1997 Tennessee Volunteers football team

The 1997 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee during the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. Quarterback Peyton Manning had already completed his degree in three years, and had been projected to be the top overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft, but returned to Tennessee for his senior year.[2] The Volunteers opened the season with victories against Texas Tech and UCLA, but for the third time in his career, Manning fell to Florida, 33–20.[3][4][5] The Vols won the rest of their regular season games, finishing 10–1, and advanced to the SEC Championship Game against Auburn. Down 20–7, Manning led the Vols to a 30–29 victory. Throwing for four touchdowns, he was named the game's MVP, but injured himself in the process.[6][7] The #3 Vols were matched up with #2 Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. Had Tennessee won and top-ranked Michigan lost to Washington State in the Rose Bowl, the Vols would have been expected to win the national championship.[8] However, the Vols' defense could not stop Nebraska's rushing attack, giving up more than 400 yards on the ground in a 42–17 loss.[9] As a senior, Manning won numerous awards. He was a consensus first-team All-American and won the Maxwell Award, the Davey O'Brien Award, the Johnny Unitas Award, and the Best College Football Player ESPY Award, among others. However, he did not win the Heisman Trophy, finishing runner-up to Charles Woodson, a CB from Michigan, and the only defensive player ever to win the Heisman Trophy.[10][11][12]

1997 Tennessee Volunteers football
SEC champion
SEC Eastern Division champion
Orange Bowl, L 17–42 vs. Nebraska
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionEastern Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 8
APNo. 7
Record11–2 (7–1 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorDavid Cutcliffe
Defensive coordinatorJohn Chavis
Captains
Home stadiumNeyland Stadium
(Capacity: 102,854)[1]
1997 Southeastern Conference football standings
ConfOverall
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

Schedule
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
August 307:45 p.m.Texas Tech*No. 5
ESPNW 52–17106,285
September 63:30 p.m.at UCLA*No. 3
ABCW 30–2462,619
September 203:30 p.m.at No. 1 FloridaNo. 4
CBSL 20–3385,714
October 43:30 p.m.Ole MissNo. 10
  • Neyland Stadium
  • Knoxville, Tennessee
CBSW 31–17106,229
October 113:30 p.m.No. 15 GeorgiaNo. 10
  • Neyland Stadium
  • Knoxville, Tennessee (rivalry)
CBSW 38–13106,656
October 187:00 p.m.at AlabamaNo. 9
ESPNW 38–2183,091
November 112:30 p.m.South CarolinaNo. 8
  • Neyland Stadium
  • Knoxville, Tennessee
JPSW 22–7106,301
November 84:00 p.m.No. 25 Southern Miss*No. 7
  • Neyland Stadium
  • Knoxville, Tennessee
PPVW 44–20107,073
November 158:00 p.m.at ArkansasNo. 5
ESPN2W 30–2253,235
November 2212:30 p.m.at KentuckyNo. 5
ESPN2W 59–3161,076
November 2912:00 p.m.VanderbiltNo. 3
  • Neyland Stadium
  • Knoxville, Tennessee (rivalry)
CBSW 17–10106,683
December 68:00 p.m.vs. No. 11 AuburnNo. 3
ABCW 30–2974,896
January 28:00 p.m.vs. No. 2 Nebraska*No. 3
CBSL 17–4274,002

Rankings
See also: 1997 NCAA Division I-A football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
( ) = First place votes.
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516Final
AP5 (8)5 (7)3 (7)4 (6)4 (6)9999888553337
Coaches Poll5 (8)5 (8)3 (10)4 (5)4 (6)1010109887553338

Personnel
1997 Tennessee Volunteers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
RB 24 Shawn Bryson Jr
OT 67 Chad Clifton So
OL Cosey Coleman
WR Jermaine Copeland
WR Graff Corby
RB Phillip Crosby
RB Brian Darden
TE Eric Diogu
RB Derrick Edmonds
OL Mercedes Hamilton
RB Travis Henry
TE Neil Johnson
RB Mark Levine
RB Jamal Lewis
QB 16 Peyton Manning Sr
WR David Martin
QB 17 Tee Martin So
WR 88 Andy McCullough Sr
WR 12 Marcus Nash Sr
TE Antron Peebles
WR 37 Peerless Price Jr
OL Spencer Riley
OL Diron Robinson
WR 81 Benjie Shuler Sr
RB Travis Stephens
C 70 Trey Teague Sr
WR Cedrick Wilson
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
LB 99 Eric Brown Sr
DE 91 Jonathan Brown Sr
DL Jeff Coleman
DL Bill Duf
DE 93 Shaun Ellis So
DB 13 Terry Fair Sr
DB Cory Gaines
DT 60 Matt Goodin Jr
DB 23 Dwayne Goodrich So
DB Tyrone Graham
DB Deon Grant
DL Ron Green
DL Gerald Griffin
DB Steve Johnson
DE 1 Leonard Little Sr
DB Tori Noel
DL Billy Raltliff
DE 58 Darwin Walker So
DB 30 Cory Gaines Sr
DE 22 Corey Terry Jr
LB 46 Raynoch Thompson So
DL Darwin Walker
DB 42 Eric Westmoreland So
DB 2 Fred White So
LB 27 Al Wilson Jr
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K 4 Jeff Hall Jr
P 43 David Leaverton Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Game summaries

