1997 Georgia Southern Eagles football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1997 Georgia Southern Eagles football Georgia Southern Eagles wordmark.svg Southern Conference SoCon 8 10–3 7–1 Paul Johnson 1st Mike Sewak 1st Triple option Rusty Russell 1st 4–3 Paulson Stadium SoCon champion NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal L 7–16 at Delaware The 1997 Georgia Southern Eagles football team represented Georgia Southern University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by first-year head coach Paul Johnson, the Eagles compiled an overall record of 10–3 with a mark of 7–1 in conference play, winning the SoCon title. Georgia Southern advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, where they beat Florida A&M in the first round before losing to Delaware in the quarterfinals. The Eagles played their home games at Paulson Stadium in Statesboro, Georgia. Schedule 1997 NCAA Division I-AA The Sports Network August 30 w y 1997 Valdosta State Blazers Valdosta State Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 45–26 10,572 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-telegraph-johnson-begins-coach/176159865/ The Macon Telegraph Johnson begins coaching career with a win August 31, 1997 July 7, 2025 Newspapers.com September 6 l y 23 William and Mary 3 Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 28–29 10,329 https://www.newspapers.com/article/martinsville-bulletin-wm-slips-past-geo/176160030/ Martinsville Bulletin W&M slips past Georgia Southern September 7, 1997 July 7, 2025 Newspapers.com September 20 w y 20 Wofford Gibbs Stadium Spartanburg, SC 22–7 7,236 https://www.newspapers.com/article/johnson-city-press-wofford-handed-first/176160150/ Johnson City Press Wofford handed first league loss September 21, 1997 July 7, 2025 Newspapers.com September 27 w 20 Chattanooga 22 Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 37–10 10,128 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-eagles-avenge-l/176160258/ The Atlanta Journal & Constitution Eagles avenge loss last year to UT–C September 28, 1997 July 7, 2025 Newspapers.com October 4 w y 17 VMI Alumni Memorial Field Lexington, VA 49–0 5,208 Georgia Southern 49, VMI 0 The Atlanta Journal & Constitution October 5, 1997 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94404199/georgia-southern-49-vmi-0/ February 6, 2022 Newspapers.com October 11 w 11 Western Carolina Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 30–7 11,368 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-herald-southern-still-perfect/176167433/ The Times-Herald Southern still perfect October 12, 1997 July 7, 2025 Newspapers.com October 18 l y 9 Appalachian State Kidd Brewer Stadium Boone, NC 12–24 13,887 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89723921/third-quarter-outbursts-carry-appalachia/ The Atlanta Constitution Third-quarter outbursts carry Appalachian State over Eagles October 19, 1997 November 28, 2021 Newspapers.com October 25 w 16 The Citadel Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 49–7 14,731 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-island-packet-citadel-run-over-by-ea/176167603/ The Island Packet Citadel run over by Eagles October 26, 1997 July 7, 2025 Newspapers.com November 1 w y 14 East Tennessee State 12 Memorial Center Johnson City, TN 38–30 5,629 https://www.newspapers.com/article/kingsport-times-news-eagles-upend-bucs/176167730/ Kingsport Times-News Eagles upend Bucs November 2, 1997 July 7, 2025 Newspapers.com November 8 w 11 Furman Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 30–13 18,269 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110027881/seven-turnovers-prove-too-costly-for-pal/ The Greenville News Seven turnovers prove too costly for Paladins November 9, 1997 September 22, 2022 Newspapers.com November 15 w y y 8 South Florida Houlihan's Stadium Tampa, FL 24–23 30,470 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-usf-fails-to-convert-f/176167856/ The Tampa Tribune-Times USF fails to convert for major upset of Eagles November 16, 1997 July 7, 2025 Newspapers.com November 29 w y 8 Florida A&M 10 Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA NCAA Division I-AA First Round 52–37 10,409 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-palm-beach-post-hill-ga-southern-f/173600264/ The Palm Beach Post Hill, Ga. Southern finish off Rattlers November 30, 1997 June 1, 2025 Newspapers.com December 6 l y y 8 Delaware 3 Delaware Stadium Newark, DE NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 7–16 11,203 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-telegraph-georgia-southern-can/176167985/ The Macon Telegraph Georgia Southern can't cross Delaware December 7, 1997 July 7, 2025 Newspapers.com 1997 Football Schedule https://gseagles.com/sports/football/schedule/1997 Georgia Southern University July 11, 2025 2024 Football Media Guide https://gseagles.com/documents/2024/7/16/2024GSFB_Guide.pdf Georgia Southern University 127 July 11, 2025 References Georgia Southern Category:Georgia Southern Eagles football seasons Category:Southern Conference football champion seasons Georgia Southern Eagles football Georgia Southern