1997 UCLA Bruins football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1997
| team = UCLA Bruins
| sport = football
| image = UCLA Bruins logo.svg
| image_size = 150
| conference = Pacific-10 Conference
| short_conf = Pac-10
| CoachRank = 5
| APRank = 5
| record = 10–2
| conf_record = 7–1
| head_coach = Bob Toledo
| hc_year = 2nd
| off_coach = Al Borges
| oc_year = 2nd
| off_scheme =
| def_coach = Rocky Long
| dc_year = 2nd
| def_scheme =
| captain =
| stadium = Rose Bowl
| champion = Pac-10 co-champion
Cotton Bowl Classic champion
| bowl = Cotton Bowl Classic
| bowl_result = W 29–23 vs. Texas A&M
}}
{{1997 Pacific-10 Conference football standings}}
The 1997 UCLA Bruins football team represented the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as a member of the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) during the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by second-year head coach Bob Toledo, the Bruins compiled an overall record of 10–2 with a mark of 7–1 in conference play, sharing the Pac-10 title with Washington State. UCLA was invited to the Cotton Bowl Classic, where the Bruins defeated Texas A&M. Though the Bruins were down 16–7 at the half, Cade McNown, the offensive MVP of the game, led the team to a 29–23 victory. UCLA was ranked No. 5 in both the final AP poll and the final Coaches Poll. The team played home games at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1997
| poll = AP
| timezone = Pacific
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = August 30
| time = 12:30 pm
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Washington State
| site_stadium = Martin Stadium
| site_cityst = Pullman, WA
| tv = ABC
| score = 34–37
| attend = 26,000
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 6
| time = 12:30 pm
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Tennessee
| opprank = 3
| site_stadium = Rose Bowl
| site_cityst = Pasadena, CA
| tv = ABC
| score = 24–30
| attend = 62,619
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-bruins-ral/152117019/|work=The San Bernardino County Sun|title=Bruins rally comes up short against Tennessee|date=September 7, 1997|accessdate=July 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 13
| time = 12:30 pm
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = Texas
| opprank = 11
| site_stadium = Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Austin, TX
| tv = ABC, FSW
| score = 66–3
| attend = 77,203
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 27
| time = 3:30 pm
| w/l = w
| rank = 24
| opponent = Arizona
| site_stadium = Rose Bowl
| site_cityst = Pasadena, CA
| tv = FSN
| score = 40–27
| attend = 50,188
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 4
| time = 3:30 pm
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 22
| opponent = Houston
| site_stadium = Rose Bowl
| site_cityst = Pasadena, CA
| tv = FSW2
| score = 66–10
| attend = 38,004
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 11
| time = 3:30 pm
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 18
| opponent = Oregon
| site_stadium = Autzen Stadium
| site_cityst = Eugene, OR
| tv = FX
| score = 39–31
| attend = 42,314
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 18
| time = 3:30 pm
| w/l = w
| rank = 17
| opponent = Oregon State
| site_stadium = Rose Bowl
| site_cityst = Pasadena, CA
| tv = FSN
| score = 34–10
| attend = 38,165
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 25
| time = 3:30 pm
| w/l = w
| rank = 13
| opponent = California
| site_stadium = Rose Bowl
| site_cityst = Pasadena, CA
| tv =
| score = 35–17
| attend = 52,858
