The 1997 Marshall Thundering Herd football team represented Marshall University as a member of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season . Led by second-year head coach Bob Pruett , the Thundering Herd compiled an overall record of 10–3 with a mark of 7–1 in conference play, winning the MAC's East Division title. Marshall beat Toledo in MAC Championship Game to win the conference championship and then lost to Ole Miss in the Motor City Bowl .
After winning the Southern Conference (SoCon) tile and the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship in 1996, Marshall returned to NCAA Division I-A play for the first time since 1981 and the MAC for the time since 1968. The Thundering Herd played home games at Marshall University Stadium in Huntington, West Virginia .
Wide receiver Randy Moss and quarterback Chad Pennington were the centerpiece of an explosive offense. Moss caught 26 touchdown passes, at the time an NCAA Division I-A record, and was a unanimous first-team All-American .[ 1] Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation's best wide receiver, and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy , finishing fourth in the balloting, behind Ryan Leaf , Peyton Manning , and Charles Woodson , who won the award. Moss left Marshall with 168 receptions for 3,467 yards and a school record 53 touchdowns in two seasons.
The Herd became only the second team to win a conference championship in its first NCAA Division I-A (now FBS) season, following the 1992 Nevada Wolf Pack football team that won the Big West Conference . The feat was not repeated until 2014, when Georgia Southern won the Sun Belt Conference title.
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance Source August 30 12:00 pm at West Virginia * ESPN Plus L 31–4265,492 [ 2] September 6 1:00 pm at Army * W 35–2530,358 September 13 3:30 pm at Kent State W 42–1711,021 September 20 7:00 pm Western Illinois * WSAZ W 48–726,724 September 27 1:00 pm at Ball State WVAH W 42–1620,415 October 11 7:00 pm Akron Marshall University Stadium Huntington, WV W 52–1726,642 October 18 2:00 pm at Miami (OH) WSAZ L 21–4529,027 October 25 7:00 pm Eastern Michigan Marshall University Stadium Huntington, WV W 48–2521,474 November 1 1:00 pm at Central Michigan WSAZ W 45–1715,324 November 8 3:30 pm Bowling Green Marshall University Stadium Huntington, WV WSAZ W 28–023,509 November 15 3:30 pm Ohio W 27–032,012 December 5 7:30 pm Toledo ESPN2 W 34–1428,021 December 26 8:00 pm vs. Ole Miss * ESPN L 31–3443,340 [ 3] *Non-conference game All times are in Eastern time
1997 Marshall Thundering Herd football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Defense
Special teams
Head coach Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain(S) Suspended(I) Ineligible
1
2 3 4 Total
Thundering Herd
3
7 21 0
31
• Mountaineers
21
7 0 14
42
