INSIDE COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Season's Griddings
In the spirit of the holidays, here's a cornucopia of bests and
worsts, lasts and firsts, from the 1997 season
by Ivan Maisel
Posted: Wed December 3, 1997
The regular season is over, save for the Army-Navy game—which,
as any Cadet or Middie will tell you, is a season unto itself.
How strange was 1997? Colorado and Alabama won nine games
between them, one fewer than Washington State. The Buffaloes,
the Tide and three other teams in the SI preseason Top 20
finished below .500—rank, if not ranked. When the traditional
powers fail, the teams that take their places bring new
excitement. New Mexico, Missouri and Oklahoma State had their
best seasons in years.
Syracuse and UCLA started slow and closed fast. Kansas State is
in bowl demand because of its fan base—something that was all
but nonexistent 10 years ago. Peyton Manning's drive for the
Heisman Trophy is in danger of a corner blitz by Michigan's
Charles Woodson. Come to think of it, the Wolverines as a whole
came out of the blue.
Here's a look at the best—and a little of the rest—of the 1997
season.
Issue date: December 8, 1997
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