1997 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team

Last updated

1997 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football
Conference USA champion
Liberty Bowl champion
Liberty Bowl, W 41–7 vs. Pittsburgh
Conference Conference USA
Ranking
CoachesNo. 19
APNo. 19
Record9–3 (6–0 C-USA)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorLarry Kueck (1st season)
Defensive coordinator John Thompson (6th season)
Home stadium M. M. Roberts Stadium
(capacity: 33,000)
Seasons
←  1996
1998  →
1997 Conference USA football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 19 Southern Miss $  6 –0   9 –3  
Tulane  5 –1   7 –4  
East Carolina  4 –2   5 –6  
Cincinnati  2 –4   8 –4  
Memphis  2 –4   4 –7  
Houston  2 –4   3 –8  
Louisville  0 –6   1 –10  
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1997 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team represented the University of Southern Mississippi in the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Golden Eagles were led by eighth-year head coach Jeff Bower and played their home games at M. M. Roberts Stadium. In their second year in the Conference USA, they claimed their second-straight conference championship with a 6–0 C-USA record and a 9–3 record overall. [1] They were invited to the 1997 Liberty Bowl, where they defeated Pittsburgh, 41–7. In the final AP and Coaches Polls of the season, the Golden Eagles were ranked 19th, which was the first ranked finish in school history. [2]

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
August 30at No. 2 Florida *
L 6–2185,439 [3]
September 6at Illinois *
 ESPN2 W 24–744,519 [4]
September 20 Nevada *
W 35–1926,481 [5]
September 27at No. 21 Alabama *
 PPV L 13–2783,091 [6]
October 4 Louisville
  • M. M. Roberts Stadium
  • Hattiesburg, MS
W 42–2423,028 [7]
October 11at East Carolina
W 23–1333,904 [8]
October 25 Tulane
  • M. M. Roberts Stadium
  • Hattiesburg, MS (rivalry)
W 34–1326,092 [9]
November 1at Cincinnati No. 24
W 24–1723,799 [10]
November 8at No. 8 Tennessee *No. 24
PPVL 20–44107,073 [11]
November 15 Houston
  • M. M. Roberts Stadium
  • Hattiesburg, MS
W 33–020,091 [12]
November 22at Memphis
W 42–1817,243 [13]
December 31vs. Pittsburgh *No. 22
W 41–750,209 [14]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Related Research Articles

The 1990 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team was an American football team that represented the University of Southern Mississippi as an independent during the 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their third year under head coach Curley Hallman, the team compiled an 8–4 record and lost the 1990 All-American Bowl. The Golden Eagles had one of the biggest upsets of the college football season when they beat the Alabama Crimson Tide by a score of 27–24. Another upset followed later in the season when the Golden Eagles beat the Auburn Tigers by a score of 13–12.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2003 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team</span> American college football season

The 2003 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team represented the University of Southern Mississippi in the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Golden Eagles were led by head coach Jeff Bower and played their home games at M. M. Roberts Stadium. They were a member of Conference USA.

The 2001 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team represented the University of Southern Mississippi in the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Golden Eagles were led by head coach Jeff Bower and played their home games at M. M. Roberts Stadium. They were a member of Conference USA.

The 2000 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team represented the University of Southern Mississippi in the 2000 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Golden Eagles were led by head coach Jeff Bower and played their home games at M. M. Roberts Stadium. They were a member of Conference USA.

The 1999 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team represented the University of Southern Mississippi in the 1999 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Golden Eagles were led by head coach Jeff Bower and played their home games at M. M. Roberts Stadium. They secured their third Conference USA conference championship after finishing 6–0 in conference play. Their overall record was 9–3, and they were invited to play in the 1999 Liberty Bowl, where they defeated Colorado State, 23–17. In the final AP Poll of the year, the Golden Eagles were ranked 14th, which is to date the highest finish in school history.

The 1998 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team represented the University of Southern Mississippi in the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Golden Eagles were led by ninth-year head coach Jeff Bower and played their home games at M. M. Roberts Stadium. Following a successful 1997 season, the Golden Eagles were ranked in the preseason for the first time in school history, 21st in both polls. However, they were unable to replicate the previous season's success, losing their opening two games to ranked opponents and started 1–3. They finished with an overall record of 7–5, finishing second in Conference USA. They were invited to the 1998 Humanitarian Bowl, where they lost to Idaho, 35–42.