Scoring summary 1 12:30 WVU Gary Thompkins 7-yard blocked punt return (Jay Taylor kick) WVU 7–0 6:04 WVU Amos Zereoué 10-yard run (Jay Taylor kick) WVU 14–0 2:24 MAR Billy Malashevich 25-yard field goal WVU 14–3 0:02 WVU Amos Zereoué 52-yard run (Jay Taylor kick) WVU 21–3 2 10:51 WVU Curtis Keaton 11-yard run (Jay Taylor kick) WVU 28–3 3:34 MAR LaVorn Colclough 24-yard pass from Chad Pennington (Billy Malashevich kick) WVU 28–10 3 13:08 MAR Randy Moss 15-yard pass from Chad Pennington (Billy Malashevich kick) WVU 28–17 9:24 MAR Llow Turner 53-yard run (Billy Malashevich kick) WVU 28–24 0:35 MAR Randy Moss 25-yard pass from Chad Pennington (Billy Malashevich kick) MAR 31–28 4 11:07 WVU Chad Wable 15-yard pass from Marc Bulger (Jay Taylor kick) WVU 35–31 7:56 WVU Amos Zereoué 1-yard run (Jay Taylor kick) WVU 42–31
After trailing 28–3, the Thundering Herd scored 28 straight to take a 31–28 lead into the 4th quarter. West Virginia responded with two fourth quarter touchdowns to win this much anticipated season opener, 42–31. Randy Moss had seven receptions for 85 yards and two touchdowns.[ 4] [ 5] [ 6]
1
2 3 4 Total
• Thundering Herd
7
7 14 7
35
Cadets
0
12 6 7
25
Scoring summary 1 8:09 MAR Randy Moss 90-yard pass from Chad Pennington (Billy Malashevich kick) MAR 7–0 2 14:22 MAR LaVorn Coclough 36-yard pass from Chad Pennington (Billy Malashevich kick) MAR 14–0 8:24 ARMY Joe Hewitt 7-yard run (kick failed) MAR 14–6 0:18 ARMY Ty Amey 2-yard run (conversion failed) MAR 14–12 3 14:41 MAR Randy Moss 79-yard pass from Chad Pennington (Billy Malashevich kick) MAR 21–12 10:37 MAR Ricky Hall 43-yard fumble return (Billy Malashevich kick) MAR 28–12 4:23 ARMY Ty Amey 1-yard run (conversion failed) MAR 28–19 4 11:07 MAR Javonne Darling 3-yard run (Billy Malashevich kick) MAR 35–19 4:23 ARMY Johnny Goff 7-yard run (Eric Olsen kick) MAR 35–25
Randy Moss had five receptions for 186 yards and two touchdowns, highlighted by a 90-yard touchdown midway through the first quarter.[ 7] [ 8]
1
2 3 4 Total
• Thundering Herd
14
7 14 7
42
Golden Flashes
0
10 0 7
17
Randy Moss hauled in 8 receptions for 216 yards and 3 touchdowns.
1
2 3 4 Total
Leathernecks
0
0 7 0
7
• Thundering Herd
14
0 20 14
48
Randy Moss had 5 receptions for 52 yards and 2 touchdowns.[ 9] [ 10]
1
2 3 4 Total
• Thundering Herd
14
10 14 7
45
Cardinals
3
13 0 0
16
Randy Moss caught 13 passes for 205 yards and a school-record 5 touchdowns .[ 11]
1
2 3 4 Total
Zips
7
7 3 0
17
• Thundering Herd
28
10 0 14
52
Randy Moss had 6 receptions for 107 yards and 2 touchdowns.
1
2 3 4 Total
Thundering Herd
7
14 0 0
21
• RedHawks
7
7 7 24
45
Randy Moss had 10 receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown.
1
2 3 4 Total
Eagles
3
7 15 0
25
• Thundering Herd
14
7 13 14
48
Randy Moss had 8 receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown.
1
2 3 4 Total
• Thundering Herd
20
6 12 7
45
Chippewas
7
3 0 7
17
Randy Moss had 7 receptions for 193 yards and 2 touchdowns.
1
2 3 4 Total
Falcons
0
0 0 0
0
• Thundering Herd
14
7 7 0
28
Randy Moss had 7 receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown.
1
2 3 4 Total
Bobcats
0
0 0 0
0
• Thundering Herd
7
7 0 13
27
Randy Moss had seven receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown.