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 1
| time = 3:30 pm
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 12
| opponent = Stanford
| site_stadium = Stanford Stadium
| site_cityst = Stanford, CA
| tv = FSN
| score = 27–7
| attend = 54,332
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 15
| time = 12:30 pm
| w/l = w
| rank = 9
| opponent = Washington
| opprank = 13
| site_stadium = Rose Bowl
| site_cityst = Pasadena, CA
| tv = ABC
| score = 52–28
| attend = 85,697
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 22
| time = 12:30 pm
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 7
| opponent = USC
| site_stadium = Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
| gamename = Victory Bell
| tv = ABC, FSW2
| score = 31–24
| attend = 91,350
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = January 1
| time = 10:30 am
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| neutral = y
| rank = 5
| opponent = Texas A&M
| opprank = 20
| site_stadium = Cotton Bowl
| site_cityst = Dallas, TX
| gamename = Cotton Bowl Classic
| tv = CBS
| score = 29–23
| attend = 59,215
}}
}}
Rankings
{{See also|1997 NCAA Division I-A football rankings}}
{{NCAA Division I FBS football rankings | harrisfirstweek = 9 | bcsfirstweek = 9
| finalpollweek = 17
| AP_pre = NR
| coaches_pre = RV
| AP_1 = NR
| coaches_1 = RV
| AP_2 = NR
| coaches_2 = NR
| AP_3 = RV
| coaches_3 = RV
| AP_4 = 24
| coaches_4 = RV
| AP_5 = 24
| coaches_5 = RV
| AP_6 = 22
| coaches_6 = 25
| AP_7 = 18
| coaches_7 = 19
| harris_7 =
| bcs_7 =
| AP_8 = 17
| coaches_8 = 18
| harris_8 =
| bcs_8 =
| AP_9 = 13
| coaches_9 = 16
| harris_9 =
| bcs_9 =
| AP_10 = 12
| coaches_10 = 13
| harris_10 =
| bcs_10 =
| AP_11 = 10
| coaches_11 = 11
| harris_11 =
| bcs_11 =
| AP_12 = 9
| coaches_12 = 10
| harris_12 =
| bcs_12 =
| AP_13 = 7
| coaches_13 = 9
| harris_13 =
| bcs_13 =
| AP_14 = 6
| coaches_14 = 7
| harris_14 =
| bcs_14 =
| AP_15 = 5
| coaches_15 = 6
| harris_15 =
| bcs_15 =
| AP_16 = 5
| coaches_16 = 6
| harris_16 =
| bcs_16 =
| AP_17 = 5
| coaches_17 = 5
| harris_17 =
| bcs_17 =
}}
Game summaries
=At Washington State=
{{see also|1997 Washington State Cougars football team}}
{{AFB game box start
| Title = UCLA at Washington State
| Visitor = Bruins
| Host = Cougars
| V1 = 7| V2 =7| V3 =13| V4 =7
| H1 = 3| H2 =27| H3 =7| H4 =0
| Date = August 30, 1997
| Location = Martin Stadium
Pullman, WA
| StartTime =
| ElapsedTime =
| Attendance = 26,000
| Weather =
| Referee =
|TVAnnouncers=Keith Jackson (play-by-play), Bob Griese (analyst), and Lynn Swann (sideline)
|TVStation=ABC
}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry=yes |Quarter=1 |QuarterEntries=2| Time= |Team=UCLA |Event=Skip Hicks 2-yard run (Chris Sailer kick) |Score=UCLA 7–0}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Time= |Team=WSU |Event=Rian Lindell ?-yard field goal |Score=UCLA 7–3}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=2 |QuarterEntries=5 |Time=14:43 |Team=UCLA |Event=Skip Hicks 9-yard run (Chris Sailer kick) |Score=UCLA 14–3}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Time=11:07 |Team=WSU |Event=Michael Black 17-yard run (Rian Lindell kick) |Score=UCLA 14–10}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Time=8:13 |Team=WSU |Event=Nian Talor 57-yard pass from Ryan Leaf (Rian Lindell kick failed) |Score=WSU 16–14}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Time=4:35 |Team=WSU |Event=Ryan Leaf 1-yard run (Rian Lindell kick) |Score=WSU 23–14}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Time=0:54 |Team=WSU |Event=Nian Talor 29-yard pass from Ryan Leaf (Rian Lindell kick failed) |Score=WSU 