Texas Tech
See also: 1997 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team
Texas Tech at Tennessee
1 234Total
Red Raiders 0 3014 17
• No. 5 Volunteers 7 17217 52

At UCLA
See also: 1997 UCLA Bruins football team
Tennessee at UCLA
1 234Total
• No. 3 Volunteers 9 1533 30
Bruins 0 3318 24
       
Scoring summary
18:28UTSafety, Leonard Little sack of Cade McNown in end zoneTenn 2–0
3:05UTCory Gaines 57-yard interception return (Jeff Hall kick)Tenn 9–0
29:35UTJeremaine Copeland 24-yard pass from Peyton Manning (conversion)Tenn 17–0
4:07UTMarcus Nash 39-yard pass from Peyton Manning (kick)Tenn 24–0
UCLAChris Sailer ?-yard field goalTenn 24–3
3UCLAChris Sailer ?-yard field goalTenn 24–6
UTJeff Hall ?-yard field goalTenn 27–6
4UCLASkip Hicks ?-yard pass from Cade McNown (conversion failed)Tenn 27–12
UCLASkip Hicks ?-yard run (conversion failed)Tenn 27–18
UCLASkip Hicks ?-yard pass from Cade McNown (conversion failed)Tenn 27–24
UTJeff Hall ?-yard field goalTenn 30–24

[13]

At Florida
#4 Tennessee Volunteers (2–0) at #3 Florida Gators (2–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Tennessee 0 7 7620
Florida 14 6 6733

at Ben Hill Griffith Stadium, Gainesville, Florida

Game information

[14]

Ole Miss
See also: 1997 Ole Miss Rebels football team
Ole Miss at Tennessee
1 234Total
Rebels 0 368 17
• No. 9 Volunteers 0 71410 31

Georgia
See also: 1997 Georgia Bulldogs football team
Georgia at Tennessee
1 234Total
No. 13 Bulldogs 3 703 13
• No. 9 Volunteers 7 17014 38

At Alabama
See also: 1997 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
Tennessee at Alabama
1 234Total
• No. 9 Volunteers 7 14107 38
Crimson Tide 6 087 21

South Carolina
See also: 1997 South Carolina Gamecocks football team
South Carolina at Tennessee
1 234Total
Gamecocks 0 007 7
• No. 9 Volunteers 9 0310 22

Southern Miss
See also: 1997 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team
Southern Miss at Tennessee
1 234Total
No. 24 Golden Eagles 7 670 20
• No. 8 Volunteers 6 14213 44

At Arkansas
See also: 1997 Arkansas Razorbacks football team
Tennessee at Arkansas
1 234Total
• No. 5 Volunteers 7 7313 30
Razorbacks 0 1066 22

At Kentucky
See also: 1997 Kentucky Wildcats football team
Tennessee at Kentucky
1 234Total
• No. 5 Volunteers 17 72114 59
Wildcats 7 1437 31

Peyton Manning threw for a school-record 523 yards and tied the school-record with 5 passing touchdowns in this high-scoring win over Kentucky. The single-game TD record fell in 2007 and the single-game yardage record stood until 2012. In all, Manning and Kentucky QB Tim Couch combined for 999 passing yards (Couch threw for a then-school-record 476 yards).[15]

Vanderbilt
See also: 1997 Vanderbilt Commodores football team
Vanderbilt at Tennessee
1 234Total
Commodores 0 370 10
• No. 3 Volunteers 0 1070 17

[16]

Vs. Auburn
Main article: 1997 SEC Championship Game
See also: 1997 Auburn Tigers football team
Tennessee vs Auburn
1 234Total
• No. 3 Volunteers 7 3137 30
No. 11 Tigers 13 790 29
       
