1997 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
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

The 1997 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky as a member of the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by first-year head coach Hal Mumme, the Wildcats compiled an overall record of 5–6 with a mark of 2–6 in conference place, placing fifth in the SEC's Eastern Division. The team played home games at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
August 301:30 p.m.Louisville*
W 38–2459,186[1]
September 612:30 p.m.at Mississippi State
JPS[2]L 27–3530,121[3]
September 202:00 p.m.at Indiana*
W 49–741,149[4]
September 273:30 p.m.No. 1 Florida
  • Commonwealth Stadium
  • Lexington, KY (rivalry)
CBS[2]L 28–5559,224[5]
October 47:00 p.m.No. 20 Alabama
  • Commonwealth Stadium
  • Lexington, KY
PPVW 40–34 OT59,226[6]
October 1112:30 p.m.at South Carolina
JPS[2]L 24–3875,936[7]
October 187:00 p.m.Northeast Louisiana*
  • Commonwealth Stadium
  • Lexington, KY
W 49–1457,500[8]
October 253:30 p.m.at No. 16 Georgia
CBS[2]L 13–2385,672[9]
November 16:30 p.m.No. 16 LSU
  • Commonwealth Stadium
  • Lexington, KY
ESPN2[2]L 28–6358,450[10]
November 152:00 p.m.at Vanderbilt
W 21–1040,256[11]
November 2212:30 p.m.No. 5 Tennessee
  • Commonwealth Stadium
  • Lexington, KY (rivalry)
ESPN2/JPS[2]L 31–5961,076[12]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[13]

Game summaries

Louisville

1 2 3 4 Total
Cardinals 0 3 14 7 24
Wildcats 21 0 7 10 38
StatisticsLOUUK
First downs2515
Total yards519291
Rushing yards12187
Passing yards398204
Passing: comp–att–int17–28–236–50–1
Turnovers14
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LouisvillePassingChris Redman17/28, 204 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
RushingOtis Floyd14 rushes, 62 yards, TD
ReceivingRico Williams3 receptions, 82 yards
KentuckyPassingTim Couch36/50, 398 yards, 4 TD, INT
RushingAnthony White16 rushes, 94 yards, TD
ReceivingKio Sanford6 receptions, 120 yards, TD

At Mississippi State

1 2 3 4 Total
Wildcats 7 14 6 0 27
Bulldogs 3 7 12 13 35
StatisticsUKMSST
First downs2316
Total yards377282
Rushing yards-1170
Passing yards378112
Passing: comp–att–int40–62–16–21–1
Turnovers21
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
KentuckyPassingTim Couch39/61, 349 yards, 4 TD, INT
RushingAnthony White7 rushes, 55 yards
ReceivingKevin Coleman5 receptions, 89 yards, TD
Mississippi StatePassingMatt Wyatt6/21, 112 yards, TD, INT
RushingJames Johnson19 rushes, 69 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingKevin Prentiss1 reception, 47 yards, TD

At Indiana

1 2 3 4 Total
Wildcats 7 14 28 0 49
Hoosiers 0 0 0 7 7
StatisticsUKIU
First downs3123
Total yards546335
Rushing yards17947
Passing yards367288
Passing: comp–att–int29–39–028–45–2
Turnovers14
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
KentuckyPassingTim Couch24/32, 334 yards, 7 TD
RushingAnthony White16 rushes, 131 yards
ReceivingKio Sanford4 receptions, 99 yards, TD
IndianaPassingJay Rodgers28/45, 288 yards, 2 INT
RushingJason Spear12 rushes, 25 yards, TD
ReceivingJason Spear8 receptions, 105 yards

No. 1 Florida

1 2 3 4 Total
No. 1 Gators 28 0 21 6 55
Wildcats 0 7 7 14 28
StatisticsFLAUK
First downs2726
Total yards507470
Rushing yards174101
Passing yards333369
Passing: comp–att–int24–37–034–60–3
Turnovers13
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
FloridaPassingDoug Johnson22/34, 286 yards, 5 TD
RushingFred Taylor14 rushes, 126 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingJacquez Green10 receptions, 139 yards, 3 TD
KentuckyPassingTim Couch33/59, 348 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT
RushingAnthony White14 rushes, 79 yards, TD
ReceivingCraig Yeast10 receptions, 125 yards

No. 20 Alabama

1 2 3 4OT Total
No. 20 Crimson Tide 7 7 10 100 34
Wildcats 10 3 14 76 40
StatisticsALAUK
First downs2023
Total yards410457
Rushing yards239102
Passing yards171355
Passing: comp–att–int16–28–032–49–3
Turnovers14
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
AlabamaPassingFreddie Kitchens13/24, 125 yards, 2 TD
RushingCurtis Alexander15 rushes, 120 yards, TD
ReceivingChad Goss3 receptions, 59 yards, TD
KentuckyPassingTim Couch32/49, 355 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT
RushingAnthony White15 rushes, 117 yards
ReceivingDerek Homer3 receptions, 103 yards, TD

At South Carolina

1 2 3 4 Total
Wildcats 14 7 3 0 24
Gamecocks 0 24 7 7 38
StatisticsUKSCAR
First downs2324
Total yards426427
Rushing yards132204
Passing yards294223
Passing: comp–att–int31–46–115–27–0
Turnovers20
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
KentuckyPassingTim Couch31/46, 294 yards, 2 TD, INT
RushingDerek Homer10 rushes, 107 yards
ReceivingKevin Coleman8 receptions, 87 yards
South CarolinaPassingAnthony Wright15/27, 223 yards, 3 TD
RushingBoo Williams24 rushes, 93 yards
ReceivingJermale Kelly3 receptions, 59 yards, 2 TD