30–14}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=3 |QuarterEntries=3 |Time=12:50 |Team=UCLA |Event=Skip Hicks 2-yard run (kick failed) |Score=WSU 30–21}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Time=11:51 |Team=WSU |Event=Chris Jackson 78-yard pass from Ryan Leaf (Rian Lindell kick) |Score=WSU 37–21}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Time=2:22 |Team=UCLA |Event=Danny Farmer 6-yard pass from Cade McNown (pass failed) |Score=WSU 37–27}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=4 |Time=14:13 |Team=UCLA |Event=Skip Hicks 4-yard run (Chris Sailer kick) |Score=WSU 37–34 |LastEntry=yes}}
{{AFB game box end}}
{{cite news |title=No More Please, Bruins Stuffed |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-aug-31-sp-27742-story.html |newspaper=The Los Angeles Times |date=August 31, 1997 |access-date=September 24, 2022}}
{{Clear}}
=No. 3 Tennessee=
{{see also|1997 Tennessee Volunteers football team}}
{{AFB game box start
| Title = Tennessee at UCLA
| Visitor = No. 3 Volunteers
| Host = Bruins
| V1 = 9| V2 = 15| V3 = 3| V4 = 3
| H1 = 0| H2 = 3| H3 = 3| H4 = 18
| Date = September 6
| Location = Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
| StartTime = 12:35 pm
| TimeZone = PDT
| ElapsedTime = 3:41
| Attendance = 62,619
}}
*Source: [https://utsports.com/sports/football/stats/1997/ucla/boxscore/3233 Box score]
{{AFB game box end}}
{{cite news |title=Home Groan / Tennessee 30, UCLA 24 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-sep-07-sp-29900-story.html |newspaper=The Los Angeles Times |date=September 7, 1997 |access-date=September 24, 2022}}
{{Clear}}
=At Texas=
{{see also|1997 Texas Longhorns football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Bruins
|R1=10
|R2=28
|R3=21
|R4=7
|Home=#11 Longhorns
|H1=0
|H2=0
|H3=3
|H4=0
}}
{{cite news |title=UCLA 66, No. 11 Texas 3 | url=https://apnews.com/article/e38cc15fbd2137a895cd97fab50bda72 |newspaper=AP News |date=
September 13, 1997 |access-date=September 24, 2022}}
{{Clear}}
=Arizona=
{{see also|1997 Arizona Wildcats football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Wildcats
|R1=7
|R2=0
|R3=20
|R4=0
|Home=#24 Bruins
|H1=31
|H2=6
|H3=0
|H4=3
}}
{{Clear}}
=Houston=
{{see also|1997 Houston Cougars football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Cougars
|R1=7
|R2=0
|R3=0
|R4=3
|Home=#22 Bruins
|H1=42
|H2=7
|H3=7
|H4=10
}}
{{Clear}}
=At Oregon=
{{see also|1997 Oregon Ducks football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=#18 Bruins
|R1=27
|R2=3
|R3=6
|R4=3
|Home=Ducks
|H1=21
|H2=7
|H3=3
|H4=0
}}
{{Clear}}
=Oregon State=
{{see also|1997 Oregon State Beavers football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Beavers
|R1=10
|R2=0
|R3=0
|R4=0
|Home=#17 Bruins
|H1=14
|H2=14
|H3=3
|H4=3
}}
{{Clear}}
=California=
{{see also|1997 California Golden Bears football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Golden Bears
|R1=14
|R2=3
|R3=0
|R4=0
|Home=#13 Bruins
|H1=0
|H2=14
|H3=14
|H4=7
}}
{{Clear}}
=At Stanford=
{{see also|1997 Stanford Cardinal football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=#12 Bruins
|R1=14
|R2=7
|R3=3
|R4=3
|Home=Cardinal
|H1=0
|H2=0
|H3=7
|H4=0
}}
{{Clear}}
=Washington=
{{see also|1997 Washington Huskies football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=#13 Huskies
|R1=17
|R2=3
|R3=8
|R4=0
|Home=#9 Bruins
|H1=3
|H2=14
|H3=21
|H4=14
}}
{{Clear}}
=At USC=
{{see also|1997 USC Trojans football team}}
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=#7 Bruins
|R1=10
|R2=7
|R3=7
|R4=7
|Home=Trojans
|H1=14
|H2=7
|H3=3
|H4=0
}}
The Bruins retained the Victory Bell for the seventh straight year.