Scoring summary
112:41UTPeerless Price 40-yard pass from Peyton Manning (Jeff Hall kick)Tenn 7–0
10:25AubJaret Holmes 30-yard field goalTenn 7–3
5:36AubBrad Ware 24-yard fumble return (Jaret Holmes kick)Aub 10–7
1:27AubJaret Holmes 48-yard field goalAub 13–7
214:12AubTyrone Goodson 51-yard pass from Dameyune Craig (Jaret Holmes kick)Aub 20–7
7:46UTJeff Hall 27-yard field goalAub 20–10
311:56UTJ. Copeland 5-yard pass from Peyton Manning (Jeff Hall kick)Aub 20–17
6:14AubFred Beasley 24-yard pass from Dameyune Craig (Jaret Holmes kick)Aub 27–17
1:06UTPeerless Price 46-yard pass from Peyton Manning (Jeff Hall kick)Aub 27–23
1:06AubQuinton Reese 98-yard PAT returnAub 29–23
411:14UTMarcus Nash 73-yard pass from Peyton Manning (Jeff Hall kick)Tenn 30–29

The Vols struck first just over two minutes into the game, but found themselves trailing 20–7 only 48 seconds into the second quarter. Despite six turnovers, Tennessee clawed all the way back. Peyton Manning threw for 373 yards and 4 TD, including a game winning 73-yard touchdown to Marcus Nash.[17]

Vs. Nebraska (Orange Bowl)
Main article: 1998 Orange Bowl
See also: 1997 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
Tennessee vs Nebraska
1 234Total
No. 3 Volunteers 0 368 17
• No. 2 Cornhuskers 7 7217 42

Awards and honors

Team players drafted into the NFL
Main article: 1998 NFL Draft
PlayerPositionRoundPickNFL club
Peyton ManningQuarterback11Indianapolis Colts
Terry FairCornerback120Detroit Lions
Marcus NashWide receiver130Denver Broncos
Leonard LittleDefensive end365St. Louis Rams
Jonathan BrownDefensive end390Green Bay Packers
Trey TeagueCenter7200Denver Broncos
Andy McCulloughWide receiver7204New Orleans Saints
Corey GainesSafety7231Indianapolis Colts

References
  1. "Neyland Stadium". utsports.com. Archived from the original on November 19, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  2. "Nothing to Prove; Manning Made His Decision to Stay at Tennessee, and the Rest Is History". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. September 3, 1997.
  3. "Tenn. Jumps To No. 3 in Poll". The Washington Post. September 1, 1997.
  4. "UCLA Rallies in Second Half Against Tennessee, but Comes Up Short for Second Week in a Row, 30–24". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. September 7, 1997.
  5. Rhoden, William C. (September 21, 1997). "Manning's Nightmare Continues". The New York Times. Retrieved December 24, 2007.
  6. Sallee, Barrett (August 24, 2012). "Classic SEC Football: Tennessee Tops Auburn in the 1997 SEC Championship Game". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on August 26, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  7. Fulmer, Phillip (1999). A Perfect Season. Rutledge Hill Press. p. 7. ISBN 1-55853-798-8. Peyton had played with a lot of pain in the Orange Bowl because of an injury he had suffered in our SEC Championship victory against Auburn, and his mobility was limited throughout the game against Nebraska
  8. MacCambridge, Michael (2005). ESPN College Football Encyclopedia. ESPN Books. p. 1401. ISBN 1-4013-3703-1.
  9. MacCambridge, Michael (2005). ESPN College Football Encyclopedia. ESPN Books. p. 1462. ISBN 1-4013-3703-1.
  10. MacCambridge, Michael (2005). ESPN College Football Encyclopedia. ESPN Books. p. 1402. ISBN 1-4013-3703-1.
  11. "The 2005 ESPY Awards – ESPY Awards past winners". ESPN. Retrieved December 20, 2007.
  12. "1997 Heisman Trophy". Heisman.com. Archived from the original on February 1, 2008. Retrieved February 3, 2008.
  13. "Tennessee 30, UCLA 24". UPI Archives. September 6, 1997. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  14. "No. 3 Gators Find Willing Volunteers". Los Angeles Times. September 21, 1997. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  15. "Manning Passes for 523 Yards in Tennessee Win". The Los Angeles Times. November 23, 1997. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  16. "Vols win division crown, want more". The Tampa Bay Times. November 30, 1997. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  17. "Too Close for Comfort". The Los Angeles Times. December 7, 1997. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  18. "AAU Sullivan Award".
  19. 2011 Tennessee Football Record Book Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, p. 102.
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