1997 Kentucky Wildcats football team

1997 Kentucky Wildcats football
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionEastern Division
Record5–6 (2–6 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorMike Leach (1st season)
Offensive schemeAir raid
Defensive coordinatorMike Major (1st season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumCommonwealth Stadium
1997 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Eastern Division
No. 7 Tennessee x$   7 – 1     11 – 2  
No. 10 Georgia   6 – 2     10 – 2  
No. 4 Florida   6 – 2     10 – 2  
South Carolina   3 – 5     5 – 6  
Kentucky   2 – 6     5 – 6  
Vanderbilt   0 – 8     3 – 8  
Western Division
No. 11 Auburn xy   6 – 2     10 – 3  
No. 13 LSU x   6 – 2     9 – 3  
No. 22 Ole Miss   4 – 4     8 – 4  
Mississippi State   4 – 4     7 – 4  
Arkansas   2 – 6     4 – 7  
Alabama   2 – 6     4 – 7  
Championship: Tennessee 30, Auburn 29
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1997 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky as a member of the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by first-year head coach Hal Mumme, the Wildcats compiled an overall record of 5–6 with a mark of 2–6 in conference place, placing fifth in the SEC's Eastern Division. The team played home games at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
August 301:30 p.m.Louisville*
W 38–2459,186[1]
September 612:30 p.m.at Mississippi State
JPS[2]L 27–3530,121[3]
September 202:00 p.m.at Indiana*
W 49–741,149[4]
September 273:30 p.m.No. 1 Florida
  • Commonwealth Stadium
  • Lexington, KY (rivalry)
CBS[2]L 28–5559,224[5]
October 47:00 p.m.No. 20 Alabama
  • Commonwealth Stadium
  • Lexington, KY
PPVW 40–34 OT59,226[6]
October 1112:30 p.m.at South Carolina
JPS[2]L 24–3875,936[7]
October 187:00 p.m.Northeast Louisiana*
  • Commonwealth Stadium
  • Lexington, KY
W 49–1457,500[8]
October 253:30 p.m.at No. 16 Georgia
CBS[2]L 13–2385,672[9]
November 16:30 p.m.No. 16 LSU
  • Commonwealth Stadium
  • Lexington, KY
ESPN2[2]L 28–6358,450[10]
November 152:00 p.m.at Vanderbilt
W 21–1040,256[11]
November 2212:30 p.m.No. 5 Tennessee
  • Commonwealth Stadium
  • Lexington, KY (rivalry)
ESPN2/JPS[2]L 31–5961,076[12]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[13]

Game summaries

Louisville

See also: 1997 Louisville Cardinals football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Cardinals 0 3 14 7 24
Wildcats 21 0 7 10 38
Statistics LOU UK
First downs 25 15
Total yards 519 291
Rushing yards 121 87
Passing yards 398 204
Passing: comp–att–int 17–28–2 36–50–1
Turnovers 1 4
Team Category Player Statistics
Louisville Passing Chris Redman 17/28, 204 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing Otis Floyd 14 rushes, 62 yards, TD
Receiving Rico Williams 3 receptions, 82 yards
Kentucky Passing Tim Couch 36/50, 398 yards, 4 TD, INT
Rushing Anthony White 16 rushes, 94 yards, TD
Receiving Kio Sanford 6 receptions, 120 yards, TD

At Mississippi State

See also: 1997 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Wildcats 7 14 6 0 27
Bulldogs 3 7 12 13 35
Statistics UK MSST
First downs 23 16
Total yards 377 282
Rushing yards -1 170
Passing yards 378 112
Passing: comp–att–int 40–62–1 6–21–1
Turnovers 2 1
Team Category Player Statistics
Kentucky Passing Tim Couch 39/61, 349 yards, 4 TD, INT
Rushing Anthony White 7 rushes, 55 yards
Receiving Kevin Coleman 5 receptions, 89 yards, TD
Mississippi State Passing Matt Wyatt 6/21, 112 yards, TD, INT
Rushing James Johnson 19 rushes, 69 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Kevin Prentiss 1 reception, 47 yards, TD

