1997 Washington State Cougars football team

The 1997 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University in the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) during the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their ninth season under head coach Mike Price, the Cougars went 10–1 in the regular season (7–1 in Pac-10), won the conference championship,[1] lost to #1 Michigan in the Rose Bowl,[2][3][4] and outscored their opponents 483 to 296.[5][6] They played their home games on campus at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Washington, and were ninth in the final rankings.

1997 Washington State Cougars football
Pac-10 co-champion
Rose Bowl, L 16–21 vs. Michigan
ConferencePacific-10 Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 9
APNo. 9
Record10–2 (7–1 Pac-10)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJim McDonell (4th season)
Defensive coordinatorBill Doba (4th season)
Home stadiumMartin Stadium
(capacity: 37,600)
1997 Pacific-10 Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 9 Washington State +  7 –1   10 –2  
No. 5 UCLA +  7 –1   10 –2  
No. 14 Arizona State  6 –2   9 –3  
No. 18 Washington  5 –3   8 –4  
Arizona  4 –4   7 –5  
USC  4 –4   6 –5  
Oregon  3 –5   7 –5  
Stanford  3 –5   5 –6  
California  1 –7   3 –8  
Oregon State  0 –8   3 –8  
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The team's statistical leaders included Ryan Leaf with 3,968 passing yards, Michael Black with 1,181 rushing yards, and Chris Jackson with 1,005 receiving yards.[7] Freshman defensive back Lamont Thompson led the team with 6 interceptions.[8]

The Rose Bowl appearance was the first for Washington State in 67 years;[1][9] the next was five years later.[10][11]

Leaf decided to forgo his remaining season of eligibility (1998) and entered the 1998 NFL draft,[12][13] where he was the second overall selection.[14][15][16]

Schedule
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
August 3012:30 pmUCLA
ABCW 37–3426,000
September 133:30 pmat No. 23 USC
FSNW 28–2151,655
September 209:30 amat Illinois*No. 19
ESPN2W 35–2247,131
September 272:00 pmBoise State*No. 15
  • Martin Stadium
  • Pullman, WA
W 58–034,131
October 41:00 pmat OregonNo. 15
W 24–1343,516
October 182:00 pmCaliforniadaggerNo. 13
  • Martin Stadium
  • Pullman, WA
W 63–3735,739
October 2512:30 pmArizonaNo. 10
  • Martin Stadium
  • Pullman, WA
ABCW 35–34 OT31,137
November 17:00 pmat No. 20 Arizona StateNo. 10
FSNL 31–4473,644
November 82:00 pmSouthwestern Louisiana*No. 16
  • Martin Stadium
  • Pullman, WA
W 77–732,345
November 152:00 pmStanfordNo. 14
  • Martin Stadium
  • Pullman, WA
W 38–2840,306
November 2212:30 pmat No. 20 WashingtonNo. 11
ABCW 41–3574,268
January 1, 19982:00 pmvs. No. 1 Michigan*No. 8
ABCL 16–21101,219  
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Pacific time

Conference opponent not played this season: Oregon State

Roster
1997 Washington State Cougars football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
QB 13 Steve Birnbaum So
RB 5 Michael Black Sr
RB 24 Jason Clayton Jr
RB 1 DeJuan Gilmore Jr
C 62 Lee Harrison Sr
RB 37 Adam Hawkins Fr
WR 81 Chris Jackson Sr
TE 20 Love Jefferson Jr
QB 16 Ryan Leaf Jr
TE 86 Brenden Marshall Jr
C 76 Jason McEndoo Sr
WR 9 Kevin McKenzie Sr
OT 76 Ryan McShane Sr
WR 45 Shawn McWashington Sr
OT 79 Rob Rainville Jr
WR 82 Nian Taylor So
G 71 Cory Withrow Sr
WR 8 Shawn Tims Sr
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DT 91 Leon Bender Sr
DE 90 Dorian Boose Sr
DE 46 Shane Doyle Sr
CB 3 LeJuan Gibbons So
LB 34 Steve Gleason So
DB 29 Torry Hollimon So
DT 95 Gary Holmes Jr
DB 28 Jermaine Hunsaker Fr
FS 2 Ray Jackson Sr
LB 22 Brandon Moore Sr
CB 6 Dee Moronkola Jr
LB 43 Todd Nelson Jr
SS 25 Duane Stewart Sr
DB 19 Lamont Thompson Fr
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
P 12 Jeff Banks Sr
K 21 Rian Lindell So
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

[17][18]

Game summaries

UCLA
See also: 1997 UCLA Bruins football team
UCLA at Washington State
1 234Total
Bruins (0–0) 7 7137 34
• Cougars (0–0) 3 2770 37
       
