1997 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1997 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football Big Sky Conference Big Sky 6–5 4–4 Steve Axman 8th J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome The 1997 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football team was an American football team that represented Northern Arizona University (NAU) as a member of the Big Sky Conference (Big Sky) during the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA football season. In their eighth and final year under head coach Steve Axman, the Lumberjacks compiled a 6–5 record (4–4 against conference opponents), outscored opponents by a total of 302 to 261, and tied for fourth place in the Big Sky.2013 Northern Arizona Football Media Guide Northern Arizona University 2013 79 https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/nau.sidearmsports.com/documents/2017/5/26/2013_Football_Media_Guide-Web.pdf October 6, 2021 October 4, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211004022233/https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/nau.sidearmsports.com/documents/2017/5/26/2013_Football_Media_Guide-Web.pdf dead The team played its home games at the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome, commonly known as the Walkup Skydome, in Flagstaff, Arizona. The team's statistical leaders include Kino Carson with 1,099 rushing yards (including 200 yards vs. Cal State Northridge), Travis Brown with 3,395 passing yards, and Ricky Pearsall with 1,802 receiving yards.2013 Media Guide, pp. 31 and 56. After the season, NAU offered coach Axman a three-year contract at $82,000 per year. He rejected the deal and accepted a position as Minnesota's quarterbacks coach.Axman takes QB post at Minnesota Arizona Daily Sun March 25, 1998 16 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86698099/axman-takes-qb-post-at-minnesota/ Newspapers.com Schedule y y August 30 at New Mexico<ncg> University Stadium Albuquerque, NM L 10–33 25,643 Easier Said Than Done: Lobos Begin Season With Victory Over Lumberjacks Albuquerue Journal August 31, 1997 E1, E12 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86705483/easier-said-than-done-lobos-begin/ Newspapers.com4th quarter barrage too much for Jacks Arizona Daily Sun Jason Stone August 31, 1997 21 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86705536/4th-quarter-barrage-too-much-for-jacks/ Newspapers.com September 6 1997 St. Cloud State Huskies St. Cloud State<ncg> Walkup Skydome Flagstaff, AZ W 33–10 9,761 NAU does it the hare way: Despite sluggish start, Jacks beat St. Cloud, 33–10, in home opener Arizona Daily Sun Doug Cook September 7, 1997 21, 24 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86705578/nau-does-it-the-hare-way-despite/ Newspapers.comHuskies see lead slip away St. Cloud Times September 7, 1997 1C, 4C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86705619/huskies-see-lead-slip-away/ Newspapers.com September 20 1997 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs Minnesota-Duluth<ncg> Walkup Skydome Flagstaff, AZ W 40–6 7,013 NAU's offense leads way The Arizona Republic September 21, 1997 F5 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86705663/naus-offense-leads-way/ Newspapers.comJacks put hurt on Duluth, 40–6 Arizona Daily Sun Chris Lang September 21, 1997 21 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86705698/jacks-put-hurt-on-duluth-40-6/ Newspapers.com September 27 Portland State<hc> Walkup Skydome Flagstaff, AZ W 56–21 13,055 NAU stages happy Homecoming: Jacks demolish Portland State in Big Sky opener Arizona Daily Sun Chris Lang September 28, 1997 21, 26 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86705736/nau-stages-happy-homecoming-jacks/ Newspapers.comPSU gives up 561 yards at N. Arizona Statesman Journal Associated Press September 28, 1997 5B https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86705776/psu-gives-up-561-yards-at-n-arizona/ Newspapers.com October 4 at Weber State Stewart Stadium Ogden, UT L 23–36 10,261 Cats go wild: NAU upset by bitter rival Weber Arizona Daily Sun Jason Stone October 5, 1997 15, 16 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86705815/cats-go-wild-nau-upset-by-bitter-rival/ Newspapers.comCats jack nationally ranked NAU The Signpost Andrew Aragon Ogden, Utah October 6, 1997 12, 13 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86705861/cats-jack-nationally-ranked-nau/ Newspapers.com October 11 Montana State Walkup Skydome Flagstaff, AZ W 14–13 9,247 NAU's defense rises to occasion: 'Much-maligned' unit key to 14–13 Jacks win Arizona Daily Sun Jason Stone October 12, 1997 21, 24 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86705936/naus-defense-rises-to-occasion/ Newspapers.comNAU edges Bobcats The Montana Standard October 12, 1997 Associated Press B4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86705986/nau-edges-bobcats/ Newspapers.com October 18 at Sacramento State Hornet Stadium Sacramento, CA W 48–25 3,020 Jacks avoid Hornets' sting: But NAU may have lost St. Paul to injury Arizona Daily Sun Jason Stone October 19, 1997 21, 24 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86706019/jacks-avoid-hornets-sting/ Newspapers.comAnother Big Sky lesson: Sac State loses 48–25 The Sacramento Bee Jim Van Vliet October 19, 1997 C9 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86706049/another-big-sky-lesson-sac-state-loses/ Newspapers.com October 25 Montana Walkup Skydome Flagstaff, AZ W 27–24 15,417 Jacks exorcise 10-year ghost: After win over Griz, NAU controls own Big Sky destiny Arizona Daily Sun Jason Stone October 26, 1997 21, 22 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86706192/jacks-exorcise-10-year-ghost-after-win/ Newspapers.comJacks chop another notch out of swaying Griz The Missoulian Kim Briggeman October 26, 1997 C1, C8 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86706225/jacks-chop-another-notch-out-of-swaying/ Newspapers.com November 1 at Idaho State Holt Arena Pocatello, ID L 24–41 4,722 NAU embarrassed by last-place team The Arizona Republic Dave Ward November 2, 1997 F7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86706268/nau-embarrassed-by-last-place-team/ Newspapers.com November 8 Eastern Washington Walkup Skydome Flagstaff, AZ L 14–31 12,093 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-missoulian-eastern-clinches-share-of/176931842/ The Missoulian Eastern clinches share of league title November 9, 1997 July 18, 2025 Newspapers.com November 22 at Cal State Northridge North Campus Stadium Northridge, CA L 13–21 4,329 Matadors Go Out With a Stop The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Valley Fernando Dominguez November 23, 1997 C15 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11729006/csun_19971123_matadors_go_out_with_a/ Newspapers.com June 16, 2017 References Northern Arizona Category:Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football seasons Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football