1997 West Virginia Mountaineers football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1997
| team = West Virginia Mountaineers
| sport = football
| image = West Virginia Mountaineers logo.svg
| image_size = 125
| conference = Big East Conference
| short_conf = Big East
| record = 7–5
| conf_record = 4–3
| head_coach = Don Nehlen
| hc_year = 18th
| off_coach = Dan Simrell
| oc_year = 3rd
| off_scheme =
| def_coach = Steve Dunlap
| dc_year = 6th
| def_scheme =
| captain =
| stadium = Mountaineer Field
| bowl = Carquest Bowl
| bowl_result = L 30–35 vs. Georgia Tech
}}
{{1997 Big East Conference football standings}}
The 1997 West Virginia Mountaineers football team represented West Virginia University as a member of the Big East Conference during the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by 18th-year head coach Don Nehlen, the Mountaineers compiled an overall record of 7–5 with a mark of 4–3 in conference play, tying for third place in the Big East. West Virginia was invited to the Carquest Bowl, where the Mountaineers lost to Georgia Tech. The team played home games at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1997
| poll = AP
| timezone = Eastern
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = August 30
| time = 12:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Marshall
| site_stadium = Mountaineer Field
| site_cityst = Morgantown, WV
| gamename = Friends of Coal Bowl
| tv = ESPN Plus
| score = 42–31
| attend = 65,492
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-west-virginia-su/152135021/|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|title=West Virginia survives rally by Marshall|date=August 31, 1997|accessdate=July 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 6
| time = 12:30 p.m.
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = East Carolina
| site_stadium = Mountaineer Field
| site_cityst = Morgantown, WV
| tv = ESPN
| score = 24–17
| attend = 51,143
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72990593/banged-up-harley-stalls/|work=The Charlotte Observer|title=Banged up Harley stalls|date=September 7, 1997|accessdate=July 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 13
| time = 12:00 p.m.
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Boston College
| site_stadium = Alumni Stadium
| site_cityst = Chestnut Hill, MA
| tv = ESPN
| score = 24–31
| attend = 39,200
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-just-when-its-least-ex/152135182/|work=The Hartford Courant|title=Just when it's least expected|date=September 14, 1997|accessdate=July 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 27
| time = 3:30 p.m.
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = Miami (FL)
| site_stadium = Miami Orange Bowl
| site_cityst = Miami, FL
| tv = CBS
| score = 28–17
| attend = 39,270
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-stuart-news-gloom-over-miami/152135373/|work=The Stuart News|title=Gloom over Miami|date=September 28, 1997|accessdate=July 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 4
| time = 12:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| opponent = Rutgers
| site_stadium = Mountaineer Field
| site_cityst = Morgantown, WV
| tv = ESPN Plus
| score = 48–0
| attend = 51,737
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-knights-simply-dazed/152135488/|work=Asbury Park Press|title=Knights simply dazed; Offense hits bottom vs. W. Virginia|date=October 5, 1997|accessdate=July 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 11
| time = 1:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = Maryland
| site_stadium = Byrd Stadium
| site_cityst = College Park, MD
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 31–14
| attend = 31,210
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-rb-zereoue-lifts-w-vir/152101089/|work=The Miami Herald|title=RB Zereoue lifts W. Virginia|date=October 12, 1997|accessdate=July 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 25
| time = 3:30 p.m.
| w/l = w
| rank = 21
| opponent = Virginia Tech
| opprank = 19
| site_stadium = Mountaineer Field
| site_cityst = Morgantown, WV
| gamename = rivalry
| tv = CBS
| score = 30–17
| attend = 63,649
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/martinsville-bulletin-mountaineers-humbl/152135609/|work=Martinsville Bulletin|title=Mountaineers humble Hokies 30–17|date=October 26, 1997|accessdate=July 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 1
| time = 7:30 p.m.
| w/l = l
| away = y
| rank = 17
| opponent = Syracuse
| site_stadium = Carrier Dome
| site_cityst = Syracuse, NY
| gamename = rivalry
| tv = ESPN
| score = 10–40
| attend = 49,273
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal-news-syracuse-overcomes-mist/152135729/|work=The Journal News|title=Syracuse overcomes mistakes, W. Virginia|date=November 2, 1997|accessdate=July 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 15
| time = 1:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| opponent = Temple
| site_stadium = Mountaineer Field
| site_cityst = Morgantown, WV
| score = 41–21
| attend = 37,061
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-owls-lose-thei/152135868/|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|title=Owls lose their season finale, and maybe Dickerson as well|date=November 16, 1997|accessdate=July 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 22
| time = 2:30 p.m.
