1997 Youngstown State Penguins football team

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1997 Youngstown State Penguins football
Youngstown State Penguins logo.svg
NCAA Division I-AA champion
ConferenceGateway Football Conference
Ranking
Sports NetworkNo. 4
1997 record13–2 (4–2 Gateway)
Head coach
Home stadiumStambaugh Stadium
Seasons
← 1996
1998 →
1997 Gateway Football Conference standings
  • v
  • t
 Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 2 Western Illinois $^   6 – 0     11 – 2  
Northern Iowa   5 – 1     7 – 4  
No. 4 Youngstown State ^   4 – 2     13 – 2  
Southwest Missouri State   3 – 3     5 – 6  
Indiana State   2 – 4     3 – 8  
Southern Illinois   1 – 5     3 – 8  
Illinois State   0 – 6     2 – 9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
Rankings from The Sports Network poll

The 1997 Youngstown State Penguins football team was an American football team represented Youngstown State University in the Gateway Football Conference during the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA football season. In their 12th season under head coach Jim Tressel, the team compiled a 13–2 record (4–2 against conference opponents) and defeated McNeese State in the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game.[1] It was Youngstown State's fourth national championship in seven years.[2]

Quarterback Demond Tidwell received the team's most valuable player award.[3] The team's statistical leaders included Tidwell with 1,961 passing yards, Jack Andreadis with 1,057 rushing yards and 1,688 all-purpose yards, and Adrian Brown with 122 points.[4]

Schedule[]

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
August 28Slippery Rock*
W 33–9
September 6Kent State*
  • Stambaugh Stadium
  • Youngstown, OH
W 44–23
September 20at Boston University*
W 28–7
September 27Hofstra*
  • Stambaugh Stadium
  • Youngstown, OH
W 27–22
October 4at Indiana State
W 31–0
October 11Buffalodagger*
  • Stambaugh Stadium
  • Youngstown, OH
W 52–17
October 18at Northern Iowa
L 32–35
November 1Illinois State
  • Stambaugh Stadium
  • Youngstown, OH
W 13–0
November 8at Southern Illinois
W 34–102,000[5]
November 15Missouri State
  • Stambaugh Stadium
  • Youngstown, OH
W 45–13
November 22Western Illinois
  • Stambaugh Stadium
  • Youngstown, OH
L 21–2412,134[6]
November 29Hampton*
  • Stambaugh Stadium
  • Youngstown, OH (Division I–AA first round)
W 28–13
December 6at Villanova*
W 37–34
December 13at Eastern Washington*
W 25–148,529[7]
December 20vs. McNeese State*
W 10–914,771[2]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming

References[]

  1. ^ "2018 YSU Football Media Guide" (PDF). Youngstown State University. p. 43. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Penguins win 4th national title: Tidwell's TD pass lifts Youngstown State". The Times Recorder. Associated Press. December 21, 1997. p. 2B – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ 2018 Media Guide, p. 45.
  4. ^ 2018 Media Guide, pp. 31-32.
  5. ^ Hardwig, Greg (November 9, 1997). "Penguins ice SIU". The Southern Illinoisan. p. 1C. Retrieved January 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Leathernecks capture Gateway championship". The Southern Illinoisan. Associated Press. November 23, 1997. p. 3C. Retrieved November 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Eastern's last stand". The Spokesman-Review. December 14, 1997. pp. C1, C8 – via Newspapers.com.
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