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1997 Tennessee Volunteers football team

American college football season

Field	Value
year	1997
team	Tennessee Volunteers
sport	football
image	Tennessee Volunteers logo.svg
image_size	125
conference	Southeastern Conference
division	Eastern Division
short_conf	SEC
CoachRank	8
APRank	7
record	11–2
conf_record	7–1
head_coach	Phillip Fulmer
hc_year	5th
off_coach	David Cutcliffe
oc_year	5th
off_scheme	Pro-style
def_coach	John Chavis
dc_year	3rd
def_scheme	[Multiple 4–3](4-3-defense)
captain	Leonard Little
captain2	Peyton Manning
stadium	Neyland Stadium
champion	SEC champion
SEC Eastern Division champion
conf_champ	[SEC Championship Game](1997-sec-championship-game)
conf_champ_result	W 30–29 vs. [Auburn](1997-auburn-tigers-football-team)
bowl	[Orange Bowl](1998-orange-bowl) (BA NCG)
bowl_result	L 17–42 vs. [Nebraska](1997-nebraska-cornhuskers-football-team)

SEC Eastern Division champion The 1997 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee as a member of the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Phillip Fulmer, the Volunteers compiled an overall record of 11–2 with a mark of 7–1, winning the SEC's Eastern Division title. Tennessee advanced to the SEC Championship Game, where the Volunteers defeated Auburn to capture the conference championship. Tennessee was then invited to the Orange Bowl, which served as the Bowl Alliance's national title game. There the Volunteers lost to Nebraska. The team played home games at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.

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 he returned to Tennessee for his senior year. 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. 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. The No. 3 Vols were matched up with No. 2 Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. Had Tennessee won and top-ranked Michigan lost against Washington State in the Rose Bowl, the Vols would have been expected to win the national championship. 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. 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 cornerback for Michigan and one of only two defensive players ever to win the award (the other being Travis Hunter in 2024).

Schedule

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Rankings

Game summaries

Texas Tech

Source: Box score

At UCLA

Source: Box score

At Florida

First quarter

UF – Jamie Richardson 11-yard pass from Doug Johnson (Collins Cooper kick), 9:43. Florida 7–0.
UF – Tony George 88-yard interception return (Collins Cooper kick), 0:15. Florida 14–0. Second quarter
UT – Jermaine Copeland 22-yard pass from Peyton Manning (Jeff Hall kick), 1:33. Florida 14–7.
UF – Jacquez Green 19-yard pass from Doug Johnson (kick failed), 0:45. Florida 20–7. Third quarter
UF – Collins Cooper 37-yard field goal, 8:33. Florida 23–7.
UF – Collins Cooper 40-yard field goal, 3:44. Florida 26–7.
UT – Jermaine Copeland 8-yard pass from Peyton Manning (Jeff Hall kick), 2:32. Florida 26–14. Fourth quarter
UF – Taran Ross 30-yard pass from Doug Johnson (Collins Cooper kick), 6:23. Florida 33–14.
UT – Cedrick Wilson 16-yard pass from Peyton Manning (pass failed), 2:21. Florida 33–20. ;Top passers
UT – Peyton Manning – 29/51, 353 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
UF – Doug Johnson – 14/32, 261 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT ;Top rushers
UT – Mark Levine – 4 rushes, 27 yards
UF – Fred Taylor – 17 rushes, 134 yards ;Top receivers
UT – Andy McCullough – 5 receptions, 105 yards
UF – Jacquez Green – 8 receptions, 185 yards, TD

Ole Miss

Source: Box score

Georgia

Source: Box score

At Alabama

Source: Box score

South Carolina

Source: Box score

Southern Miss

Source: Box score

At Arkansas

Source: Box score

At Kentucky

Source: Box score

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).

Vanderbilt

Vs. Auburn

Main article: 1997 SEC Championship Game

Source: Box score

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.

