1997 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1997 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football Conference USA C-USA 19 19 9–3 6–0 Jeff Bower 8th Larry Kueck 1st Multiplehttps://archive.org/details/alabama-football-1997-media-guide-c/page/n89/mode/2up Alabama Football 1997 Media Guide January 22, 2026 91 John Thompson 6th Multiple M. M. Roberts Stadium Conference USA champion Liberty Bowl champion Liberty Bowl W 41–7 vs. Pittsburgh The 1997 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team represented the University of Southern Mississippi in the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Golden Eagles were led by eighth-year head coach Jeff Bower and played their home games at M. M. Roberts Stadium. In their second year in the Conference USA, they claimed their second-straight conference championship with a 6–0 C-USA record and a 9–3 record overall.1997 Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football September 11, 2022 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/southern-mississippi/1997-schedule.html They were invited to the 1997 Liberty Bowl, where they defeated Pittsburgh, 41–7. In the final AP and Coaches Polls of the season, the Golden Eagles were ranked 19th, which was the first ranked finish in school history.https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/southern-mississippi/ Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles School History Sports-Reference.com March 10, 2019 Schedule 1997 AP August 30 l y y Florida 2 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gainesville, FL 6–21 85,439 Gators survive Golden Eagles August 31, 1997 Pensacola News Journal https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109345414/gators-survive-golden-eagles/ September 11, 2022 Newspapers.com September 6 w y y Illinois Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 24–7 ESPN2 44,519 Loss is no shock for Illini September 7, 1997 Chicago Tribune https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109345513/loss-is-no-shock-for-illini/ September 11, 2022 Newspapers.com September 20 w y Nevada M. M. Roberts Stadium Hattiesburg, MS 35–19 26,481 Fourth quarter foils Wolf Pack September 21, 1997 Reno Gazette-Journal https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109345605/fourth-quarter-foils-wolf-pack/ September 11, 2022 Newspapers.com September 27 l y y Alabama 21 Legion Field Birmingham, AL 13–27 PPV 83,091 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71631775/turnovers-costly-to-usm/ Hattiesburg American Turnovers costly to USM September 28, 1997 September 11, 2022 Newspapers.com October 4 w Louisville M. M. Roberts Stadium Hattiesburg, MS 42–24 23,028 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109345699/cards-just-disappointing-again-4224/ The Courier-Journal Cards 'just disappointing' again, 42–24 October 5, 1997 September 11, 2022 Newspapers.com October 11 w y East Carolina Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium Greenville, NC 23–13 33,904 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72991175/eagles-rally-past-ecu/ Hattiesburg American Eagles rally past ECU October 12, 1997 February 9, 2022 Newspapers.com October 25 w y Tulane M. M. Roberts Stadium Hattiesburg, MS rivalry 34–13 26,092 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94623357/eagles-beat-emotion-out-of-wave-3413/ The Clarion-Ledger Eagles beat emotion out of Wave 34–13 October 26, 1997 February 9, 2022 Newspapers.com November 1 w y 24 Cincinnati Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH 24–17 23,799 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109345831/mistakes-are-costly-for-bearcats/ The Cincinnati Enquirer Mistakes are costly for Bearcats November 2, 1997 September 11, 2022 Newspapers.com November 8 l y y 24 Tennessee 8 Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN 20–44 PPV 107,073 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109345886/vols-rip-southern-miss/ The Jackson Sun Vols rip Southern Miss November 9, 1997 September 11, 2022 Newspapers.com November 15 w Houston M. M. Roberts Stadium Hattiesburg, MS 33–0 20,091 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109345971/southern-miss-secures-liberty-bid/ The Commercial Appeal Southern Miss secures Liberty bid November 16, 1997 September 11, 2022 Newspapers.com November 22 w y Memphis Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN Black and Blue Bowl 42–18 17,243 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109346064/eagles-close-deal-in-c-usa/ The Clarion-Ledger Eagles close deal in C-USA November 23, 1997 September 11, 2022 Newspapers.com December 31 w y y 22 Pittsburgh Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN Liberty Bowl 41–7 ESPN 50,209 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109346202/panthers-miss-fire/ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Panthers miss-fire January 1, 1998 September 11, 2022 Newspapers.com Rankings 1997 NCAA Division I-A football rankings AP 0 17 NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR 24 24 NR NR 23 22 22 19 Coaches 0 17 NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR 25 NR NR 24 23 22 19 References Southern Miss Category:Southern Miss Golden Eagles football seasons Category:Conference USA football champion seasons Category:Liberty Bowl champion seasons Southern Miss Golden Eagles football