1997 Southwest Missouri State Bears football team

The 1997 Southwest Missouri State Bears football team represented Southwest Missouri State University (now known as Missouri State University) as a member of the Gateway Football Conference (GFC) during the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by third-year head coach Del Miller, the Bears compiled an overall record of 5–6, with a mark of 3–3 in conference play, and finished fourth in the GFC.

1997 Southwest Missouri State Bears football
ConferenceGateway Football Conference
Record5–6 (3–3 GFC)
Head coach
Home stadiumPlaster Sports Complex
Seasons
← 1996
1998 →
1997 Gateway Football Conference standings
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

Schedule

edit
DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
August 28Pittsburg State*L 8–916,672[1]
September 67:00 p.m.at Jacksonville State*W 47–4214,023[2]
September 13No. 20 McNeese State*
  • Plaster Sports Complex
  • Springfield, MO
L 16–2813,385[3]
September 20Tennessee–Martin*
  • Plaster Sports Complex
  • Springfield, MO
W 27–14[4]
October 4at Southern IllinoisW 36–3512,200[5]
October 11Indiana State
  • Plaster Sports Complex
  • Springfield, MO
W 22–7[6]
October 18Illinois State
  • Plaster Sports Complex
  • Springfield, MO
W 41–79,003[7]
October 25at No. 3 Western IllinoisL 7–3710,874[8]
November 1No. 25 Northern Iowa
  • Plaster Sports Complex
  • Springfield, MO
L 22–23[9]
November 8at Arkansas State*L 27–35[10]
November 1512:00 p.m.at No. 4 Youngstown StateL 13–4511,167[11]

[12]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Pitt State wins opener". The Wichita Eagle. August 29, 1997. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "You want excitement, you got it; Williams put stamp on JSU despite loss". The Anniston Star. September 7, 1997. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Bears' offense sputters in loss". The Springfield News-Leader. September 14, 1997. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "UTM's Ruffin sets record in loss". The Jackson Sun. September 21, 1997. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Salukis smarting". Southern Illinoisan. October 5, 1997. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Indiana State falls to SW Missouri St". The Times. October 12, 1997. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "ISU football team drowned by SW Missouri State blitz". The Pantagraph. October 19, 1997. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Stecker, W. Illinois stun SMS". Springfield News-Leader. October 26, 1997. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Fortney, Northern Iowa outlast Bears in Gateway thriller". The Des Moines Register. November 2, 1997. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Long passes power A-State". The Commercial Appeal. November 9, 1997. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Youngstown St. rolls over SW Missouri". The Plain Dealer. November 16, 1997. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Missouri State Football 2023 Media Guide" (PDF). Missouri State University Athletics. p. 65. Retrieved June 30, 2024.