American college football season
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]
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance August 30 12:30 pm UCLA ABC W 37–3426,000
September 13 3:30 pm at No. 23 USC FSN W 28–2151,655
September 20 9:30 am at Illinois * No. 19 ESPN2 W 35–2247,131
September 27 2:00 pm Boise State * No. 15 Martin Stadium Pullman, WA W 58–034,131
October 4 1:00 pm at Oregon No. 15 W 24–1343,516
October 18 2:00 pm California No. 13 Martin Stadium Pullman, WA W 63–3735,739
October 25 12:30 pm Arizona No. 10 Martin Stadium Pullman, WA ABC W 35–34 OT 31,137
November 1 7:00 pm at No. 20 Arizona State No. 10 FSN L 31–4473,644
November 8 2:00 pm Southwestern Louisiana * No. 16 Martin Stadium Pullman, WA W 77–732,345
November 15 2:00 pm Stanford No. 14 Martin Stadium Pullman, WA W 38–2840,306
November 22 12:30 pm at No. 20 Washington No. 11 ABC W 41–3574,268
, 1998 2:00 pm vs. No. 1 Michigan * No. 8 ABC L 16–21101,219
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Pacific time
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Final AP — — — — 19 15 15 12 13 10 10 16 14 11 10 8 8 9 Coaches Poll — — — — 20 14 15 12 13 10 10 15 13 11 10 7 7 9
1997 Washington State Cougars football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Defense
Special teams
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
[ 17] [ 18]
UCLA at Washington State
1
2 3 4 Total
Bruins (0–0)
7
7 13 7
34
• Cougars (0–0)
3
27 7 0
37
Scoring summary 1 UCLA Skip Hicks 2-yard run (Chris Sailer kick)UCLA 7–0
WSU Rian Lindell ?-yard field goal UCLA 7–3
2 14:43 UCLA Skip Hicks 9-yard run (Chris Sailer kick) UCLA 14–3
11:07 WSU Michael Black 17-yard run (Rian Lindell kick) UCLA 14–10
8:13 WSU Nian Talor 57-yard pass from Ryan Leaf (Rian Lindell kick failed) WSU 16–14
4:35 WSU Ryan Leaf 1-yard run (Rian Lindell kick) WSU 23–14
0:54 WSU Nian Talor 29-yard pass from Ryan Leaf (Rian Lindell kick failed) WSU 30–14
3 12:50 UCLA Skip Hicks 2-yard run (kick failed) WSU 30–21
11:51 WSU Chris Jackson 78-yard pass from Ryan Leaf (Rian Lindell kick) WSU 37–21
2:22 UCLA Danny Farmer 6-yard pass from Cade McNown (pass failed)WSU 37–27
4 14:13 UCLA Skip Hicks 4-yard run (Chris Sailer kick) WSU 37–34
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]
Washington State at USC
1
2 3 4 Total
• Cougars (1–0)
7
14 0 7
28
No. 23 Trojans (1–0)
0
6 7 8
21
Scoring summary 1 4:14 WSU McWashington 3-yard pass from Ryan Leaf (Rian Lindell kick) WSU 7–0
2 13:27 WSU Michael Black 16-yard run (Rian Lindell kick) WSU 14–0
7:12 USC M. MacKenzie 1-yard run (Adam Abrams kick blocked) WSU 14–6
0:50 WSU Love Jefferson 6-yard pass from Ryan Leaf (Rian Lindell kick) WSU 21–6
3 14:44 USC R. Jay Soward 95-yard kickoff return (Adam Abrams kick)WSU 21–13
4 12:44 USC M. Bastianelli 15-yard pass from LaVale Woods (Billy Miller pass) Tied 21–21
4:18 WSU Keven McKenzie 51-yard pass from Ryan Leaf (Rian Lindell kick) WSU 28–21
Washington State defeated No. 23 USC in Los Angeles for the first time since 1957.[ 20] [ 21]
Washington State at Illinois
1
2 3 4 Total
• No. 19 Cougars (2–0)
7
0 7 21
35
Fighting Illini (0–2)
0
7 7 8
22
[ 22]
Boise State at Washington State
1
2 3 4 Total
Broncos (2–2)
0
0 0 0
0
• No. 15 Cougars (3–0)
14
17 17 10
58
[ 23]
Washington State at Oregon
1
2 3 4 Total
• No. 15 Cougars (4–0)
7
7 7 3
24
Ducks (3–1)
0
3 0 10
13
[ 24]
[ 25]
At No. 20 Arizona State [ edit ]
Washington State at Arizona State
1
2 3 4 Total
No. 10 Cougars (7–0)
0
7 10 14
31
• No. 20 Sun Devils (5–2)
7
17 0 20
44
Scoring summary 1 ASU Lenzie Jackson 13-yard pass from Ryan Kealy (Nycz kick)ASU 7–0
2 ASU Kenny Mitchell 8-yard pass from Ryan Kealy (Nycz kick) ASU 14–0
ASU Nycz FG ASU 17–0
7:43 ASU TD pass from Ryan Kealy (Nycz kick) ASU 24–0
WSU TD pass from Ryan Leaf (Rian Lindell kick) ASU 24–7
3 ASU Rian Lindell 43-yard field goal ASU 24–10
1:17 WSU DeJuan Gilmore 2-yard run (Rian Lindell kick) ASU 24–17
4 13:18 WSU Shawn McWashington 11-yard pass from Ryan Leaf (Ryan Leaf run) WSU 25–24
9:57 ASU Tariq McDonald 5-yard pass from Ryan Kealy (conversion failed) ASU 30–25
2:55 ASU Hamilton Mee 66-yard fumble return (Nycz kick) ASU 37–25
2:32 ASU Derrick Ford fumble recovery in end zone (Nycz kick) ASU 44–25
WSU TD pass from Ryan Leaf (Rian Lindell kick) ASU 44–31
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 [ edit ]
[ 27]
[ 28]
At No. 20 Washington [ edit ]
[ 29]
Vs. No. 1 Michigan (Rose Bowl)[ edit ]
Washington State vs. Michigan (1998 Rose Bowl )
1
2 3 4 Total
No. 8 Cougars (10–1)
7
0 6 3
16
• No. 1 Wolverines (11–0)
0
7 7 7
21
Scoring summary 1 3:17 WSU Kevin McKenzie 15-yard pass from Ryan Leaf (Rian Lindell kick)WSU 7–0
2 7:08 MICH Tai Streets 53-yard pass from Brian Griese (Jay Feely kick)Tied 7–7
3 8:23 WSU Shawn Tims 14-yard run (kick failed) WSU 13–7
5:07 MICH Tai Streets 58-yard pass from Brian Griese (Kraig Baker kick) MICH 14–13
4 11:21 MICH Jerame Tuman 23-yard pass from Brian Griese (Kraig Baker kick)MICH 21–13
7:25 WSU Rian Lindell 48-yard field goal MICH 21–16
[ 30]
Four Cougars were selected in the 1998 NFL draft ; quarterback Ryan Leaf was taken second overall.