The 1996 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team represented the University of Southern Mississippi in the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Golden Eagles were led by seventh-year head coach Jeff Bower and played their home games at M. M. Roberts Stadium. In the inaugural season of Conference USA, Southern Miss claimed a share of the conference championship with Houston after finishing 4–1 in conference, and 8–3 overall.

The 1980 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team was an American football team that represented the University of Southern Mississippi as an independent during the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their sixth year under head coach Bobby Collins, the team compiled a 9–3 record.

The 1973 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team was an American football team that represented the University of Southern Mississippi as an independent during the 1973 NCAA Division I football season. In their fifth year under head coach P. W. Underwood, the team compiled a 6–4–1 record.

The 1977 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team was an American football team that represented the University of Southern Mississippi as an independent during the 1977 NCAA Division I football season. In their third year under head coach Bobby Collins, the team compiled a 6–6 record.

The 1979 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team was an American football team that represented the University of Southern Mississippi as an independent during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fifth year under head coach Bobby Collins, the team compiled a 6–4–1 record.

The 1982 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team was an American football team that represented the University of Southern Mississippi as an independent during the 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their first year under head coach Jim Carmody, the team compiled a 7–4 record.

The 1983 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team was an American football team that represented the University of Southern Mississippi as an independent during the 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their second year under head coach Jim Carmody, the team compiled a 7–4 record.

The 1984 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team was an American football team that represented the University of Southern Mississippi as an independent during the 1984 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their third year under head coach Jim Carmody, the team compiled a 4–7 record.

The 1985 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team was an American football team that represented the University of Southern Mississippi as an independent during the 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fourth year under head coach Jim Carmody, the team compiled a 7–4 record.

The 1986 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team was an American football team that represented the University of Southern Mississippi as an independent during the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fifth year under head coach Jim Carmody, the team compiled a 6–5 record.

The 1987 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team was an American football team that represented the University of Southern Mississippi as an independent during the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their sixth year under head coach Jim Carmody, the team compiled a 6–5 record.

The 1988 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team was an American football team that represented the University of Southern Mississippi as an independent during the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their first year under head coach Curley Hallman, the team compiled a 10–2 record and won the 1988 Independence Bowl.

The 1993 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team was an American football team that represented the University of Southern Mississippi as an independent during the 1993 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their third year under head coach Jeff Bower, the team compiled a 3–7–1 record.

The 1936 Mississippi State Teachers Yellow Jackets football team was an American football team that represented the Mississippi State Teachers College as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association during the 1936 college football season. In their sixth year under head coach Pooley Hubert, the team compiled a 7–2–1 record.

References

  1. ↑ "1997 Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles School History". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Gators survive Golden Eagles". Pensacola News Journal. August 31, 1997. Retrieved September 11, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Loss is no shock for Illini". Chicago Tribune. September 7, 1997. Retrieved September 11, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Fourth quarter foils Wolf Pack". Reno Gazette-Journal. September 21, 1997. Retrieved September 11, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Turnovers costly to USM". Hattiesburg American. September 28, 1997. Retrieved September 11, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Cards 'just disappointing' again, 42–24". The Courier-Journal. October 5, 1997. Retrieved September 11, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Eagles rally past ECU". Hattiesburg American. October 12, 1997. Retrieved February 9, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Eagles beat emotion out of Wave 34–13". The Clarion-Ledger. October 26, 1997. Retrieved February 9, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Mistakes are costly for Bearcats". The Cincinnati Enquirer. November 2, 1997. Retrieved September 11, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Vols rip Southern Miss". The Jackson Sun. November 9, 1997. Retrieved September 11, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Southern Miss secures Liberty bid". The Commercial Appeal. November 16, 1997. Retrieved September 11, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Eagles close deal in C-USA". The Clarion-Ledger. November 23, 1997. Retrieved September 11, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "Panthers miss-fire". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 1, 1998. Retrieved September 11, 2022– via Newspapers.com.


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