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1997 Michigan State Spartans football team

The 1997 Michigan State Spartans football team competed on behalf of Michigan State University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1997 Big Ten Conference football season. Led by third-year head coach Nick Saban, the Spartans compiled an overall record of 7–5 with a mark of 4–4 in conference play, tying for sixth place in the Big Ten. Michigan State was invited to the Aloha Bowl, where they lost, 51–23, on December 25 to Washington. The team played home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.

1997 Michigan State Spartans football
Aloha Bowl, L 23–51 vs. Washington
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record7–5 (4–4 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorGary Tranquill (3rd season)
Offensive schemePro set
Defensive coordinatorDean Pees (3rd season)
Base defense4–3
MVPIke Reese
CaptainIke Reese, Scott Shaw
Home stadiumSpartan Stadium
Seasons
← 1996
1998 →
1997 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 1 Michigan $   8 – 0     12 – 0  
No. 12 Ohio State   6 – 2     10 – 3  
No. 16 Penn State   6 – 2     9 – 3  
No. 15 Purdue   6 – 2     9 – 3  
Wisconsin   5 – 3     8 – 5  
Iowa   4 – 4     7 – 5  
Michigan State   4 – 4     7 – 5  
Northwestern   3 – 5     5 – 7  
Minnesota   1 – 7     3 – 9  
Indiana   1 – 7     2 – 9  
Illinois   0 – 8     0 – 11  
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule

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DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 612:30 p.m.Western Michigan*No. 25
ESPN PlusW 42–1072,317
September 131:00 p.m.Memphis*No. 21
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
W 51–2172,131
September 201:30 p.m.at Notre Dame*No. 17
NBCW 23–780,225
October 41:00 p.m.Minnesota No. 12
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
W 31–1075,263
October 1112:30 p.m.at IndianaNo. 11
ESPN2W 38–635,082
October 183:30 p.m.at NorthwesternNo. 12
ABCL 17–1947,129
October 2512:30 p.m.No. 5 MichiganNo. 15
ESPNL 7–2379,687
November 13:30 p.m.No. 9 Ohio StateNo. 21
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
ABCL 13–3774,903
November 812:30 p.m.at No. 24 Purdue
ESPN2L 21–2255,539
November 222:00 p.m.at Illinois
W 27–1730,087
November 291:00 p.m.No. 4 Penn State
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI (rivalry)
ABCW 49–1473,623
December 253:30 p.m.vs. No. 21 Washington*No. 25
ABCL 23–5134,419
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Rankings

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See also: 1997 NCAA Division I-A football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516Final
AP2525252117121211121521————2525—
Coaches——2318131311111420—————25—

Game summaries

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Notre Dame

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1 234Total
• Michigan St 14 333 23
Notre Dame 0 700 7
Scoring summary
Q112:28MSUKeur 5 yard pass from Schultz (Gardner kick)MSU 7–0
Q14:47MSUSchultz 1 yard run (Gardner kick)MSU 14–0
Q26:28MSUGardner 31 yard field goalMSU 17–0
Q2:27NDBrown 7 yard pass from Powlus (Sanson kick)MSU 17–7
Q37:12MSUGardner 32 yard field goalMSU 20–7
Q46:26MSUGardner 31 yard field goalMSU 23–7

[1]

Michigan State's first win versus Notre Dame since 1986.

Coaching staff

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1998 NFL Draft

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The following players were selected in the 1998 NFL draft.

Player Round Pick Position NFL team
Flozell Adams 2 38 Offensive tackle Dallas Cowboys
Ike Reese 5 142 Linebacker Philadelphia Eagles
Scott Shaw 5 143 Offensive guard Miami Dolphins

References

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  1. ^ "Michigan State vs. Notre Dame". USA Today. September 20, 1997. Retrieved August 17, 2014.


 

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