1997 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

The 1997 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Gamecocks were led by head coach Brad Scott and played their home games in Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina.

1997 South Carolina Gamecocks football
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionEastern Division
Record5–6 (3–5 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJohn Eason (3rd season)
Offensive schemeFast Break
Defensive coordinatorWally Burnham (4th season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumWilliams-Brice Stadium
Seasons
← 1996
1998 →
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

In 1997, South Carolina finished with a final record of 5–6, the first of three consecutive losing seasons ending the 1990s.[1][2]

Schedule

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DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 67:00 p.m.UCF*FSSW 33–3181,908[3]
September 133:30 p.m.at No. 25 GeorgiaCBSL 15–3186,117[4]
September 203:00 p.m.at East Carolina*FSSW 26–038,902[5]
September 2712:30 p.m.at Mississippi StateJPSL 17–3730,120[6]
October 412:30 p.m.No. 9 Auburn
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
JPSL 6–2379,411[7]
October 1112:30 p.m.Kentucky
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
JPSW 38–2475,936[8]
October 187:00 p.m.at ArkansasW 39–1349,178[9]
October 257:00 p.m.Vanderbilt
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
W 35–379,014[10]
November 112:30 p.m.at No. 8 TennesseeJPSL 7–22106,301[11]
November 1512:30 p.m.No. 12 Florida
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC
JPSL 21–4880,072[12]
November 226:00 p.m.Clemson*
  • Williams–Brice Stadium
  • Columbia, SC (rivalry)
ESPN2L 21–4783,700[13]

[14]

Roster

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1997 South Carolina Gamecocks football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense 74 Kevin Rolack OL 6-3 302 Jr. HS Saint George, S.C. (St.George) 78 Travis Whitfield OG 6-4 293 Sr./RS 3VL Honea-Path, S.C. (Belton-Honea Path)
Pos. # Name Class
QB 1 Anthony Wright Jr
RB 4 Boo Williams So
WR 8 Ben Fleming   So
WR 9 Kerry Hood   So
WR 10 Carlos Spikes Fr
FB 11 Jacob Bush So
QB 14 Phil Petty Fr
QB 16 Joey Unitas Sr
QB 17 Victor Penn   Fr
QB 18 Kevin Sides Jr
RB 19 Troy Hambrick So
WR 21 Zola Davis   Jr
RB 22 Ryght Jordan Fr
C 53 Paul Beckwith Sr
G 63 Ed Hrubiec   Sr
OL 64 Taylor Irvin Fr
OL 65 Philip Jones Fr
OL 67 Jesse Washington   Sr
OT 68 Reggie Baker Sr
OL 69 Todd Davis Fr
OT 70 Andray Spearman   Jr
OL 71 Kevin Rivers Fr
OL 72 Melvin Paige Fr
OL 73 Jason Thomas   So
OL 75 Adam Buckley Fr
OL 77 Jim Pietrzak   Fr
OT 79 Jamar Nesbit Jr
WR 80 Donovan Norman So
TE 81 Rod Trafford Fr
WR 82 Calvin Owens   Sr
WR 83 Tyrance Williams   Fr
WR 84 Jermale Kelly   Fr
WR 85 Shah Mays   Jr
TE 86 Trevon Matthews   So
Defense 57 Errol Rochester LB 6-0 245 So./RS 1VL Miami Springs, Fla. (Miami Springs)
Pos. # Name Class
DB 3 Ray Green   So
CB 5 Kevin Brooks Jr
SS 6 Ben Washington Sr
FS 12 Arturo Freeman Jr
DB 20 Willie Offord Fr
LB 42 Darren Hambrick Sr
DE 55 Selvesta Miller   Sr
LB 58 Corey Atkins   So
LB 45 James McDougald Sr
DT 90 Henry Taylor Sr
DL 91 John Stamper Fr
LB 92 Ryan Koop Sr
DT 93 Michael Maddox   Sr
DE 94 Matt Marsters So
DE 95 John Abraham So
DT 96 Cecil Caldwell So
DT 97 Trey Pennington So
DT 98 Rachad Wilson Jr
DE 99 Anthony Overstreet   Fr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
P/K 7 Courtney Leavitt So
K 15 Steve Florio Jr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  •   Injured
  •   Redshirt

Roster
Last update: 1998-01-28

References

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  1. ^ "1997 South Carolina Gamecocks Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  2. ^ "South Carolina Gamecocks College Football History, Stats, Records". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  3. ^ "Gamecocks overcome Golden Knights 33–31". The Index-Journal. September 7, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "USC whipped between the hedges". The Herald. September 14, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Gamecocks even a score with punchless Pirates". The News and Observer. September 21, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Gamecocks can't run, can't hide". The Charlotte Observer. September 28, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Craig-led Auburn shuts door on Gamecocks, 23–6". The Courier-Journal. October 5, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ "Gamecocks march forward with victory over Arkansas". The Greenville News. October 19, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Turnovers end hope of upset". The Tennessean. October 26, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Vols back in control". The Jackson Sun. November 2, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Florida pulls away from Gamecocks". The Times and Democrat. November 16, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Clemson bowls over USC". The Times and Democrat. November 23, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "College Football Data Warehouse". Archived from the original on September 15, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.