At Indiana

See also: 1997 Indiana Hoosiers football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Wildcats 7 14 28 0 49
Hoosiers 0 0 0 7 7
Statistics UK IU
First downs 31 23
Total yards 546 335
Rushing yards 179 47
Passing yards 367 288
Passing: comp–att–int 29–39–0 28–45–2
Turnovers 1 4
Team Category Player Statistics
Kentucky Passing Tim Couch 24/32, 334 yards, 7 TD
Rushing Anthony White 16 rushes, 131 yards
Receiving Kio Sanford 4 receptions, 99 yards, TD
Indiana Passing Jay Rodgers 28/45, 288 yards, 2 INT
Rushing Jason Spear 12 rushes, 25 yards, TD
Receiving Jason Spear 8 receptions, 105 yards

No. 1 Florida

See also: 1997 Florida Gators football team
1 2 3 4 Total
No. 1 Gators 28 0 21 6 55
Wildcats 0 7 7 14 28
Statistics FLA UK
First downs 27 26
Total yards 507 470
Rushing yards 174 101
Passing yards 333 369
Passing: comp–att–int 24–37–0 34–60–3
Turnovers 1 3
Team Category Player Statistics
Florida Passing Doug Johnson 22/34, 286 yards, 5 TD
Rushing Fred Taylor 14 rushes, 126 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Jacquez Green 10 receptions, 139 yards, 3 TD
Kentucky Passing Tim Couch 33/59, 348 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT
Rushing Anthony White 14 rushes, 79 yards, TD
Receiving Craig Yeast 10 receptions, 125 yards

No. 20 Alabama

See also: 1997 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
1 2 3 4OT Total
No. 20 Crimson Tide 7 7 10 100 34
Wildcats 10 3 14 76 40
Statistics ALA UK
First downs 20 23
Total yards 410 457
Rushing yards 239 102
Passing yards 171 355
Passing: comp–att–int 16–28–0 32–49–3
Turnovers 1 4
Team Category Player Statistics
Alabama Passing Freddie Kitchens 13/24, 125 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Curtis Alexander 15 rushes, 120 yards, TD
Receiving Chad Goss 3 receptions, 59 yards, TD
Kentucky Passing Tim Couch 32/49, 355 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT
Rushing Anthony White 15 rushes, 117 yards
Receiving Derek Homer 3 receptions, 103 yards, TD

At South Carolina

See also: 1997 South Carolina Gamecocks football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Wildcats 14 7 3 0 24
Gamecocks 0 24 7 7 38
Statistics UK SCAR
First downs 23 24
Total yards 426 427
Rushing yards 132 204
Passing yards 294 223
Passing: comp–att–int 31–46–1 15–27–0
Turnovers 2 0
Team Category Player Statistics
Kentucky Passing Tim Couch 31/46, 294 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing Derek Homer 10 rushes, 107 yards
Receiving Kevin Coleman 8 receptions, 87 yards
South Carolina Passing Anthony Wright 15/27, 223 yards, 3 TD
Rushing Boo Williams 24 rushes, 93 yards
Receiving Jermale Kelly 3 receptions, 59 yards, 2 TD

Northeast Louisiana

See also: 1997 Northeast Louisiana Indians football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Indians 0 7 7 0 14
Wildcats 21 14 7 7 49
Statistics NELA UK
First downs 14 31
Total yards 218 586
Rushing yards 137 126
Passing yards 81 460
Passing: comp–att–int 10–24–1 37–48–1
Turnovers 1 1
Team Category Player Statistics
Northeast Louisiana Passing Jason Grein 4/6, 43 yards, TD
Rushing Marquis Williams 15 rushes, 54 yards
Receiving Marty Booker 2 receptions, 38 yards
Kentucky Passing Tim Couch 34/43, 428 yards, 6 TD, INT
Rushing Anthony White 11 rushes, 60 yards
Receiving Lance Mickelson 6 receptions, 131 yards, 3 TD

At No. 16 Georgia

See also: 1997 Georgia Bulldogs football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Wildcats 0 7 0 6 13
No. 16 Bulldogs 0 14 3 6 23
Statistics UK UGA
First downs 28 11
Total yards 436 275
Rushing yards 112 220
Passing yards 324 55
Passing: comp–att–int 41–55–3 5–13–0
Turnovers 3 0
Team Category Player Statistics
Kentucky Passing Tim Couch 41/55, 324 yards, TD, 3 INT
Rushing Anthony White 13 rushes, 57 yards
Receiving Derek Homer 5 receptions, 64 yards
Georgia Passing Mike Bobo 5/13, 55 yards
Rushing Robert Edwards 19 rushes, 186 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Corey Allen 1 reception, 28 yards

