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1997 Marshall Thundering Herd football team
American college football season
American college football season
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| year | 1997 |
| team | Marshall Thundering Herd |
| sport | football |
| conference | Mid-American Conference |
| division | East Division |
| short_conf | MAC |
| record | 10–3 |
| conf_record | 7–1 |
| head_coach | Bob Pruett |
| hc_year | 2nd |
| cooff_coach1 | Gunter Brewer |
| cooc1_year | 2nd |
| cooff_coach2 | Tim Nunez |
| cooc2_year | 1st |
| def_coach | Kevin Kelly |
| dc_year | 2nd |
| captain | John Wade |
| captain2 | Brian Reed |
| captain3 | Chad Pennington |
| captain4 | Thomas Maxwell |
| captain5 | B. J. Cohen |
| captain6 | Larry McCloud |
| stadium | Marshall University Stadium |
| champion | MAC champion |
| MAC East Division champion | |
| conf_champ | [MAC Championship Game](1997-mac-championship-game) |
| conf_champ_result | W 34–14 vs. [Toledo](1997-toledo-rockets-football-team) |
| bowl | [Motor City Bowl](1997-motor-city-bowl) |
| bowl_result | L 31–34 vs. [Ole Miss](1997-ole-miss-rebels-football-team) |
MAC East Division champion
The 1997 Marshall Thundering Herd football team represented Marshall University as a member of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by second-year head coach Bob Pruett, the Thundering Herd compiled an overall record of 10–3 with a mark of 7–1 in conference play, winning the MAC's East Division title. Marshall beat Toledo in MAC Championship Game to win the conference championship and then lost to Ole Miss in the Motor City Bowl.
After winning the Southern Conference (SoCon) tile and the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship in 1996, Marshall returned to NCAA Division I-A play for the first time since 1981 and the MAC for the time since 1968. The Thundering Herd played home games at Marshall University Stadium in Huntington, West Virginia.
Wide receiver Randy Moss and quarterback Chad Pennington were the centerpiece of an explosive offense. Moss caught 26 touchdown passes, at the time an NCAA Division I-A record, and was a unanimous first-team All-American. For the season, Moss had 96 receptions for 1,820 yards, won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation's best wide receiver, and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, finishing fourth in the balloting, behind Ryan Leaf, Peyton Manning, and Charles Woodson, who won the award. Moss left Marshall with 168 receptions for 3,467 yards and a school record 53 touchdowns in two seasons.
The Herd became only the second team to win a conference championship in its first NCAA Division I-A (now FBS) season, following the 1992 Nevada Wolf Pack football team that won the Big West Conference. The feat was not repeated until 2014, when Georgia Southern won the Sun Belt Conference title.
Schedule
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Game summaries
At West Virginia
Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV
After trailing 28–3, the Thundering Herd scored 28 straight to take a 31–28 lead into the 4th quarter. West Virginia responded with two fourth quarter touchdowns to win this much anticipated season opener, 42–31. Randy Moss had seven receptions for 85 yards and two touchdowns.
At Army
Michie Stadium West Point, NY
Randy Moss had five receptions for 186 yards and two touchdowns, highlighted by a 90-yard touchdown midway through the first quarter.
At Kent State
Dix Stadium Kent, OH
Randy Moss hauled in 8 receptions for 216 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Western Illinois
Marshall Stadium Huntington, WV
Randy Moss had 5 receptions for 52 yards and 2 touchdowns.
At Ball State
Ball State Stadium Muncie, IN
Randy Moss caught 13 passes for 205 yards and a school-record 5 touchdowns.
Akron
Marshall Stadium Huntington, WV
Randy Moss had 6 receptions for 107 yards and 2 touchdowns.
At Miami (OH)
Yager Stadium Oxford, OH
Randy Moss had 10 receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown.
Eastern Michigan
Marshall Stadium Huntington, WV
Randy Moss had 8 receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown.
At Central Michigan
Mount Pleasant, MI
Randy Moss had 7 receptions for 193 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Bowling Green
Marshall Stadium Huntington, WV
Randy Moss had 7 receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown.
Ohio
Marshall Stadium Huntington, WV
Randy Moss had seven receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown.
Toledo (MAC Championship game)
Marshall Stadium Huntington, WV
Randy Moss had seven receptions for 170 yards and three touchdowns.
Vs. Ole Miss (Motor City Bowl)
Pontiac Silverdome Pontiac, MI
Playing in its first bowl game since the 1948 Tangerine Bowl, Marshall lost a back-and-forth matchup with Ole Miss. Randy Moss had 6 receptions for 173 yards and a touchdown, including an 80-yard bomb from Chad Pennington, in his final collegiate game.
Roster
Awards and honors
- Randy Moss – Fred Biletnikoff Award, Heisman Trophy Finalist (4th in Voting), Unanimous First-Team All-American, MAC Offensive Player of the Year
Team players in the 1998 NFL draft
References
References
- Carter, Bob. "Moves, Emotions Have Moss Causin' a Commotion". [[ESPN]].
- (August 31, 1997). "West Virginia survives rally by Marshall". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- (December 27, 1997). "New bowl, Ole Miss". Detroit Free Press.
- (August 20, 1997). "Top Of His Game". [[Los Angeles Times]].
- (August 25, 1997). "Cut Off From The Herd Randy Moss, The Most Gifted Player In College Football, Is Leading The Revival Of A Marshall Program Still Haunted By A Devastating 1970 Plane Crash".
- (August 31, 1997). "Marshall Makes It Close". [[Los Angeles Times]].
- (September 7, 1997). "Army Gets Thumped by Moss and His Teammates". [[The New York Times]].
- (September 7, 1997). "Marshall Rolls As Army Can't Gather Moss". [[The Washington Post]].
- (September 19, 1997). "Western Illinois-Marshall Game Provides A Variety Of Attractions". [[Chicago Tribune]].
- (May 22, 2015). "Gallery: Marshall vs. Western Illinois, Sept. 20, 1997". [[The Herald-Dispatch]].
- (September 28, 1997). "A High Five for Moss in Marshall Win". [[Los Angeles Times]].
- (November 16, 1997). "Marshall Thrashes Ohio U. For Title". [[The Washington Post]].
- Rhoden, William C.. (November 21, 1997). "The Best Campaign For the Heisman Is . . .". [[The New York Times]].
- (November 23, 1997). "Moss Herds Thundering Marshall Return". [[Los Angeles Times]].
- (December 6, 1997). "Moss Sets Touchdown Record as Marshall Beats Toledo, 34-14". [[Los Angeles Times]].
- (December 14, 1997). "The Grand Marshall". [[Los Angeles Times]].
- (December 27, 1997). "N.C.A.A.: Football -- Motor City Bowl; Mississippi Captures Wild One". [[The New York Times]].
- (December 27, 1997). "Mississippi Tops Marshall In A Seesaw Battle, 34-31". [[The Washington Post]].
- "Home".
- "1998 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference.
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