1997 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

The 1997 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the 1997 Big Ten Conference football season. In their first year under head coach Glen Mason, the Golden Gophers compiled a 3–9 record and were outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 340 to 236.[1]

1997 Minnesota Golden Gophers football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record3–9 (1–7 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorElliot Uzelac (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorDavid Gibbs (1st season)
CaptainTutu Atwell, Crawford Jordan, Cory Sauter, Parc Williams
Home stadiumHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Seasons
← 1996
1998 →
1997 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 1 Michigan $   8 0     12 0  
No. 12 Ohio State   6 2     10 3  
No. 16 Penn State   6 2     9 3  
No. 15 Purdue   6 2     9 3  
Wisconsin   5 3     8 5  
Iowa   4 4     7 5  
Michigan State   4 4     7 5  
Northwestern   3 5     5 7  
Minnesota   1 7     3 9  
Indiana   1 7     2 9  
Illinois   0 8     0 11  
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

Defensive end Lamanzer Williams was named an All-American by the College Football Writers Association and the Football Writers Association of America.[2] Williams was also named All-Big Ten first team.[3] Wide receiver Tutu Atwell and strong safety Tyrone Carter were named All-Big Ten second team.[3] Linebacker Luke Braaten, cornerback Jason Hagman, placekicker Erin McManus, fullback Brad Prigge, long snapper Derek Rackley, quarterback Cory Sauter, defensive tackle Theron von Behren and linebacker Parc Williams were named Academic All-Big Ten.[4]

Total attendance for the season was 269,385, which averaged out to 44,897 per game. The season high for attendance was against rival Wisconsin.[5]

Schedule edit

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 308:00 pmat Hawaii*L 3–1731,510
September 136:00 pmIowa State*MSCW 53–2955,943
September 206:00 pmat Memphis*MSCW 20–1723,208
September 276:00 pmHouston*
  • Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
  • Minneapolis
MSCL 43–4536,447
October 412:00 pmat No. 13 Michigan StateL 10–3175,263
October 116:00 pmPurdue
  • Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
  • Minneapolis
MSCL 43–5937,821
October 1811:00 amat No. 1 Penn StateESPN+L 15–1696,953
October 2511:30 amWisconsin
ESPN2L 21–2257,563
November 111:00 amat No. 4 MichiganESPN+L 3–24106,577
November 83:00 pmNo. 7 Ohio State
  • Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
  • Minneapolis
L 3–3147,706
November 156:00 pmIndiana
  • Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
  • Minneapolis
MSCW 24–1233,905
November 221:00 pmat IowaL 0–3164,591
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

Roster edit

  • WR Tutu Atwell
  • DB Tyrone Carter, Soph.

References edit

  1. ^ "1997 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  2. ^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 179[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ a b Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 180[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 182[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ Keiser, Jeff (2007), 2007 Media Guide (PDF), p. 160[permanent dead link]