1997 Michigan Wolverines football team

1997 Michigan Wolverines football

AP Poll national champion Big Ten champion Rose Bowl champion
Rose Bowl, W 21–16 vs. Washington State
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 2
AP	No. 1
1997 record	12–0 (8–0 Big Ten)
Head coach	Lloyd Carr (3rd year)
Offensive coordinator	Mike DeBord (1st year)
Defensive coordinator	Jim Herrmann (1st year)
MVP	Charles Woodson
Captain	Jon Jansen
Captain	Eric Mayes
Home stadium	Michigan Stadium (Capacity: 102,501)
Seasons ← 1996 1998 →

1997 Big Ten football standings
	Conf				Overall
Team		W		L		W		L
#1 Michigan $		8	–	0		12	–	0
#12 Ohio State		6	–	2		10	–	3
#16 Penn State		6	–	2		9	–	3
#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

Week 1: (7) Colorado at (13) Michigan

	1	2	3	4	Total
Colorado (1–0)	0	0	3	0	3
• Michigan (0–0)	7	3	14	3	27

Scoring summary

1		MICH	Chris Floyd 1-yard run (Kraig Baker kick)	MICH 7–0

2	0:00	MICH	Kraig Baker 37-yard field goal	MICH 10–0

3	10:26	MICH	Chris Howard 5-yard pass from Brian Griese (Kraig Baker kick)	MICH 17–0

3		MICH	Russell Shaw 6-yard pass from Brian Griese (Kraig Baker kick)	MICH 24–0

3		COL	Jason Lesley 52-yard field goal	MICH 24–3

4		MICH	Kraig Baker 19-yard field goal	MICH 27–3

Scoring summary

1		MICH	Chris Floyd 1-yard run (Kraig Baker kick)	MICH 7–0

2	0:00	MICH	Kraig Baker 37-yard field goal	MICH 10–0

3	10:26	MICH	Chris Howard 5-yard pass from Brian Griese (Kraig Baker kick)	MICH 17–0

3		MICH	Russell Shaw 6-yard pass from Brian Griese (Kraig Baker kick)	MICH 24–0

3		COL	Jason Lesley 52-yard field goal	MICH 24–3

4		MICH	Kraig Baker 19-yard field goal	MICH 27–3

Week 2: Baylor at (9) Michigan

	1	2	3	4	Total
Baylor (1–1)	3	0	0	0	3
• Michigan (1–0)	7	14	7	10	38

Scoring summary

1	8:05	BAY	Matt Bryant 30-yard field goal	BAY 3–0

1	5:39	MICH	Charles Woodson 10-yard pass from Brian Griese (Kraig Baker kick)	MICH 7–3

2	11:30	MICH	Chris Howard 5-yard run (Kraig Baker kick)	MICH 14–3

2	2:03	MICH	Chris Howard 1-yard run (Kraig Baker kick)	MICH 21–3

3	6:57	MICH	Anthony Thomas 2-yard run (Kraig Baker kick)	MICH 28–3

4	11:53	MICH	Jay Feely 51-yard field goal	MICH 31–3

4	2:57	MICH	Tate Schanski 1-yard run (Kraig Baker kick)	MICH 38–3

Scoring summary

1	8:05	BAY	Matt Bryant 30-yard field goal	BAY 3–0

1	5:39	MICH	Charles Woodson 10-yard pass from Brian Griese (Kraig Baker kick)	MICH 7–3

2	11:30	MICH	Chris Howard 5-yard run (Kraig Baker kick)	MICH 14–3

2	2:03	MICH	Chris Howard 1-yard run (Kraig Baker kick)	MICH 21–3

3	6:57	MICH	Anthony Thomas 2-yard run (Kraig Baker kick)	MICH 28–3

4	11:53	MICH	Jay Feely 51-yard field goal	MICH 31–3

4	2:57	MICH	Tate Schanski 1-yard run (Kraig Baker kick)	MICH 38–3

Week 3: Notre Dame at (6) Michigan
(Michigan–Notre Dame rivalry game)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Notre Dame (1–2)	7	7	0	0	14
• Michigan (2–0)	0	7	14	0	21

