The 1997 McNeese State Cowboys football team was an American football team that represented McNeese State University as a member of the Southland Conference (Southland) during the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA football season. In their eighth year under head coach Bobby Keasler, the team compiled an overall record of 13–2, with a mark of 6–1 in conference play, and finished as Southland co-champions. The Cowboys advanced to the Division I-AA playoffs and lost to Youngstown State in the championship game.
1997 McNeese State Cowboys football | |
---|---|
Southland co-champion | |
NCAA Division I-AA Championship, L 9–10 vs. Youngstown State | |
Conference | Southland Conference |
Ranking | |
Sports Network | No. 7 |
Record | 13–2 (6–1 Southland) |
Head coach |
|
Offensive coordinator | Mike Santiago (8th season) |
Defensive coordinator | Kirby Bruchhaus (8th season) |
Home stadium | Cowboy Stadium |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 7 McNeese State +^ | 6 | – | 1 | 13 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 21 Northwestern State +^ | 6 | – | 1 | 8 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 13 Stephen F. Austin | 5 | – | 2 | 8 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sam Houston State | 3 | – | 4 | 5 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nicholls State | 3 | – | 4 | 5 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Southwest Texas State | 2 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Troy State | 2 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jacksonville State | 1 | – | 6 | 1 | – | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Schedule
editDate | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 6 | Southeastern Oklahoma State* | W 31–0 | 13,000 | [1] | ||
September 13 | at Southwest Missouri State* | No. 20 | W 28–16 | 13,385 | [2] | |
September 20 | No. 12 Northern Iowa* | No. 16 |
| W 22–5 | 11,627 | [3] |
September 27 | at Jacksonville State | No. 11 | W 27–6 | 3,787 | [4] | |
October 4 | Arkansas Tech* | No. 10 |
| W 55–7 | [5] | |
October 11 | Northwestern State | No. 4 |
| W 50–7 | 15,276 | [6] |
October 25 | at No. 10 Stephen F. Austin | No. 2 | L 7–13 | 17,387 | [7] | |
November 1 | Sam Houston State | No. 9 |
| W 38–21 | 10,238 | [8] |
November 8 | at Southwest Texas State | No. 10 | W 31–21 | [9] | ||
November 15 | Troy State | No. 7 |
| W 10–7 | [10] | |
November 22 | at Nicholls State | No. 7 | W 31–13 | [11] | ||
November 29 | No. 11 Montana* | No. 7 |
| W 19–14 | 13,681 | [12] |
December 6 | at No. 2 Western Illinois* | No. 7 |
| W 14–12 | 5,000 | [13] |
December 13 | at No. 3 Delaware* | No. 7 |
| W 23–21 | 14,461 | [14] |
December 20 | vs. No. 4 Youngstown State* | No. 7 |
| L 9–10 | 14,771 | [15] |
|
References
edit- ^ "McNeese 31, Southeastern 0". Tulsa World. September 7, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Bears' offense sputters in loss". The Springfield News-Leader. September 14, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "No. 13 UNI upset on road". The Des Moines Register. September 21, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Cowboys slip, slide on by". The Anniston Star. September 28, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "McNeese State 55, Arkansas Tech 7". The Shreveport Times. October 5, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "McNeese wallops Northwestern State". The Shreveport Times. October 12, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "SFA edges No. 2 McNeese". Longview News-Journal. October 26, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "McNeese 38, Sam Houston St. 21". The Daily Advertiser. November 2, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "McNeese St. 31, SW Texas 21". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. November 9, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "McNeese slips past Troy St". The Daily Advertiser. November 16, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "McNeese captures share of SLC title". The Crowley Post-Signal. November 23, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Cowboys dash Griz playoff hopes". The Billings Gazette. November 30, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Western Illinois falls to McNeese State in quarters". The Pantagraph. December 7, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Kick halts Delaware's hopes". The Philadelphia Inquirer. December 14, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Penguins win 4th national title: Tidwell's TD pass lifts Youngstown State". The Times Recorder. Associated Press. December 21, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.