1997 Vanderbilt Commodores football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1997 Vanderbilt Commodores football Southeastern conference Eastern Division SEC 3–8 0–8 Woody Widenhofer 1st Ed Lambert 1st Multiple Norm Parker 1st 4–3 Jamie Duncan Corey Chavous Jay Stallworth Damian Allen John Bradley Vanderbilt Stadium The 1997 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University 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 Woody Widenhofer, the Commodores compiled an overall record of 3–8 with a mark of 0–8 in conference play, placing last out of six teams in the SEC's Eastern Division. The team played home games at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. The low point of the Commodores' season came in their fifth game against 13th-ranked LSU, coached by Gerry DiNardo, Vanderbilt's head coach from 1991 to 1994. After scoring a touchdown with 12 seconds remaining to cut the Tigers' lead to 7–6, Widenhofer kept the offense on the field, intending to go for a two-point conversion and the win. After LSU called timeout, the Commodores were called twice for delay of game, pushing the ball back to the 13-yard line and forcing Widenhofer to send in kicker John Markham to attempt an extra point which would have forced overtime. Markham, who missed a 38-yard field goal earlier in the game, had his kick blocked, allowing the Tigers to escape despite gaining a meager 230 total yards. Schedule 1997 AP Central August 30 6:00 p.m. w y North Texas Vanderbilt Stadium Nashville, TN 29–12 38,281 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-commercial-appeal-vanderbilt-dumps-n/152133724/ The Commercial Appeal Vanderbilt dumps North Texas August 31, 1997 July 27, 2024 Newspapers.com September 11 7:00 p.m. l Alabama 15 Vanderbilt Stadium Nashville, TN ESPN 0–20 41,448 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71631358/nothing-doing-woodyball-fails-to-fix/ The Tennessean Nothing doing - Woodyball fails to fix old Vandy problem: no offense September 12, 1997 July 27, 2024 Newspapers.com September 20 7:00 p.m. w y TCU Vanderbilt Stadium Nashville, TN 40–16 34,824 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-second-half-fol/152133855/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Second-half fold decimates Frogs September 21, 1997 July 27, 2024 Newspapers.com September 27 6:00 p.m. l y Ole Miss Vaught–Hemingway Stadium Oxford, MS rivalry 3–15 36,417 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-vanderbilt-unab/152115290/ The Atlanta Constitution Vanderbilt unable to back up talk against Ole Miss September 28, 1997 July 27, 2024 Newspapers.com October 4 2:30 p.m. l LSU 13 Vanderbilt Stadium Nashville, TN PPV 6–7 37,045 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-commercial-appeal-mistakes-tear-up-v/152114755/ The Commercial Appeal Mistakes tear up Vandy October 5, 1997 July 27, 2024 Newspapers.com October 11 3:00 p.m. w y y Northern Illinois Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL 17–7 17,567 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-northern-fumbles-its-big/152134143/ Chicago Tribune Northern fumbles its big chance October 12, 1997 July 27, 2024 Newspapers.com October 18 8:00 p.m. l Georgia 21 Vanderbilt Stadium Nashville, TN rivalry ESPN2 13–34 35,124 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-telegraph-even-without-ward-b/152118555/ The Macon Telegraph Even without Ward, Bulldogs sink Commodores October 19, 1997 July 27, 2024 Newspapers.com October 25 6:00 p.m. l y South Carolina Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC 3–35 79,014 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-turnovers-end-hope-of-ups/152120282/ The Tennessean Turnovers end hope of upset October 26, 1997 July 27, 2024 Newspapers.com November 8 11:30 a.m. l y Florida 13 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gainesville, FL JPS 7–20 85,301 https://www.newspapers.com/article/south-florida-sun-sentinel-to-gators-va/152119489/ South Florida Sun Sentinel To Gators, Vandy is handy November 9, 1997 July 27, 2024 Newspapers.com November 15 1:00 p.m. l Kentucky Vanderbilt Stadium Nashville, TN rivalry 10–21 40,256 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lexington-herald-leader-a-new-song-in-mu/152120831/ Lexington Herald-Leader A new song in Music City November 16, 1997 July 27, 2024 Newspapers.com November 29 11:00 a.m. l y Tennessee 3 Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN rivalry CBS 10–17 106,683 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state-lewis-leads-vols-past-vandy/152117679/ The State Lewis leads Vols past Vandy November 30, 1997 July 27, 2024 Newspapers.com 1997 Vanderbilt Commodores Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 27, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/vanderbilt/1997-schedule.html1997 Final Vanderbilt Stats http://www.vanderbilt.edu/commodores/football/Stats/1997/97Stats.html Vanderbilt University Department of Athletics October 15, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20071010135653/http://www.vanderbilt.edu/commodores/football/Stats/1997/97Stats.html 2007-10-10 dead Roster 1997 Vanderbilt Commodores f 6 Fr Greg Zolman QB y 17 Sr Damian Allen QB 23 Jr Tyrone Yarbrough RB 35 Sr Marcus A. Williams RB 51 Jr Jim Anguiano G 81 So Todd Yoder WR y 1 Jr Fred Vinson Fred Vinson (American football) CB y 4 Sr Corey Chavous CB y 30 Jr Damien Charley CB 34 Sr Carlton Hall LB y 49 Sr Jamie Duncan LB y https://web.archive.org/web/19981202143059/http://www.vanderbilt.edu:80/athletics/Football/97Roster.html *Woody Widenhofer 1998-12-02 References Vanderbilt Category:Vanderbilt Commodores football seasons Vanderbilt Commodores football