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| rank = 22
| opponent = Notre Dame
| site_stadium = Notre Dame Stadium
| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN
| tv = NBC
| score = 14–21
| attend = 80,225
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-powlus-finally-a-h/152136074/|work=The Indianapolis Star|title=Powlus finally a hero as Irish beat Mountaineers|date=November 23, 1997|accessdate=July 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 28
| time = 2:30 p.m.
| w/l = l
| opponent = Pittsburgh
| site_stadium = Mountaineer Field
| site_cityst = Morgantown, WV
| gamename = Backyard Brawl
| tv = CBS
| score = 38–41
| overtime = 3OT
| attend = 48,044
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-1997-gonzalez-tr/107764794/|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|title=Triple threat; Gonzalez TD pass in third OT puts Pitt in bowl picture|date=November 29, 1997|accessdate=July 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 29
| time = 7:30 p.m.
| w/l = l
| neutral = y
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Georgia Tech
| site_stadium = Pro Player Stadium
| site_cityst = Miami Gardens, FL
| gamename = Carquest Bowl
| tv = TBS
| score = 30–35
| attend = 28,262
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-odessa-american-hamilton-helps-georg/152098476/|work=The Odessa American|title=Hamilton helps Georgia Tech roll over West Virginia|date=December 30, 1997|accessdate=July 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
}}
Rankings
{{see also|1997 NCAA Division I-A football rankings}}
{{Ranking movements
| poll1title = AP
| poll1firstweek = 0
| poll1lastweek = 17
| poll1_0=NR
| poll1_1=NR
| poll1_2=NR
| poll1_3=NR
| poll1_4=NR
| poll1_5=NR
| poll1_6=NR
| poll1_7=NR
| poll1_8=23
| poll1_9=21
| poll1_10=17
| poll1_11=NR
| poll1_12=NR
| poll1_13=22
| poll1_14=NR
| poll1_15=NR
| poll1_16=NR
| poll1_17=NR
| poll2title = Coaches
| poll2firstweek =0
| poll2lastweek =17
| poll2_0=NR
| poll2_1=
| poll2_2=NR
| poll2_3=24
| poll2_4=NR
| poll2_5=NR
| poll2_6=NR
| poll2_7=24
| poll2_8=22
| poll2_9=20
| poll2_10=17
| poll2_11=22
| poll2_12=23
| poll2_13=21
| poll2_14=NR
| poll2_15=NR
| poll2_16=NR
| poll2_17=NR
}}
Game summaries
=Marshall=
{{AFB game box start
| Title =
| Visitor = Thundering Herd
| V1=3 |V2=7 |V3=21 |V4=0
| Host = Mountaineers
| H1=21 |H2=7 |H3=0 |H4=14
| Date = August 30
| Location = Mountaineer Field
Morgantown, WV
| StartTime = 12:00 p.m.
| TimeZone = EST
| ElapsedTime =
| Attendance = 65,492
| Weather = {{convert|70|F}}, Partly Cloudy and Mild, Wind NW {{convert|4|mph|abbr=on}}
| Referee = Jim Maconaghy
| TVAnnouncers = John Sanders and Jeff Bostic
| TVStation = ESPN Plus
}}
{{AFB game box scoring entry |FirstEntry=yes|Quarter=1 |QuarterEntries=4 |Time=12:30 |Team=WVU |Event=Gary Thompkins 7-yard blocked punt return (Jay Taylor kick) |Score=WVU 7–0 }}
{{AFB game box scoring entry |Time=6:04 |Team=WVU |Event=Amos Zereoué 10-yard run (Jay Taylor kick) |Score=WVU 14–0 }}
{{AFB game box scoring entry |Time=2:24 |Team=MAR |Event=Billy Malashevich 25-yard field goal |Score=WVU 14–3}}
{{AFB game box scoring entry |Time=0:02 |Team=WVU |Event=Amos Zereoué 52-yard run (Jay Taylor kick) |Score=WVU 21–3 }}
{{AFB game box scoring entry |Quarter=2 |QuarterEntries=2 |Time=10:51 |Team=WVU |Event=Curtis Keaton 11-yard run (Jay Taylor kick) |Score=WVU 28–3 }}
{{AFB game box scoring entry |Time=3:34 |Team=MAR |Event=LaVorn Colclough 24-yard pass from Chad Pennington (Billy Malashevich kick) |Score=WVU 28–10 }}
{{AFB game box scoring entry |Quarter=3 |QuarterEntries=3 |Time=13:08 |Team=MAR |Event=Randy Moss 15-yard pass from Chad Pennington (Billy Malashevich kick) |Score=WVU 28–17 }}
{{AFB game box scoring entry |Time=9:24 |Team=MAR |Event=Llow Turner 53-yard run (Billy Malashevich kick) |Score=WVU 28–24 }}
{{AFB game box scoring entry |Time=0:35 |Team=MAR |Event=Randy Moss 25-yard pass from Chad Pennington (Billy Malashevich kick) |Score=MAR 31–28 }}