Vs. Nebraska (Orange Bowl)

Main article: 1998 Orange Bowl

Roster

David Cutcliffe – Offensive coordinator/assistant head coach/quarterbacks
Randy Sanders – Running backs/recruiting coordinator
Pat Washington – Wide receivers
Rodney Garner – Tight ends/offensive tackles
Mark Bradley – Offensive line
John Chavis – Defensive coordinator/linebackers
Dan Brooks – Defensive line
Kevin Ramsey – Defensive backs
Steve Caldwell – Special teams/defensive ends
Kurt Roper – Graduate assistant

Awards and honors

Peyton Manning, consensus first-team All-American
Peyton Manning, Maxwell Award winner
Peyton Manning, Davey O'Brien Award winner
Peyton Manning, James E. Sullivan Award
Peyton Manning, Johnny Unitas Award winner
Peyton Manning, Best College Football Player ESPY Award winner
Peyton Manning, runner-up, Heisman Trophy

Team players drafted into the NFL

Main article: 1998 NFL draft

Tennessee had eight players selected in the 1998 NFL Draft.

Cory Gaines	Safety	7	231	Indianapolis Colts

References

(September 3, 1997). "Nothing to Prove; Manning Made His Decision to Stay at Tennessee, and the Rest Is History". [[Los Angeles Times]].
(1997-09-01). "TENN. JUMPS TO NO. 3 IN POLL". Washington Post.
(September 7, 1997). "UCLA Rallies in Second Half Against Tennessee, but Comes Up Short for Second Week in a Row, 30–24". [[Los Angeles Times]].
Rhoden, William C.. (September 21, 1997). "Manning's Nightmare Continues". [[The New York Times]].
Sallee, Barrett. (August 24, 2012). "Classic SEC Football: Tennessee Tops Auburn in the 1997 SEC Championship Game".
Fulmer, Phillip. (1999). "A Perfect Season". Rutledge Hill Press.
MacCambridge, Michael. (2005). "ESPN College Football Encyclopedia". ESPN Books.
MacCambridge, Michael. (2005). "ESPN College Football Encyclopedia". ESPN Books.
MacCambridge, Michael. (2005). "ESPN College Football Encyclopedia". ESPN Books.
"The 2005 ESPY Awards – ESPY Awards past winners". ESPN.
"1997 Heisman Trophy".
(August 31, 1997). "Vols crush Red Raiders". The Odessa American.
Dilbeck, Steve. (September 7, 1997). "Bruins rally comes up short against Tennessee". The San Bernardino County Sun.
(September 21, 1997). "Chokehold stymies Vols". Chicago Tribune.
(October 5, 1997). "Vols heat up after halftime, beat Ole Miss". Bristol Herald Courier.
(October 12, 1997). "No. 9 Volunteers romp past soaked Bulldogs". Anderson Independent-Mail.
(October 19, 1997). "Tennessee waltz, Manning leads 3rd straight win over Alabama". The Tennessean.
Morris, Dan. (November 2, 1997). "Vols back in control". The Jackson Sun.
(November 9, 1997). "Manning's five touchdown lead Volunteers". The Shreveport Times.
(November 16, 1997). "Tennessee holds off game Arkansas". The Commercial Appeal.
(November 23, 1997). "Manning leads Vols past UK in 59–31 win". The State Journal.
(November 30, 1997). "Lewis leads Vols past Vandy". The State.
(December 7, 1997). "Volunteers win SEC title, await their bowl destiny". The Courier-Journal.
(January 3, 1998). "Tie-tle; Huskers, Michigan are co-champions". The Kansas City Star.
(September 6, 1997). "Tennessee 30, UCLA 24". [[United Press International.
(September 21, 1997). "No. 3 Gators Find Willing Volunteers". [[Los Angeles Times]].
(November 17, 1997). "Tennessee Survives Scare in Arkansas".
(November 23, 1997). "Manning Passes for 523 Yards in Tennessee Win". [[The Los Angeles Times]].
(November 30, 1997). "Vols win division crown, want more". [[The Tampa Bay Times]].
(December 7, 1997). "Too Close for Comfort". [[The Los Angeles Times]].
Moran, Malcolm. (2018-04-09). "Nebraska's Osborne Bids Farewell With Big Victory".
"AAU Sullivan Award".
"1997 Heisman Trophy Voting".
"1998 NFL Draft Listing".
Freeman, Mike. (1998-04-19). "N.F.L. DRAFT DAY '98; Colts Agonize to the End, Then Pick Manning".
(2002-04-20). "Tennessee: Three First Rounders in Top 15 NFL Draft Selections".

Info: Wikipedia Source

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