[ 12]
edit
1
2 3 4 Total
Rockets
0
7 0 7
14
• Thundering Herd
3
0 14 17
34
Scoring summary 1 10:51 Marshall Billy Malashevich 22-yard field goal Marshall 3–0 2 13:16 Toledo Ray Curry 56-yard pass from Chris Wallace (Chris Merrick kick) Toledo 7–3 3 6:46 Marshall Randy Moss 4-yard pass from Chad Pennington (Malashevich kick) Marshall 10–7 3:48 Marshall Randy Moss 86-yard pass from Chad Pennington (Malashevich kick) Marshall 17–7 4 10:42 Marshall Billy Malashevich 25-yard field goal Marshall 20–7 7:01 Marshall Randy Moss 20-yard pass from Chad Pennington (Malashevich kick) Marshall 27–7 6:24 Marshall Doug Chapman 5-yard run (Malashevich kick) Marshall 34–7 3:02 Toledo Mel Long 33-yard pass from Chris Wallace (Merrick kick) Marshall 34–14
Randy Moss had seven receptions for 170 yards and three touchdowns.[ 13] [ 14] [ 15]
edit
1
2 3 4 Total
• Rebels
7
0 14 13
34
Thundering Herd
10
7 0 14
31
Scoring summary 1 14:36 MISS John Avery 1-yard run (Lindsey kick) MISS 7–0 14:19 MAR Randy Moss 80-yard pass from Chad Pennington (Billy Malashevich kick) Tied 7–7 0:22 MAR Billy Malashevich 36-yard field goal MAR 10–7 2 9:04 MAR LaVorn Colclough 19-yard pass from Chad Pennington (Bill Malashevich kick) MAR 17–7 3 11:46 MISS Andre Rone 13-yard pass from Stewart Patridge (Lindsey kick) MAR 17–14 6:00 MISS Deuce McAllister 20-yard pass from Stewart Patridge (Lindsey kick) MISS 21–17 4 10:12 MAR Doug Chapman 6-yard pass from Chad Pennington (Billy Malashevich kick) MAR 24–21 5:39 MISS Grant Heard 19-yard pass from Stewart Patridge (kick failed) MISS 27–24 2:57 MAR Doug Chapman 9-yard run (Billy Malashevich kick) MAR 31–27 0:31 MISS Deuce McAllister 1-yard run (Lindsey kick) MISS 34–31
Playing in its first bowl game since the 1948 Tangerine Bowl , Marshall lost a back-and-forth matchup with Ole Miss. Randy Moss had 6 receptions for 173 yards and a touchdown, including an 80-yard bomb from Chad Pennington, in his final collegiate game.[ 16] [ 17] [ 18]
Team players in the 1998 NFL Draft
edit
^ Carter, Bob. "Moves, Emotions Have Moss Causin' a Commotion" . ESPN . Retrieved February 22, 2007 . ^ "West Virginia survives rally by Marshall" . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . August 31, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "New bowl, Ole Miss" . Detroit Free Press . December 27, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Top Of His Game" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved January 3, 2019 .^ "Cut Off From The Herd Randy Moss, The Most Gifted Player In College Football, Is Leading The Revival Of A Marshall Program Still Haunted By A Devastating 1970 Plane Crash" . Sports Illustrated . Retrieved January 5, 2019 .^ "Marshall Makes It Close" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved January 3, 2019 .^ "Army Gets Thumped by Moss and His Teammates" . The New York Times . Retrieved January 3, 2019 .^ "Marshall Rolls As Army Can't Gather Moss" . The Washington Post . Retrieved January 5, 2019 .^ "Western Illinois-Marshall Game Provides A Variety Of Attractions" . Chicago Tribune . Retrieved January 5, 2019 .^ "Gallery: Marshall vs. Western Illinois, Sept. 20, 1997" . The Herald-Dispatch . Retrieved January 5, 2019 .^ "A High Five for Moss in Marshall Win" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved January 3, 2019 .^ "Marshall Thrashes Ohio U. For Title" . The Washington Post . Retrieved January 5, 2019 .^ Rhoden, William C. (November 21, 1997). "The Best Campaign For the Heisman Is . . " . The New York Times . Retrieved January 5, 2019 . ^ "Moss Herds Thundering Marshall Return" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved January 5, 2019 .^ "Moss Sets Touchdown Record as Marshall Beats Toledo, 34-14" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved January 3, 2019 .^ "The Grand Marshall" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved January 5, 2019 .^ "N.C.A.A.: Football -- Motor City Bowl; Mississippi Captures Wild One" . The New York Times . Retrieved January 3, 2019 .^ "Mississippi Tops Marshall In A Seesaw Battle, 34-31" . The Washington Post . Retrieved January 5, 2019 .^ "Home" . biletnikoffaward.com .^ "1998 NFL Draft" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on December 21, 2007. Retrieved January 5, 2019 .