Scoring summary
1UCLASkip Hicks 2-yard run (Chris Sailer kick)UCLA 7–0
WSURian Lindell ?-yard field goalUCLA 7–3
214:43UCLASkip Hicks 9-yard run (Chris Sailer kick)UCLA 14–3
11:07WSUMichael Black 17-yard run (Rian Lindell kick)UCLA 14–10
8:13WSUNian Talor 57-yard pass from Ryan Leaf (Rian Lindell kick failed)WSU 16–14
4:35WSURyan Leaf 1-yard run (Rian Lindell kick)WSU 23–14
0:54WSUNian Talor 29-yard pass from Ryan Leaf (Rian Lindell kick failed)WSU 30–14
312:50UCLASkip Hicks 2-yard run (kick failed)WSU 30–21
11:51WSUChris Jackson 78-yard pass from Ryan Leaf (Rian Lindell kick)WSU 37–21
2:22UCLADanny Farmer 6-yard pass from Cade McNown (pass failed)WSU 37–27
414:13UCLASkip Hicks 4-yard run (Chris Sailer kick)WSU 37–34

UCLA took a 14-3 lead early in the second quarter, but Washington State exploded for 27 unanswered points to end the half. The Cougars led by as many as 16 on two occasions, but clung to just a 3-point lead late in the game. UCLA had a 4th and goal from the one-yard line with 2:50 remaining, but the Cougars stood tall to emerge victorious.[19]

At No. 23 USC
See also: 1997 USC Trojans football team
Washington State at USC
1 234Total
• Cougars (1–0) 7 1407 28
No. 23 Trojans (1–0) 0 678 21
   
Scoring summary
14:14WSUMcWashington 3-yard pass from Ryan Leaf (Rian Lindell kick)WSU 7–0
213:27WSUMichael Black 16-yard run (Rian Lindell kick)WSU 14–0
7:12USCM. MacKenzie 1-yard run (Adam Abrams kick blocked)WSU 14–6
0:50WSULove Jefferson 6-yard pass from Ryan Leaf (Rian Lindell kick)WSU 21–6
314:44USCR. Jay Soward 95-yard kickoff return (Adam Abrams kick)WSU 21–13
412:44USCM. Bastianelli 15-yard pass from LaVale Woods (Billy Miller pass)Tied 21–21
4:18WSUKeven McKenzie 51-yard pass from Ryan Leaf (Rian Lindell kick)WSU 28–21

Washington State defeated No. 23 USC in Los Angeles for the first time since 1957.[20][21]

At Illinois
See also: 1997 Illinois Fighting Illini football team
Washington State at Illinois
1 234Total
• No. 19 Cougars (2–0) 7 0721 35
Fighting Illini (0–2) 0 778 22

[22]

Boise State
See also: 1997 Boise State Broncos football team
Boise State at Washington State
1 234Total
Broncos (2–2) 0 000 0
• No. 15 Cougars (3–0) 14 171710 58

[23]

At Oregon
See also: 1997 Oregon Ducks football team
Washington State at Oregon
1 234Total
• No. 15 Cougars (4–0) 7 773 24
Ducks (3–1) 0 3010 13

California
See also: 1997 California Golden Bears football team

[24]

Arizona
See also: 1997 Arizona Wildcats football team

[25]

At No. 20 Arizona State
See also: 1997 Arizona State Sun Devils football team
Washington State at Arizona State
1 234Total
No. 10 Cougars (7–0) 0 71014 31
• No. 20 Sun Devils (5–2) 7 17020 44
        
Scoring summary
1ASULenzie Jackson 13-yard pass from Ryan Kealy (Nycz kick)ASU 7–0
2ASUKenny Mitchell 8-yard pass from Ryan Kealy (Nycz kick)ASU 14–0
ASUNycz FGASU 17–0
7:43ASUTD pass from Ryan Kealy (Nycz kick)ASU 24–0
WSUTD pass from Ryan Leaf (Rian Lindell kick)ASU 24–7
3ASURian Lindell 43-yard field goalASU 24–10
1:17WSUDeJuan Gilmore 2-yard run (Rian Lindell kick)ASU 24–17
413:18WSUShawn McWashington 11-yard pass from Ryan Leaf (Ryan Leaf run)WSU 25–24
9:57ASUTariq McDonald 5-yard pass from Ryan Kealy (conversion failed)ASU 30–25
2:55ASUHamilton Mee 66-yard fumble return (Nycz kick)ASU 37–25
2:32ASUDerrick Ford fumble recovery in end zone (Nycz kick)ASU 44–25
WSUTD pass from Ryan Leaf (Rian Lindell kick)ASU 44–31

After trailing 24–0 midway through the second quarter, Washington State rallied to take a 25–24 lead early in the fourth quarter. After Arizona State answered with a touchdown, the Cougars were driving again. However, the Cougars were doomed by two late fumbles that were both returned for touchdowns.[26]

Southwestern Louisiana
See also: 1997 Southwestern Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team

