchdown had the extra-point blocked. John Fox fumbled a snap that led to Washington State's third touchdown. R. Jay Soward returned the second half kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, spurring a USC rally. Early in the fourth quarter, the Trojans used a halfback pass for a touchdown, then went on to make a two-point conversion to tie the score, 21–21, with 12:44 remaining in the game. The USC defense held the Cougars for most of the second half; but Washington State finally moved ahead late in the fourth quarter, when Leaf connected with a receiver for a 51-yard touchdown with 4:18 left in the game.Robyn Norwood, [http://articles.latimes.com/1997/sep/14/sports/sp-32345 No USC Groundswell] , "Los Angeles Times", September 14, 1997, Accessed July 17, 2008.]

Fox did not show the same level of poise as his start against Florida State; he completed 23 of 42 passes for 229 yards.Mike Downey, Scott Howard-Cooper and Robyn Norwood, [http://articles.latimes.com/1997/sep/14/sports/sp-32374 Soward’s Run Fails to Ignite USC’s Fire] , "Los Angeles Times", September 14, 1997, Accessed July 17, 2008.] Leaf completed 21 of 40 passes for 355 yards and three touchdowns, though he was intercepted twice by Brian Kelly. The Trojans running game continued to be a non-factor, totaling 31 yards at approximately one yard per carry. The concern started to focus on the offensive line, as Delon Washington rushed for 20 yards in eight carries; and given an opportunity, freshman Malaefou MacKenzie managed only 14 yards in 11 carries. USC had 10 penalties for 92 yards, often placing the offense in long second down situations.Robyn Norwood, [http://articles.latimes.com/1997/sep/14/sports/sp-32345 No USC Groundswell] , "Los Angeles Times", September 14, 1997, Accessed July 17, 2008.]

Although the Cougars entered the game unranked, they would go on to have an excellent season, finishing 10–2, sharing the Pac-10 title and playing in the Rose Bowl for only the third time in school history. [http://gobuffsgo.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/leaf_ryan00.html Player Bio: Ryan Leaf] , West Texas A&M University Athletics, Accessed July 16, 2008.] [http://preseason.stassen.com/final-ap-poll/1997.html 1997 final AP poll] , STASSEN.COM College Football Information, Accessed July 17, 2008.] Leaf would go on to have a strong year, throwing for a school-record 3,968 yards and 34 touchdowns, being named a first team All-American and finishing third in the voting for the Heisman Trophy. [http://gobuffsgo.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/leaf_ryan00.html Player Bio: Ryan Leaf] , West Texas A&M University Athletics, Accessed July 16, 2008.]

The Trojans fell out of the rankings; the loss marked the fifth time in 104 years of football that USC opened a season 0-2, prior to the season the only Trojan teams that began a season with two defeats were those of 1896, 1902, 1957 and 1960.Mike Downey, Scott Howard-Cooper and Robyn Norwood, [http://articles.latimes.com/1997/sep/14/sports/sp-32374 Soward’s Run Fails to Ignite USC’s Fire] , "Los Angeles Times", September 14, 1997, Accessed July 17, 2008.]

California

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Trojans
R1=14
R2=13
R3=0
R4=0
Home=Golden Bears
H1=0
H2=3
H3=8
H4=6The Trojans defense made seven sacks and forced Cal to punt eight times. [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/college/scoreboards/1997/09/27/recap.california.usc.html NCAA Football Recap (USC-California)] , SI.com, September 28, 1997, Accessed August 25, 2008.]

UNLV

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Rebels
R1=
R2=
R3=
R4=
Home=Trojans
H1=
H2=
H3=
H4=

Arizona State

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Trojans
R1=
R2=
R3=
R4=
Home=Sun Devils
H1=
H2=
H3=
H4=

Notre Dame

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Trojans
R1=
R2=
R3=
R4=
Home=Fighting Irish
H1=
H2=
H3=
H4=

Oregon

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Ducks
R1=0
R2=3
R3=7
R4=12
Home=Trojans
H1=14
H2=7
H3=3
H4=0

Washington

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Trojans
R1=
R2=
R3=
R4=
Home=Huskies
H1=
H2=
H3=
H4=

tanford

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Cardinal
R1=
R2=
R3=
R4=
Home=Trojans
H1=
H2=
H3=
H4=

Oregon State

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Trojans
R1=
R2=
R3=
R4=
Home=Beavers
H1=
H2=
H3=
H4=

UCLA

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Bruins
R1=
R2=
R3=
R4=
Home=Trojans
H1=
H2=
H3=
H4=

After the season

References

External links

* [http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/usc-m-footbl-body.html USC Athletic Department's official site]