1997 Syracuse Orangemen football team

The 1997 Syracuse Orangemen football team represented Syracuse University as a member of the Big East Conference during the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by seventh-year head coach Paul Pasqualoni, the Orangemen compiled an overall record of 9–4 with a mark of 6–1 in conference play, winning the Big East title. Syracuse was invited to the Fiesta Bowl, where the Orangemen lost to Kansas State. The team played home games at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York.

1997 Syracuse Orangemen football
Big East champion
Fiesta Bowl, L 18–35 vs. Kansas State
ConferenceBig East Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 20
APNo. 20
Record9–4 (6–1 Big East)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorKevin Rogers (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorNorm Gerber (14th season)
CaptainKeith Downing, Donovin Darius, Rod Gadson, Brad Patkochis[1]
Home stadiumCarrier Dome
Seasons
← 1996
1998 →
1997 Big East Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 21 Syracuse $   6 1     9 4  
No. 23 Virginia Tech   5 2     7 5  
Pittsburgh   4 3     6 6  
West Virginia   4 3     7 5  
Miami (FL)   3 4     5 6  
Temple   3 4     3 8  
Boston College   3 4     4 7  
Rutgers   0 7     0 11  
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule

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DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
August 241:00 pmNo. 24 Wisconsin*No. 17ABCW 34–051,185
August 3012:00 pmNC State*No. 13L 31–32 OT42,742[2]
September 62:30 pmat Oklahoma*ABCL 34–3668,342
September 136:00 pmat No. 22 Virginia TechESPNL 3–3150,137[3]
September 206:00 pmTulane*
  • Carrier Dome
  • Syracuse, NY
ESPN2W 30–1942,246[4]
October 412:30 pmEast Carolina*
  • Carrier Dome
  • Syracuse, NY
W 56–044,054[5]
October 98:00 pmat RutgersW 50–319,044
October 1812:00 pmTemple
  • Carrier Dome
  • Syracuse, NY
W 60–747,720
November 17:30 pmNo. 17 West Virginia
ESPNW 40–1049,273[6]
November 83:30 pmBoston CollegeNo. 22
  • Carrier Dome
  • Syracuse, NY
CBSW 20–1349,153
November 1512:00 pmat PittsburghNo. 19ESPN PlusW 32–2746,102
November 293:30 pmat Miami (FL)No. 16CBSW 33–1325,147
December 317:00 pmvs. No. 10 Kansas State*No. 14CBSL 18–3569,367
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[7][8]

Rankings

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Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516Final
AP161322211816151421
Coaches16252419191716151420


Game summaries

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Wisconsin (Kickoff Classic)

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NC State

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At Oklahoma

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At Virginia Tech

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Tulane

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East Carolina

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At Rutgers

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Temple

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West Virginia

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Boston College

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At Pittsburgh

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At Miami (FL)

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Kansas State (Fiesta Bowl)

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Roster

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1997 Syracuse Orangemen football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
WR 12 Kevin Johnson Jr
TE 89 Kaseem Sinceno Sr
FB 44 Rob Konrad Jr
QB 5 Donovan McNabb Jr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
LB 33 Keith Bulluck So
S 20 Donovin Darius Sr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  •   Injured
  •   Redshirt

References

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  1. ^ 2017 Syracuse football media guide pg. 151
  2. ^ "Syracuse unravels; N.C. State takes advantage". The State. August 31, 1997. Retrieved July 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Hokies beat Orange to a pulp". The Roanoke Times. September 14, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Syracuse barely gets by Tulane". Star-Gazette. September 21, 1997. Retrieved February 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Syracuse romps over E. Carolina". Star-Gazette. October 5, 1997. Retrieved March 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Syracuse overcomes mistakes, W. Virginia". The Journal News. November 2, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Kekis, John (August 24, 1997). "New look QB McNabb is at heart of Orange". Press and Sun-Bulletin. Associated Press. p. 66. Retrieved January 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com  .
  8. ^ 1997 Football Schedule