| 1997 Youngstown State Penguins football | |
|---|---|
 | |
| NCAA Division I-AA champion | |
| NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game, W 10–9 vs. McNeese State | |
| Conference | Gateway Football Conference |
| Ranking | |
| Sports Network | No. 4 |
| Record | 13–2 (4–2 Gateway) |
| Head coach |
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| Home stadium | Stambaugh Stadium |
| Seasons← 19961998 → | |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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. It was Youngstown State's fourth national championship in seven years.
Quarterback Demond Tidwell received the team's most valuable player award. 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.
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 28 | 7:00 p.m. | Slippery Rock* | No. 11 | W 33–9 | 14,107 | ||||
| September 6 | 7:00 p.m. | Kent State* | No. 9 |
| W 44–23 | 17,974 | |||
| September 20 | 1:00 p.m. | at Boston University* | No. 6 | W 28–7 | 2,035 | ||||
| September 27 | 7:00 p.m. | Hofstra* | No. 2 |
| W 27–22 | 16,071 | |||
| October 4 | 2:00 p.m. | at Indiana State | No. 2 | W 31–0 | 5,335 | ||||
| October 11 | 1:00 p.m. | Buffalo* | No. 1 |
| W 52–17 | 20,519 | |||
| October 18 | 1:30 p.m. | at No. 24 Northern Iowa | No. 1 | L 32–35 | 12,218 | ||||
| November 1 | 1:00 p.m. | Illinois State | No. 4 |
| W 13–0 | 13,363 | |||
| November 8 | 12:30 p.m. | at Southern Illinois | No. 4 | W 34–10 | 2,000 | ||||
| November 15 | 1:00 p.m. | Southwest Missouri State | No. 4 |
| W 45–13 | 11,167 | |||
| November 22 | 1:00 p.m. | No. 2 Western Illinois | No. 4 |
| L 21–24 | 12,134 | |||
| November 29 | 1:00 p.m. | No. 9 Hampton* | No. 4 |
| W 28–13 | 12,431 | |||
| December 6 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 1 Villanova* | No. 4 |
| W 37–34 | 7,591 | |||
| December 13 | 12:30 p.m. | at No. 6 Eastern Washington* | No. 4 |
| W 25–14 | 8,529 | |||
| December 20 | 2:00 p.m. | vs. No. 7 McNeese State* | No. 4 | W 10–9 | 14,771 | ||||
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References
- "2018 YSU Football Media Guide" (PDF). Youngstown State University. p. 43. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
- ^ "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.
- 2018 Media Guide, p. 45.
- 2018 Media Guide, pp. 31-32.
- Hardwig, Greg (November 9, 1997). "Penguins ice SIU". The Southern Illinoisan. p. 1C. Retrieved January 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Youngstown St. rolls over SW Missouri". The Plain Dealer. November 16, 1997. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Leathernecks capture Gateway championship". The Southern Illinoisan. Associated Press. November 23, 1997. p. 3C. Retrieved November 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Penguins down Hampton". The Newark Advocate. November 30, 1997. Retrieved April 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Eastern's last stand". The Spokesman-Review. December 14, 1997. pp. C1, C8 – via Newspapers.com.
| 1997 Youngstown State Penguins football—NCAA Division I-AA national champions | |
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| Youngstown State Penguins football | |
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| Venues |
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| Bowls & rivalries |
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| Culture & lore | |
| People | |
| Seasons |
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| National championship seasons in bold | |
| 1997 NCAA Division I-AA football playoff participants | |
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| Champion – Youngstown State Penguins |