1997 Wisconsin Badgers football team

1997 Wisconsin Badgers football
Outback Bowl, L 6–33 vs. Georgia
Conference	Big Ten Conference
1997 record	8–5 (5–3 Big Ten)
Head coach	Barry Alvarez (8th season)
Home stadium	Camp Randall Stadium (Capacity: 76,129)
Seasons

1997 Big Ten football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
#1/2 Michigan †		8	–	0					12	–	0
#12/12 Ohio State		6	–	2					10	–	3
#16/17 Penn State		6	–	2					9	–	3
#15/15 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 / Coaches' Poll

The 1997 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin during the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season.

Regular season

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 24*	1:00 PM	vs. #17 Syracuse	#24	Giants Stadium • East Rutherford, NJ (Kickoff Classic)	ABC	L 0–34	51,185
September 6*	2:00 PM	Boise State		Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI		W 28–24	73,209
September 13*	5:30 PM	at San Jose State		Spartan Stadium • San Jose, CA		W 56–10	23,042
September 20*	1:00 PM	San Diego State		Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI		W 36–10	76,864
September 27	11:20 AM	Indiana		Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI	ESPN+	W 27–26	78,211
October 4	6:00 PM	at Northwestern		Ryan Field • Evanston, IL	ESPN	W 26–25	47,129
October 11†	11:20 AM	Illinois		Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI	ESPN+	W 31–7	79,327
October 18	1:00 PM	at Purdue	#24	Ross–Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN		L 20–45	54,252
October 25	11:30 AM	at Minnesota		Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome • Minneapolis, MN (Paul Bunyan's Axe)	ESPN2	W 22–21	57,563
November 8†	11:30 AM	#12 Iowa		Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI	ESPN	W 13–10	79,864
November 15	2:30 PM	#1 Michigan	#23	Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI	ABC	L 16–26	79,806
November 22	2:30 PM	at #6 Penn State	#24	Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA	ABC	L 10–35	96,934
January 1*	10:00 AM	vs. #11 Georgia		Houlihan's Stadium • Tampa, FL (Outback Bowl)	ESPN	L 6–33	56,186
*Non-Conference Game. †Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll. All times are in Central Time.

Season Summary

After suffering a humiliating loss at the hands of Donovan McNabb and the Syracuse Orangemen in their season opener, the Wisconsin Badgers sprang back to win 8 of their next 9 games. After defeating Boise State, San Jose State, and San Diego State, the Badgers won consecutive games with field goals as time expired against Indiana and Northwestern. In the course of this streak, the Badgers snapped a long losing streak at the hands of the Iowa Hawkeyes with a 13–10 win, the first Wisconsin win over a Hayden Fry-coached team ever. After defeating Iowa, Barry Alvarez's team fell apart down the stretch, losing to eventual national champion Michigan, Penn State, and Georgia in the Outback Bowl.

While the Badgers suffered a 3-game losing streak to close out the year, the 1997 campaign set the stage for the incredibly successful 1998 season.

Regular starters

Position Player Quarterback Mike Samuel Running Back Ron Dayne Fullback Cecil Martin Wide Receiver Donald Hayes Wide Receiver Tony Simmons Tight End Eric Grams Left Tackle Chris McIntosh Left Guard Bill Ferrario Center Casey Rabach Right Guard Dave Costa Right Tackle Aaron Gibson

Position Player Defensive End John Favret Defensive Tackle Ross Kolodziej Nose Guard Chris Janek Defensive End Tom Burke Outside Linebacker Bob Adamov Inside Linebacker Donnel Thompson Outside Linebacker David Lysek Cornerback Jason Suttle Free Safety Bobby Myers Strong Safety Leonard Taylor Cornerback Lamar Campbell

Team players selected in the 1998 NFL Draft

Player	Position	Round	Overall Selection	NFL Team
Tony Simmons	Wide Receiver	2	52	New England Patriots
Donald Hayes	Wide Receiver	4	106	Carolina Panthers