Northeast Louisiana

1 2 3 4 Total
Indians 0 7 7 0 14
Wildcats 21 14 7 7 49
StatisticsNELAUK
First downs1431
Total yards218586
Rushing yards137126
Passing yards81460
Passing: comp–att–int10–24–137–48–1
Turnovers11
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Northeast LouisianaPassingJason Grein4/6, 43 yards, TD
RushingMarquis Williams15 rushes, 54 yards
ReceivingMarty Booker2 receptions, 38 yards
KentuckyPassingTim Couch34/43, 428 yards, 6 TD, INT
RushingAnthony White11 rushes, 60 yards
ReceivingLance Mickelson6 receptions, 131 yards, 3 TD

At No. 16 Georgia

1 2 3 4 Total
Wildcats 0 7 0 6 13
No. 16 Bulldogs 0 14 3 6 23
StatisticsUKUGA
First downs2811
Total yards436275
Rushing yards112220
Passing yards32455
Passing: comp–att–int41–55–35–13–0
Turnovers30
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
KentuckyPassingTim Couch41/55, 324 yards, TD, 3 INT
RushingAnthony White13 rushes, 57 yards
ReceivingDerek Homer5 receptions, 64 yards
GeorgiaPassingMike Bobo5/13, 55 yards
RushingRobert Edwards19 rushes, 186 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingCorey Allen1 reception, 28 yards

No. 16 LSU

1 2 3 4 Total
No. 16 Tigers 12 8 22 21 63
Wildcats 0 21 7 0 28
StatisticsLSUUK
First downs3231
Total yards613529
Rushing yards40099
Passing yards213430
Passing: comp–att–int15–20–042–67–3
Turnovers05
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LSUPassingHerb Tyler15/20, 213 yards, TD
RushingKevin Faulk28 rushes, 212 yards, 5 TD
ReceivingLarry Foster5 receptions, 61 yards
KentuckyPassingTim Couch41/66, 410 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT
RushingAnthony White9 rushes, 63 yards
ReceivingJimmy Robinson8 receptions, 100 yards

At Vanderbilt

1 2 3 4 Total
Wildcats 0 7 7 7 21
Commodores 0 0 10 0 10
StatisticsUKVAN
First downs1311
Total yards234262
Rushing yards6651
Passing yards168211
Passing: comp–att–int17–36–016–32–3
Turnovers05
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
KentuckyPassingTim Couch17/36, 168 yards, TD
RushingDerek Homer6 rushes, 38 yards, TD
ReceivingCraig Yeast6 receptions, 76 yards, TD
VanderbiltPassingDamien Allen16/32, 211 yards, TD, 3 INT
RushingPaul Morgan12 rushes, 49 yards
ReceivingTodd Yoder7 receptions, 94 yards

No. 5 Tennessee

1 2 3 4 Total
No. 5 Volunteers 17 7 21 14 59
Wildcats 7 14 3 7 31
StatisticsTENNUK
First downs3027
Total yards695634
Rushing yards150158
Passing yards545476
Passing: comp–att–int26–36–035–50–3
Turnovers23
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
TennesseePassingPeyton Manning25/35, 523 yards, 5 TD
RushingJamal Lewis21 rushes, 128 yards, 3 TD
ReceivingMarcus Nash7 receptions, 195 yards, 3 TD
KentuckyPassingTim Couch35/50, 476 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT
RushingDerek Homer18 rushes, 137 yards
ReceivingKio Sanford9 receptions, 147 yards, TD

Roster

1997 Kentucky Wildcats football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
QB 2 Tim Couch So
RB 3 Craig Yeast Jr
WR 5 Marvin Love Jr
WR 6 Kio Sanford Sr
RB 32 Anthony White So
C 61 Paul McGonagle Jr
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
CB 4 Littleton Ward Sr
FS 8 Marlon McCree  Fr
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K 9 Marc Samuel Fr
P 19 Jimmy Carter Jr
K 23 Brian Johnson Sr
K, P Seth Hanson Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster


References

  1. ↑ "It's 38–24 for blue sky guys". The Courier-Journal. August 31, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 1998 University of Kentucky Football Media Guide. University of Kentucky Athletics Association. 1998. p. 199.
  3. ↑ "Couch not enough to save Cats". Messenger-Inquirer. September 7, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "UK's Couch throws for seven touchdowns in romp". The Jackson Sun. September 21, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Kentucky closes gap, but UF rolls". The Orlando Sentinel. September 28, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Tidings of great joy - Cats stun Alabama with 40–34 OT victory". Lexington Herald-Leader. October 5, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "USC gets it Wright; Slow start belies strong showing in 38–24 victory". The State. October 12, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Kentucky QB breaks record". The Montgomery Advertiser. October 19, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "UK gambles, but Georgia hits jackpot". Lexington Herald-Leader. October 26, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Kentucky pays for mistakes". Asheville Citizen-Times. November 2, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "A new song in Music City". Lexington Herald-Leader. November 16, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Manning leads Vols past UK in 59–31 win". The State Journal. November 23, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Site is undergoing maintenance".
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_Kentucky_Wildcats_football_team