[ 14] [ 16] [ 31]
^ a b de Leon, Virginia; Sorensen, Eric (November 23, 1997). "A Wazzu bouquet" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). p. A1.
^ Grummert, Dale (January 2, 1998). "Cougs fall one miracle short" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . p. 1A.
^ Kearney, Trevor (January 2, 1998). "A Rose to remember" . Moscow-Pullman Daily News . (Idaho-Washington). p. 1B.
^ Rosenblatt, Richard (January 2, 1998). "Michigan's No. 1 bid blooms" . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). Associated Press. p. 1C.
^ "1997 Washington State Cougars Schedule and Results" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 24, 2016 .
^ "2016 Media Guide" (PDF) . WSUCougars.com . Washington State Cougars Athletics. p. 77. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 21, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2016 .
^ "1997 Washington State Cougars Stats" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 24, 2016 .
^ "1997 Washington State Cougars Stats" .
^ Grummert, Dale (January 1, 1998). "Moment of truth" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . p. 1B.
^ Richardson, Vince (January 1, 2003). "The game has arrived" . Moscow-Pullman Daily News . (Idaho-Washington). p. 1B.
^ Grummert, Dale (January 2, 2003). "A thorny sendoff" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . p. 1B.
^ Grummert, Dale (January 3, 1998). "Change of venue" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . p. 1B.
^ Bruscas, Angelo (January 3, 1998). "Cougars' Leaf bound for NFL" . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). (Seattle Post-Intelligencer). p. 3D.
^ a b "Manning No. 1, Leaf gladly No. 2" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . staff and wire reports. April 19, 1998. p. 1B.
^ "Indianapolis snaps up Manning at No. 1" . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). Associated Press. April 19, 1998. p. 1G.
^ a b Jewell, Mark (April 20, 1998). "Draft goes over well in Pullman" . Moscow-Pullman Daily News . (Idaho-Washington). Associated Press. p. 1C.
^ "Oregon Outlook" . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). October 4, 1997. p. 4D.
^ "Stanford at WSU: stat leaders" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . November 15, 1997. p. 4B.
^ "No More Please, Bruins Stuffed" . The Los Angeles Times . August 31, 1997. Retrieved September 24, 2022 .
^ "It Was a History-Making Event for Cougars" . The Los Angeles Times . September 14, 1997. Retrieved September 24, 2022 .
^ "The Catch. The Block. Vanquishing History" . WSU Athletics . September 1, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2022 .
^ "Cougs Wake Up In Time Illinois Can't Capitalize On WSU's Sloppy Play" . The Spokesman-Review . September 21, 1997. Retrieved September 25, 2022 .
^ "Cougs Win, No Sweat Unbeaten WSU Outmuscles Boise State" . The Spokesman-Review . September 28, 1997. Retrieved September 25, 2022 .
^ "Cougars Get It Done Quickly" . The Los Angeles Times . October 19, 1997. Retrieved September 25, 2022 .
^ "Wildcats Go for Broke, Fall Short" . The Los Angeles Times . October 26, 1997. Retrieved September 25, 2022 .
^ "Sun Devils Turn Over a Leaf in Pac-10" . The Los Angeles Times . November 2, 1997. Retrieved September 25, 2022 .
^ "Washington St. Rights Itself With 77-7 Win" . The Los Angeles Times . November 9, 1997. Retrieved September 25, 2022 .
^ "Washington St. Still Standing" . The Los Angeles Times . November 16, 1997. Retrieved September 25, 2022 .
^ "Leaf Has Turned in Washington" . The Los Angeles Times . November 23, 1997. Retrieved September 24, 2022 .
^ " 'Mistake' Costs WSU Final Play" . The Washington Post . January 2, 1998. Retrieved September 25, 2022 .
^ "1998 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on December 21, 2007.
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons
Pacific Coast AAWU Pacific-8 Pacific-10 Pac-12 National championships in bold