Scoring summary

1	3:16	ND	Bobby Brown 15-yard pass from Ron Powlus (Jim Sanson kick)	ND 7–0

2	13:40	MICH	Clarence Williams 4-yard run (Kraig Baker kick)	Tied 7–7

2	0:18	ND	Tony Driver 2-yard run (Jim Sanson kick)	ND 14–7

3	14:36	MICH	Tai Streets 41-yard pass from Brian Griese (Kraig Baker kick)	Tied 14–14

3	9:21	MICH	Chris Floyd 14-yard run (Kraig Baker kick)	MICH 21–14

Scoring summary

1	3:16	ND	Bobby Brown 15-yard pass from Ron Powlus (Jim Sanson kick)	ND 7–0

2	13:40	MICH	Clarence Williams 4-yard run (Kraig Baker kick)	Tied 7–7

2	0:18	ND	Tony Driver 2-yard run (Jim Sanson kick)	ND 14–7

3	14:36	MICH	Tai Streets 41-yard pass from Brian Griese (Kraig Baker kick)	Tied 14–14

3	9:21	MICH	Chris Floyd 14-yard run (Kraig Baker kick)	MICH 21–14

Week 4: (6) Michigan at Indiana

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Michigan (3–0, 0–0)	3	28	6	0	37
Indiana (1–3, 0–1)	0	0	0	0	0

Scoring summary

1	7:04	MICH	Kraig Baker 27-yard field goal	MICH 3–0

2	14:31	MICH	Chris Howard 3-yard run (Kraig Baker kick)	MICH 10–0

2	7:53	MICH	Tai Streets 18-yard pass from Brian Griese (Kraig Baker)	MICH 17–0

2	4:55	MICH	Anthony Thomas 14-yard run (Kraig Baker kick)	MICH 24–0

2	1:59	MICH	Patrick McCall 3-yard run (Kraig Baker kick)	MICH 31–0

3	9:31	MICH	Kraig Baker 35-yard field goal	MICH 34–0

3	1:26	MICH	Kraig Baker 40-yard field goal	MICH 37–0

Scoring summary

1	7:04	MICH	Kraig Baker 27-yard field goal	MICH 3–0

2	14:31	MICH	Chris Howard 3-yard run (Kraig Baker kick)	MICH 10–0

2	7:53	MICH	Tai Streets 18-yard pass from Brian Griese (Kraig Baker)	MICH 17–0

2	4:55	MICH	Anthony Thomas 14-yard run (Kraig Baker kick)	MICH 24–0

2	1:59	MICH	Patrick McCall 3-yard run (Kraig Baker kick)	MICH 31–0

3	9:31	MICH	Kraig Baker 35-yard field goal	MICH 34–0

3	1:26	MICH	Kraig Baker 40-yard field goal	MICH 37–0

The 1997 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1997 Big Ten Conference football season. In its third year under head coach Lloyd Carr, Michigan compiled a perfect 12–0 record, won the Big Ten Conference championship, defeated Washington State in the 1998 Rose Bowl, and was declared the national champion by the Associated Press and numerous other polls.

Michigan's defense was led by cornerback and Heisman Trophy-winner Charles Woodson. Woodson, who intercepted eight passes and also scored touchdowns via pass receptions, runs from scrimmage and punt return, became the first primarily defensive player to win the Heisman. Woodson and defensive end Glen Steele were both first-team selections on the 1997 College Football All-America Team. Other standouts on defense included linebackers James Hall with 8.5 quarterback sacks, Sam Sword with 91 tackles, and Dhani Jones with 90 tackles and six sacks. The defense allowed no fourth quarter points or second half touchdowns in the first eight games of the season. The unit's performance across all games in total defense (222.8 yards per game) and scoring defense (9.5 points per game) are the lowest marks by any Big Ten Conference football team since the 1985 season.