[27]

Stanford
See also: 1997 Stanford Cardinal football team

[28]

At No. 20 Washington
See also: 1997 Washington Huskies football team

[29]

Vs. No. 1 Michigan (Rose Bowl)
Main article: 1998 Rose Bowl
See also: 1997 Michigan Wolverines football team
Washington State vs. Michigan
(1998 Rose Bowl)
1 234Total
No. 8 Cougars (10–1) 7 063 16
• No. 1 Wolverines (11–0) 0 777 21
  
Scoring summary
13:17WSUKevin McKenzie 15-yard pass from Ryan Leaf (Rian Lindell kick)WSU 7–0
27:08MICHTai Streets 53-yard pass from Brian Griese (Jay Feely kick)Tied 7–7
38:23WSUShawn Tims 14-yard run (kick failed)WSU 13–7
5:07MICHTai Streets 58-yard pass from Brian Griese (Kraig Baker kick)MICH 14–13
411:21MICHJerame Tuman 23-yard pass from Brian Griese (Kraig Baker kick)MICH 21–13
7:25WSURian Lindell 48-yard field goalMICH 21–16

[30]

Awards and honors

NFL Draft

Four Cougars were selected in the 1998 NFL Draft; quarterback Ryan Leaf was taken second overall.

Player Position Round Overall Franchise
Ryan LeafQB12San Diego Chargers
Leon BenderDT231Oakland Raiders
Dorian BooseDT256New York Jets
Jason McEndooT7197Seattle Seahawks

[14][16][31]

References
  1. de Leon, Virginia; Sorensen, Eric (November 23, 1997). "A Wazzu bouquet". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. A1.
  2. Grummert, Dale (January 2, 1998). "Cougs fall one miracle short". Lewiston Morning Tribune. p. 1A.
  3. Kearney, Trevor (January 2, 1998). "A Rose to remember". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. (Idaho-Washington). p. 1B.
  4. Rosenblatt, Richard (January 2, 1998). "Michigan's No. 1 bid blooms". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. p. 1C.
  5. "1997 Washington State Cougars Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  6. "2016 Media Guide" (PDF). WSUCougars.com. Washington State Cougars Athletics. p. 77. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 21, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  7. "1997 Washington State Cougars Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  8. "1997 Washington State Cougars Stats".
  9. Grummert, Dale (January 1, 1998). "Moment of truth". Lewiston Morning Tribune. p. 1B.
  10. Richardson, Vince (January 1, 2003). "The game has arrived". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. (Idaho-Washington). p. 1B.
  11. Grummert, Dale (January 2, 2003). "A thorny sendoff". Lewiston Morning Tribune. p. 1B.
  12. Grummert, Dale (January 3, 1998). "Change of venue". Lewiston Morning Tribune. p. 1B.
  13. Bruscas, Angelo (January 3, 1998). "Cougars' Leaf bound for NFL". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). (Seattle Post-Intelligencer). p. 3D.
  14. "Manning No. 1, Leaf gladly No. 2". Lewiston Morning Tribune. staff and wire reports. April 19, 1998. p. 1B.
  15. "Indianapolis snaps up Manning at No. 1". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. April 19, 1998. p. 1G.
  16. Jewell, Mark (April 20, 1998). "Draft goes over well in Pullman". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. (Idaho-Washington). Associated Press. p. 1C.
  17. "Oregon Outlook". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). October 4, 1997. p. 4D.
  18. "Stanford at WSU: stat leaders". Lewiston Morning Tribune. November 15, 1997. p. 4B.
  19. "No More Please, Bruins Stuffed". The Los Angeles Times. August 31, 1997. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  20. "It Was a History-Making Event for Cougars". The Los Angeles Times. September 14, 1997. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  21. "The Catch. The Block. Vanquishing History". WSU Athletics. September 1, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  22. "Cougs Wake Up In Time Illinois Can't Capitalize On WSU's Sloppy Play". The Spokesman-Review. September 21, 1997. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  23. "Cougs Win, No Sweat Unbeaten WSU Outmuscles Boise State". The Spokesman-Review. September 28, 1997. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  24. "Cougars Get It Done Quickly". The Los Angeles Times. October 19, 1997. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  25. "Wildcats Go for Broke, Fall Short". The Los Angeles Times. October 26, 1997. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  26. "Sun Devils Turn Over a Leaf in Pac-10". The Los Angeles Times. November 2, 1997. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  27. "Washington St. Rights Itself With 77-7 Win". The Los Angeles Times. November 9, 1997. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  28. "Washington St. Still Standing". The Los Angeles Times. November 16, 1997. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  29. "Leaf Has Turned in Washington". The Los Angeles Times. November 23, 1997. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  30. "'Mistake' Costs WSU Final Play". The Washington Post. January 2, 1998. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  31. "1998 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2007.
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