{{Clear}}
=Vs. Texas A&M Aggies (Cotton Bowl Classic)=
{{AFB game box start
| Title = UCLA vs. Texas A&M
(Cotton Bowl Classic)
| Visitor = No. 5 Bruins
| Host = No. 20 Aggies
| V1 = 0 | V2 = 7| V3 = 14| V4 = 8
| H1 = 7 | H2 = 9| H3 = 7| H4 = 0
| Date = January 1
| Location = Cotton Bowl
Dallas, TX
| TimeZone = PST
| StartTime =
| ElapsedTime =
| Attendance = 59,215
| Weather = {{convert|53|F}}, Cloudy
| Referee = Tom Robinson
| TVAnnouncers = Gus Johnson and Mike Mayock
| TVStation = CBS
}}
{{AFB game box end}}
{{main|1998 Cotton Bowl Classic}}
{{see also|1997 Texas A&M Aggies football team}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=UCLA|HomeName=Texas A&M|state=collapsed}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=1| Time=4:35| Team=Texas A&M| DrivePlays=| DriveLength=| DriveTime=| Type=IntTD| Def=Brandon Jennings| yards=64| kickresult=good| Kicker=Kyle Bryant| Visitor=0| Home=7
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=2| Time=10:18| Team=Texas A&M| DrivePlays=| DriveLength=| DriveTime=| Type=SafetyTackle| Player=Cade McNown| Def=Zerick Rollins| Visitor=0| Home=9
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=2| Time=5:54| Team=Texas A&M| DrivePlays=3| DriveLength=90| DriveTime=| Type=RushTD| Runner=Dante Hall| yards=74| kickresult=good| Kicker=Kyle Bryant| Visitor=0| Home=16
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=2| Time=0:02| Team=UCLA| DrivePlays=5| DriveLength=47| DriveTime=| Type=RecTD| Receiver=Jim McElroy| QB=Cade McNown| yards=22| kickresult=good| Kicker=Chris Sailer| Visitor=7| Home=16
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=3| Time=12:34| Team=UCLA| DrivePlays=3| DriveLength=45| DriveTime=| Type=RecTD| Receiver=Skip Hicks| QB=Cade McNown| yards=41| kickresult=good| Kicker=Chris Sailer| Visitor=14| Home=16
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=3| Time=8:37| Team=Texas A&M| DrivePlays=8| DriveLength=65| DriveTime=| Type=RushTD| Runner=Chris Cole| yards=43| kickresult=good| Kicker=Kyle Bryant| Visitor=14| Home=23
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=3| Time=2:44| Team=UCLA| DrivePlays=8| DriveLength=65| DriveTime=| Type=RushTD| Runner=Cade McNown| yards=20| kickresult=good| Kicker=Chris Sailer| Visitor=21| Home=23
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=4| Time=7:05| Team=UCLA| DrivePlays=8| DriveLength=71| DriveTime=| Type=RushTD| Runner=Ryan Neufeld| yards=5| 2pt type=run| 2pt result=good| Visitor=29| Home=23}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=29|Home=23}}
{{Clear}}
Roster
{{American football roster/Header
| year = 1997
| team = UCLA Bruins
| teamcolors = f
| offensive_players=
{{American football roster/Player|num=87|class=So|first=Danny|last=Farmer|pos=WR|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=71|class=Jr|first=Kris|last=Farris|pos=T|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=20|class=Sr|first=Skip|last=Hicks|pos=RB|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=18|class=Jr|first=Cade|last=McNown|pos=QB|link=y}}
| defensive_players=
{{American football roster/Player|num=35|class=Jr|first=Larry|last=Atkins|pos=CB|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=50|class=Jr|first=Brendon|last=Ayanbadejo|pos=LB|link=y}}
| special_teams_players=
{{American football roster/Player|num=2|class= |first=Chris|last=Sailer|pos=K|link=y}}
}}
{{American football roster/Footer
| head_coach = *Bob Toledo
| asst_coach =
| accessdate=
}}
Awards and honors
Skip Hicks, Chad Overhauser, and Chris Sailer were selected to the 1997 College Football All-America Team.
1998 NFL draft
The following players were selected in the 1998 NFL draft.
| class="wikitable" width="70%"
! Player !! Round !! Pick !! Position !! NFL team | ||||
| align="center" bgcolor="" | 1 | 24 | Free Safety | New York Giants |
| align="center" bgcolor="" | 3 | 69 | Running back | Washington Redskins |
| align="center" bgcolor=""
| Chad Overhauser | 7 | 217 | Offensive guard | Chicago Bears |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{UCLA Bruins football navbox}}
{{Pac-12 Conference football champions}}
Category:UCLA Bruins football seasons
Category:Pac-12 Conference football champion seasons