1997 Villanova Wildcats football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1997 Villanova Wildcats football Atlantic 10 Conference A-10 1 12–1 8–0 Andy Talley 13th Dave Clawson 2nd Multiple Joe Trainer 1st 4–3 Josh Dolbin Derek Forgione Villanova Stadium A-10 champion NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal L 34–37 vs. Youngstown State The 1997 Villanova Wildcats football team represented Villanova University during the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA football season. It was the program's 100th season and they finished as Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10) champions after posting a perfect 8–0 record in conference play.1997 Villanova Wildcats football results College Football Data Warehouse William Goodyear https://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/coaching/alltime_coach_game_by_game.php?coachid=2290&year=1997 May 8, 2019 March 23, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160323004250/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/coaching/alltime_coach_game_by_game.php?coachid=2290&year=1997 dead2018 Villanova Wildcats Football Media Guide villanova.edu Villanova University 2018 http://publications.provationsgroup.org/publications/2018-Villanova-Football-Guide/#?page=0 May 8, 2019 The Wildcats earned a berth as the #1 seed into the 16-team Division I-AA playoffs, but lost in the quarterfinals to eventual national champion Youngstown State, 34–37. Villanova was led by 13th-year head coach Andy Talley. Villanova finished the year ranked #1 in the nation according to The Sports Network's final poll, which was released prior to the playoffs starting. Among the many postseason awards received, coach Talley was honored as the AFCA Coach of the Year and Eddie Robinson Award winner for being the Division I-AA national coach of the year. Senior wide receiver Brian Finneran received the Walter Payton Award, which is given to the nation's top offensive player. Schedule 1997 NCAA Division I-AA The Sports Network Eastern August 28 w y 1997 West Chester Golden Rams West Chester 18 (D-II) Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA 64–0 September 13 w y 19 Delaware 6 Delaware Stadium Newark, DE rivalry 35–25 September 20 w 10 Maine Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA 34–14 Villanova lights up UMaine https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75133032/the-bangor-daily-news/ April 5, 2021 The Bangor Daily News 22 September 1997 19 Newspapers.com October 4 w 4 James Madison 22 Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA 49–17 7,631 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87666053/finneran-rewrites-record-book-as-nova-r/ The Philadelphia Inquirer Finneran rewrites record book as 'Nova rolls to win October 5, 1997 October 24, 2021 Newspapers.com October 11 1:00 p.m. w 3 UMass Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA NESN 49–27 7,109 October 18 w y 3 Richmond UR Stadium Richmond, VA 40–29 6,240 'Nova stops Richmond, 40–29, on a banner day for Boden The Philadelphia Inquirer October 19, 1997 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112636661/nova-stops-richmond-4029-on-a-banner/ November 6, 2022 Newspapers.com October 25 w y 1 William & Mary 14 Zable Stadium Williamsburg, VA 20–13 10,559 November 1 w y 1 Rhode Island Meade Stadium Kingston, RI 37–15 November 8 w 1 New Hampshire Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA 23–20 November 15 1:00 p.m. w y 1 Buffalo Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA 42–28 6,831 November 22 w 1 1997 Northeastern Huskies Northeastern 20 Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA 49–35 November 29 w y 1 Colgate Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA NCAA Division I-AA First Round 49–28 8,875 Villanova's Strong Finish Eliminates Colgate, 49-28 Joe Juliano November 30, 1997 C6 The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pa. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59382167/1997-colgate-villanova/ December 6 12:00 p.m. l y 1 Youngstown State 4 Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 34–37 7,591 Roster 1997 Villanova Wildcats f 29 Sr Brad Finneran WR 25 Sr Brian Finneran WR y https://web.archive.org/web/19970617102509/http://www.fansonly.com/schools/nova/sports/m-footbl/mtt/nova-m-footbl-mtt.html *Andy Talley Awards and honors Walter Payton Award – Brian Finneran First Team All-America – Chris Boden (Walter Camp); Brian Finneran (Associated Press, The Sports Network, AFCA, Walter Camp) First Team All-Atlantic 10 – Chris Boden, Brian Finneran, Jason Tenner Second Team All-Atlantic 10 – George Freiberger, Mark Kiefer Third Team All-Atlantic 10 – Josh Dolbin, Ryan Knight, Shaun Lyons, Chris Machovina, Mitch McCrimmon, Shannon Riley AFCA Coach of the Year Award – Andy Talley Eddie Robinson Award – Andy Talley Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year – Andy Talley References Villanova Category:Villanova Wildcats football seasons Category:Atlantic 10 Conference football champion seasons Villanova Wildcats football Villanova