No. 16 LSU

See also: 1997 LSU Tigers football team
1 2 3 4 Total
No. 16 Tigers 12 8 22 21 63
Wildcats 0 21 7 0 28
Statistics LSU UK
First downs 32 31
Total yards 613 529
Rushing yards 400 99
Passing yards 213 430
Passing: comp–att–int 15–20–0 42–67–3
Turnovers 0 5
Team Category Player Statistics
LSU Passing Herb Tyler 15/20, 213 yards, TD
Rushing Kevin Faulk 28 rushes, 212 yards, 5 TD
Receiving Larry Foster 5 receptions, 61 yards
Kentucky Passing Tim Couch 41/66, 410 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT
Rushing Anthony White 9 rushes, 63 yards
Receiving Jimmy Robinson 8 receptions, 100 yards

At Vanderbilt

See also: 1997 Vanderbilt Commodores football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Wildcats 0 7 7 7 21
Commodores 0 0 10 0 10
Statistics UK VAN
First downs 13 11
Total yards 234 262
Rushing yards 66 51
Passing yards 168 211
Passing: comp–att–int 17–36–0 16–32–3
Turnovers 0 5
Team Category Player Statistics
Kentucky Passing Tim Couch 17/36, 168 yards, TD
Rushing Derek Homer 6 rushes, 38 yards, TD
Receiving Craig Yeast 6 receptions, 76 yards, TD
Vanderbilt Passing Damien Allen 16/32, 211 yards, TD, 3 INT
Rushing Paul Morgan 12 rushes, 49 yards
Receiving Todd Yoder 7 receptions, 94 yards

No. 5 Tennessee

See also: 1997 Tennessee Volunteers football team
1 2 3 4 Total
No. 5 Volunteers 17 7 21 14 59
Wildcats 7 14 3 7 31
Statistics TENN UK
First downs 30 27
Total yards 695 634
Rushing yards 150 158
Passing yards 545 476
Passing: comp–att–int 26–36–0 35–50–3
Turnovers 2 3
Team Category Player Statistics
Tennessee Passing Peyton Manning 25/35, 523 yards, 5 TD
Rushing Jamal Lewis 21 rushes, 128 yards, 3 TD
Receiving Marcus Nash 7 receptions, 195 yards, 3 TD
Kentucky Passing Tim Couch 35/50, 476 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT
Rushing Derek Homer 18 rushes, 137 yards
Receiving Kio Sanford 9 receptions, 147 yards, TD

Roster

1997 Kentucky Wildcats football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
QB 2 Tim Couch So
RB 3 Craig Yeast Jr
WR 5 Marvin Love Jr
WR 6 Kio Sanford Sr
RB 32 Anthony White So
C 61 Paul McGonagle Jr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
CB 4 Littleton Ward Sr
FS 8 Marlon McCree  Fr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K 9 Marc Samuel Fr
P 19 Jimmy Carter Jr
K 23 Brian Johnson Sr
K, P Seth Hanson Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

Roster


References

  1. ^ "It's 38–24 for blue sky guys". The Courier-Journal. August 31, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c d e f 1998 University of Kentucky Football Media Guide. University of Kentucky Athletics Association. 1998. p. 199.
  3. ^ "Couch not enough to save Cats". Messenger-Inquirer. September 7, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "UK's Couch throws for seven touchdowns in romp". The Jackson Sun. September 21, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Kentucky closes gap, but UF rolls". The Orlando Sentinel. September 28, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Tidings of great joy - Cats stun Alabama with 40–34 OT victory". Lexington Herald-Leader. October 5, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "USC gets it Wright; Slow start belies strong showing in 38–24 victory". The State. October 12, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Kentucky QB breaks record". The Montgomery Advertiser. October 19, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "UK gambles, but Georgia hits jackpot". Lexington Herald-Leader. October 26, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Kentucky pays for mistakes". Asheville Citizen-Times. November 2, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "A new song in Music City". Lexington Herald-Leader. November 16, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Manning leads Vols past UK in 59–31 win". The State Journal. November 23, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Site is undergoing maintenance".
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