1997 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team

The 1997 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team represented Eastern Michigan University in the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their third season under head coach Rick Rasnick, the Eagles compiled a 4–7 record (4–5 against conference opponents), finished in fourth place in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference, and were outscored by their opponents, 352 to 329.[1][2] The team's statistical leaders included Charlie Batch with 3,280 passing yards, Savon Edwards with 627 rushing yards, and Ta-if Kumasi with 710 receiving yards.[3] Batch went on to play 15 years in the National Football League.

1997 Eastern Michigan Eagles football
ConferenceMid-American Conference
DivisionWest
Record4–7 (4–5 MAC)
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorSam Gruneisen (3rd season)
MVPCharlie Batch
CaptainCharlie Batch, Jermaine Brooks, Lional Dalton, Savon Edwards
Home stadiumRynearson 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

Schedule

edit
DateOpponentSiteResult
September 6at Missouri*L 24–44
September 13at ToledoL 35–38
September 20Kent StateL 38–41
September 27at Central Michigan W 31–24
October 4Ohio 
  • Rynearson Stadium
  • Ypsilanti, MI
L 7–47
October 11Ball State
  • Rynearson Stadium
  • Ypsilanti, MI
W 38–32
October 18Akron*
  • Rynearson Stadium
  • Ypsilanti, MI
W 45–0
October 25at MarshallL 25–48
November 1Western Michigan
  • Rynearson Stadium
  • Ypsilanti, MI
L 38–41
November 8at Northern IllinoisW 38–10
November 15at UCF*L 10–27
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming

After the season

edit

The following Eagle was selected in the 1998 NFL draft after the season.[4]

Round Pick Player Position NFL club
2 60 Charlie Batch Quarterback Detroit Lions

References

edit
  1. ^ "1997 Eastern Michigan Eagles Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  2. ^ "2015 Eastern Michigan Football Digital Media Guide" (PDF). Eastern Michigan University Football. pp. 167, 170. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  3. ^ "1997 Eastern Michigan Eagles Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  4. ^ "1998 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 7, 2024.