1997 Central Michigan Chippewas football team

The 1997 Central Michigan Chippewas football team represented Central Michigan University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fourth season under head coach Dick Flynn, the Chippewas compiled a 2–9 record (1–7 against MAC opponents), finished in fifth place in the MAC's West Division, and were outscored by their opponents, 479 to 282.[1][2] The team played its home games in Kelly/Shorts Stadium in Mount Pleasant, Michigan,[3] with attendance of 94,162 in five home games.[4]

1997 Central Michigan Chippewas football
ConferenceMid-American Conference
DivisionWest Division
Record2–9 (1–7 MAC)
Head coach
MVPRollie Ferris
Home stadiumKelly/Shorts Stadium
Seasons
← 1996
1998 →
1997 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
Marshall x$   7 1     10 3  
Miami (OH)   6 2     8 3  
Ohio   6 2     8 3  
Bowling Green   3 5     3 8  
Kent State   3 5     3 8  
Akron   2 7     2 9  
West Division
Toledo x   7 1     9 3  
Western Michigan   6 2     8 3  
Ball State   4 4     5 6  
Eastern Michigan   4 5     4 7  
Central Michigan   1 7     2 9  
Northern Illinois   0 8     0 11  
Championship: Marshall 34, Toledo 14
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions

The team's statistical leaders included Tim Crowley with 2,204 passing yards, Eric Flowers with 909 rushing yards, and Reggie Allen with 877 receiving yards.[5] Offensive guard Rollie Ferris was selected as the team's most valuable player.[6]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
August 28Northern IllinoisW 44–1019,495
September 6at No. 2 Florida*L 6–8285,347[7]
September 13Boise State*
  • Kelly/Shorts Stadium
  • Mount Pleasant, MI
W 44–2619,003
September 20at Louisiana Tech*L 28–5615,239[8]
September 27Eastern Michigan
  • Kelly/Shorts Stadium
  • Mount Pleasant, MI (rivalry)
L 24–31
October 4at AkronL 14–53
October 11Toledo
  • Kelly/Shorts Stadium
  • Mount Pleasant, MI
L 10–41
October 18at Ball StateL 34–37 OT
October 25at Kent StateL 37–60
November 1Marshall
  • Kelly/Shorts Stadium
  • Mount Pleasant, MI
L 17–4515,324
November 8at Western Michigan L 24–38
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster

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1997 Central Michigan Chippewas football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
QB 9 Tim Crowley Sr
WR 6 Joe Danna Jr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
OLB 89 Joe Fortuna Sr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

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

Roster

References

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  1. ^ "1997 Central Michigan Chippewas Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  2. ^ "Central Michigan 2015 Football Media Guide" (PDF). Central Michigan University. 2015. pp. 100, 114. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 26, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  3. ^ "Football Facilities". Central Michigan University. Archived from the original on June 25, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  4. ^ 2015 Media Guide, p. 87.
  5. ^ "1997 Central Michigan Chippewas Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  6. ^ 2015 Media Guide, p. 95.
  7. ^ "82-6: Johnson's 7 first-half TD passes lead wipeout". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. September 7, 1997. pp. 1D, 10D – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Chippewas fall, 56–28". The Times Herald. September 21, 1997. Retrieved July 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.