1997 McNeese State Cowboys football team

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
ConferenceSouthland Conference
Ranking
Sports NetworkNo. 7
Record13–2 (6–1 Southland)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorMike Santiago (8th season)
Defensive coordinatorKirby Bruchhaus (8th season)
Home stadiumCowboy Stadium
Seasons
← 1996
1998 →
1997 Southland Football League standings
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  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
Rankings from The Sports Network poll

Schedule

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DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 6Southeastern Oklahoma State*W 31–013,000[1]
September 13at Southwest Missouri State*No. 20W 28–1613,385[2]
September 20No. 12 Northern Iowa*No. 16
  • Cowboy Stadium
  • Lake Charles, LA
W 22–511,627[3]
September 27at Jacksonville StateNo. 11W 27–63,787[4]
October 4Arkansas Tech*No. 10
  • Cowboy Stadium
  • Lake Charles, LA
W 55–7[5]
October 11Northwestern StateNo. 4
  • Cowboy Stadium
  • Lake Charles, LA (rivalry)
W 50–715,276[6]
October 25at No. 10 Stephen F. AustinNo. 2L 7–1317,387[7]
November 1Sam Houston StateNo. 9
  • Cowboy Stadium
  • Lake Charles, LA
W 38–2110,238[8]
November 8at Southwest Texas StateNo. 10W 31–21[9]
November 15Troy StateNo. 7
  • Cowboy Stadium
  • Lake Charles, LA
W 10–7[10]
November 22at Nicholls StateNo. 7W 31–13[11]
November 29No. 11 Montana*No. 7
W 19–1413,681[12]
December 6at No. 2 Western Illinois*No. 7
W 14–125,000[13]
December 13at No. 3 Delaware*No. 7
W 23–2114,461[14]
December 20vs. No. 4 Youngstown State*No. 7
L 9–1014,771[15]

References

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  1. ^ "McNeese 31, Southeastern 0". Tulsa World. September 7, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Bears' offense sputters in loss". The Springfield News-Leader. September 14, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "No. 13 UNI upset on road". The Des Moines Register. September 21, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Cowboys slip, slide on by". The Anniston Star. September 28, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "McNeese State 55, Arkansas Tech 7". The Shreveport Times. October 5, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "McNeese wallops Northwestern State". The Shreveport Times. October 12, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "SFA edges No. 2 McNeese". Longview News-Journal. October 26, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "McNeese 38, Sam Houston St. 21". The Daily Advertiser. November 2, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "McNeese St. 31, SW Texas 21". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. November 9, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "McNeese slips past Troy St". The Daily Advertiser. November 16, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "McNeese captures share of SLC title". The Crowley Post-Signal. November 23, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Cowboys dash Griz playoff hopes". The Billings Gazette. November 30, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Western Illinois falls to McNeese State in quarters". The Pantagraph. December 7, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Kick halts Delaware's hopes". The Philadelphia Inquirer. December 14, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "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.