Southern Miss Welcomes Back 1997 Football Team for 25-Year Reunion
11/1/2022 4:24:00 PM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss welcomes back one of its best teams to ever step foot on the gridiron when the 1997 Golden Eagles return to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their historic season, Saturday, Nov. 5, as part of the Georgia State game.
Game time is set for 2 p.m., at The Rock. The entire team and their families have been invited back and will take part in Eagle Walk starting at 12 noon. The team will then be recognized during the first quarter of the contest.
When that team gets together this weekend, they will be able to relive the 9-3 record that they accomplished which culminated in the school's second Conference USA championship and a 41-7 victory over Pittsburgh in the Liberty Bowl to cap a magical season.
Southern Miss finished No. 19 in the Associated Press poll that included victories over Illinois on the road and Nevada at home as well as a 6-0 league mark that included wins over Louisville, East Carolina, Tulane, Cincinnati, Houston and Memphis. The only three losses during the year came at the hands of SEC schools, including No. 2 Florida to start the season, No. 21 Alabama and a Peyton Manning-led Tennessee squad.
Coach Jeff Bower earned C-USA coach of the year, while eight players were named first-team All-conference and 12 would eventually be drafted in the NFL.
Patrick Surtain's six interceptions that season helped him earn was second-team All-American and C-USA defensive player of the year honors. Harold Shaw rushed for 1,045 yards and 16 touchdowns, the third-most in a single season at USM. Lytrel Pollard led USM with 114 tackles in 1997.
Former Golden Eagle quarterback and current Southern Miss football radio analyst Lee Roberts threw for 2,248 yards on 194-of-350 passing with 16 touchdown throws.