Home Page | 1997 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team
The 1997 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by first-year head coach Bob Davie, the Fighting Irish compiled a record of 7–6 with a loss to LSU in the Independence Bowl. The team played home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.
Despite having a new coach, the Irish had high expectations before the 1997 season, and were ranked eleventh in the pre-season polls. Led by fifth–year senior quarterback Ron Powlus, a running back crew of Autry Denson, Tony Driver, and Joey Goodspeed, a wide receiving corps of Joey Getherall, Bobby Brown, and Malcolm Johnson, and on defense by cornerback Allen Rossum, the Irish looked to have a good enough team to challenge to be in the top-10. The Irish began the Davie era at home, playing Georgia Tech in the newly renovated Notre Dame Stadium. The Irish christened the stadium with a close win over the Yellow Jackets that was sparked by a renewed running game and key defensive stops late in the game. With the close win, the Irish showed their weakness and dropped a spot in the national ranking. The next week, at Purdue, though the Irish had 457 total yards, they only managed 17 points. With key mistakes on offense and a confused defense, the Irish lost 28–17 and dropped out of the rankings. With losses against Michigan State, at Michigan, and at Stanford, the Irish were suddenly 1–4 and struggling to find an offense. Offensive coordinator, Jim Colletto, took most of the flak for the struggles.
The Irish looked to be getting back on track with a trip to face Pittsburgh. With a renewed running game, the Irish beat the struggling Panthers by 24, however, with the offense struggling once again in their next game, a loss to rival University of Southern California (USC), the Irish hit, what was called, "rock bottom." With a slight quarterback controversy, the Irish next faced Boston College. Though backup quarterback Jarious Jackson played 21 downs, Powlus led the Irish with 267 passing yards to rout the Eagles and put the Irish offense back on track. With a last minute win over Navy the next week, the Irish moved to 4–5 and would need to win their final three games to become bowl eligible.
The Irish next went to LSU to face the 11th-ranked Tigers. Looked to be outmatched, the Irish didn't commit a penalty all game, had no turnovers, and didn't give up any plays longer than one 28 yard pass, to upset the Tigers and move back to 5–5 on the season. The Irish then faced 22nd ranked West Virginia for their final home game. With the game tied late in the fourth quarter, Powlus led the Irish on a drive that was capped by his final touchdown pass at Notre Dame Stadium for the game-winning touchdown. With the win the Irish beat ranked opponents on consecutive Saturdays for the first time since 1992, and with the last minute win at Hawaii the next week, the Irish moved to 7–5 and were bowl eligible. Once again facing LSU in Louisiana, in the [ndependence Bowl, this time with the Tigers ranked 15th, LSU dominated on offense and beat the Irish 27–9. Though the Irish finished with a loss, the 7–6 record was the biggest Irish turn around in team history.
By the end of the season, Powlus set a single season Irish record for pass attempts and completions. He would leave Notre Dame with 20 individual records, including career passing yards, attempts, completions and touchdowns, all marks that would finally be eclipsed almost ten years later by future Irish quarterback Brady Quinn. Cornerback Allen Rossum, who also served as the Irish kick returner, set an NCAA single season record with nine returns (three each of interceptions, punts, and kickoffs) for touchdowns. He would also leave Notre Dame with the Irish all-time leading kick return average (23.5 yards per return). Autry Denson's 1268 rushing yards were fourth in the Irish single season record and moved him to third on the Irish all-time list in career rushing yards.
Ranking movements Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked
Week
Poll
Pre
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Final
AP
11
11
11
12
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Coaches
12
13
15
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Game summaries
Navy
Navy Midshipmen at Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
Navy
7
3
7
0
17
Notre Dame
7
0
7
7
21
at Notre Dame Stadium • South Bend, Indiana
Date: November 1
Game time: 1:30 p.m.
TV: NBC
Notre Dame Football Archives
Game information
Navy
Chris McCoy 147 Rush Yds, 2 TD
Notre Dame
Ron Powlus 7/17, 99 Yds, TD
Autry Denson 125 Rush Yds
Allen Rossum knocked Pat McGrew out at the two-yard line on a Hail Mary pass to preserve Notre Dame's 34th straight win over Navy
Scoring summary
Quarter
Time
Drive
Team
Scoring information
Score
Plays
Yards
TOP
NAVY
ND
1
12:02
60
Navy
Chris McCoy 9-yard touchdown run, Tom Vanderhorst kick good
7
0
1
4:37
2
Notre Dame
Bobby Brown 14-yard touchdown reception from Ron Powlus, Cengia kick good
7
7
2
8:07
8
30
Navy
22-yard field goal by Tom Vanderhorst
10
7
3
13:36
Notre Dame
Autry Denson 48-yard touchdown run, Cengia kick good
10
14
3
2:59
Navy
Chris McCoy 2-yard touchdown run, Vanderhorst kick good
17
14
4
5:48
17
7:30
Notre Dame
Autry Denson 5-yard touchdown run, Cengia kick good
17
21
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
17
21
Roster
1997 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Pos.
#
Name
Class
RB
28
Ken Barry
Sr
WR
88
Bobby Brown
So
QB
8
Eric Chappell
So
RB
23
Autry Denson
Jr
TE
84
Mike Denvir
Sr
OT
73
Mike Doughty
Sr
WR
18
Joey Getherall
Fr
TE
87
Jabari Holloway
Fr
QB
7
Jarious Jackson
So
WR
11
Jay Johnson
So
WR
6
Malcolm Johnson
Sr
WR
9
Raki Nelson
So
OT
54
Luke Petitgout
Jr
QB
3
Ron Powlus
Sr
TE
89
Tim Ridder
Jr
G
79
Mike Rosenthal
Jr
RB
33
Jamie Spencer
Jr
RB
32
Clement Stokes
Sr
OT
71
Jerry Wisne
Jr
Defense
Pos.
#
Name
Class
DE
56
Kurt Belisle
Sr
DT
95
Corey Bennett
Sr
S
1
Deke Cooper
So
CB
14
Ivory Covington
Sr
DE
51
Melvin Dansby
Sr
LB
13
Jimmy Friday
Jr
S
2
Benny Guilbeaux
Jr
LB
27
Bobbie Howard
Jr
DE
85
Antwon Jones
Jr
LB
4
Kory Minor
Jr
CB
15
Allen Rossum
Sr
S
5
A'Jani Sanders
Jr
DE
77
Brad Williams
So
CB
1
Brock Williams
Fr
Special teams
Pos.
#
Name
Class
K
12
Scott Cengia
Sr
K
Kevin Kopka
K
19
Jim Sanson
So
P
17
Hunter Smith
Jr
Head coach
Bob Davie
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Jim Colletto (OC)
Greg Mattison (DC)
Charlie Strong (DL)
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
Roster Last update: 1997-10-09
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