{{AFB game box scoring entry |Quarter=4 |QuarterEntries=2 |Time=11:07 |Team=WVU |Event=Chad Wable 15-yard pass from Marc Bulger (Jay Taylor kick) |Score=WVU 35–31 }}
{{AFB game box scoring entry |Time=7:56 |Team=WVU |Event=Amos Zereoué 1-yard run (Jay Taylor kick) |Score=WVU 42–31 |LastEntry=yes}}
{{AFB game box end}}
{{see also|1997 Marshall Thundering Herd football team|Friends of Coal Bowl}}
{{cite news |title=Marshall Makes It Close |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-aug-31-sp-27756-story.html |date=August 31, 1997 |access-date=January 5, 2019 }}
{{Clear}}
=Maryland=
{{see also|1997 Maryland Terrapins football team|Maryland–West Virginia football rivalry}}
{{Clear}}
=Virginia Tech=
{{see also|1997 Virginia Tech Hokies football team|Black Diamond Trophy}}
{{Clear}}
=Syracuse=
{{see also|1997 Syracuse Orangemen football team|Ben Schwartzwalder Trophy}}
{{Clear}}
=Pittsburgh=
{{see also|1997 Pittsburgh Panthers football team|Backyard Brawl}}
{{Clear}}
=Georgia Tech (Carquest Bowl)=
{{main|1997 Carquest Bowl}}
{{see also|1997 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team}}
{{Clear}}
Personnel
{{American football roster/Header|year=1997|team=West Virginia Mountaineers|teamcolors=y
|offensive_players=
{{American football roster/Player|num=65|class= |first=Sam|last=Austin|pos=OT}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=10|class=So|first=Marc|last=Bulger|pos=QB|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=67|class=Jr|first=Eric|last=de Groh|pos=C}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=62|class=Jr|first=Steve|last=Ford|pos=OG}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=16|class=Jr|first=Shawn|last=Foreman|pos=WR|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=9|class= |first=Curtis|last=Keaton|pos=RB|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=80|class=So|first=James|last=Norton|pos=WR}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=77|class=So|first=Solomon|last=Page|pos=OT|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=61|class=Jr|first=Bryan|last=Pukenas|pos=OG}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=87|class=Sr|first=Chad|last=Wable|pos=TE}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=34|class=Sr|first=Leroy|last=White|pos=FB}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=20|class=So|first=Amos|last=Zereoué|pos=RB|link=y}}
|defensive_players=
{{American football roster/Player|num=3|class=So|first=Perlo|last=Bastien|pos=CB}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=45|class= |first=Bob|last=Baum|pos=DE}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=1|class= |first=Damon|last=Cogdell|pos=LB}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=33|class=So|first=Barrett|last=Green|pos=SS|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=52|class=Sr|first=John|last=Hadley|pos=LB}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=50|class=Sr|first=Steve|last=Lippe|pos=LB}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=78|class=Sr|first=Henry|last=Slay|pos=DT|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=55|class=Jr|first=Gary|last=Stills|pos=DE|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=28|class= |first=Nate|last=Terry|pos=CB}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=11|class=So|first=Gary|last=Thompkins|pos=FS}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=96|class=Jr|first=John|last=Thornton|pos=NT|link=y|dab=John Thornton (American football)}}
|special_teams_players=
{{American football roster/Player|num=7|class=Sr|first=Bryan|last=Baumann|pos=P}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=47|class=So|first=Jay|last=Taylor|pos=K|link=y|dab=Jay Taylor (placekicker)}}
}}
{{American football roster/Footer|roster_url=|accessdate=
|head_coach=
|asst_coach=
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{West Virginia Mountaineers football navbox}}