1997 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team

American college football season March 2026 August 2023 1997 Western Illinois Leathernecks football Gateway Football Conference Gateway 2 11–2 6–0 Randy Ball 8th Hanson Field Gateway champion NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal L 12–14 vs. McNeese State The 1997 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Gateway Football Conference during the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA football season. They were led by eighth-year head coach Randy Ball and played their home games at Hanson Field. The Leathernecks finished the season with an 11–2 record overall and a 6–0 record in conference play, making them conference champions. The team received an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, where they defeated Jackson State before losing to McNeese State in the quarterfinals.Western Illinois Football Record Book https://goleathernecks.com/documents/2021/10/17/Football_Record_Book_Updated_Oct_2021_.pdf Western Illinois University Athletics November 6, 2021 72 Running back Aaron Stecker, a transfer from Wisconsin, finished the year with 1,957 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns, which ranked second and first in Division I-AA respectively. Stecker was named the Gateway Conference's offensive player of the year.Bryant C.B. Leathernecks charge up hill behind Stecker https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88132280/ November 6, 2021 Clarion-Ledger November 28, 1997 1C Newspapers.com Schedule 1997 NCAA Division I-AA The Sports Network August 28 w y 9 Eastern Illinois 6 Hanson Field Macomb, IL 41–0 6,700 Western Illinois tops Eastern in opener https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88138108/ November 6, 2021 The Pantagraph Associated Press August 29, 1997 B4 Newspapers.com September 6 w y 5 1997 Truman State Bulldogs Truman State Hanson Field Macomb, IL 45–18 7,000 Leathernecks rout Truman State 45-18 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88459956/ November 6, 2021 Belleville News-Democrat Associated Press September 7, 1997 2D Newspapers.com September 13 w y y 5 Alcorn State Jack Spinks Stadium Lorman, MS 31–17 4,121 Record-setting Stecker runs over Alcorn https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88481124/ November 6, 2021 The Clarion-Ledger Associated Press September 14, 1997 5D Newspapers.com September 20 l y y 4 Marshall Marshall University Stadium Huntington, WV 7–48 26,724 Marshall easily pins first loss on Western Illinois https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88481506/ November 6, 2021 Herald and Review Associated Press September 21, 1997 C5 Newspapers.com October 4 w y y 9 1997 Southern Utah Thunderbirds Southern Utah Eccles Coliseum Cedar City, UT 45–6 4,445 Western Illinois 45, Southern Utah 6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88481796/ November 6, 2021 Quad-City Times October 5, 1997 3F Newspapers.com October 11 w 5 Northern Iowa 17 Hanson Field Macomb, IL 29–22<2OT> 13,446 2 OTs: UNI stumbles https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88482131/ November 6, 2021 Des Moines Register Associated Press October 12, 1997 6D Newspapers.com October 18 w y 5 Indiana State Memorial Stadium Terre Haute, IN 37–3 2,381 Western Illinois 37, Indiana State 3 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88482477/ November 6, 2021 Quad-City Times Associated Press October 19, 1997 2F Newspapers.com October 25 w 3 Southwest Missouri State Hanson Field Macomb, IL 37–7 10,874 Scranton Lyndal Stecker, W. Illinois stun SMS https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88482740/ November 6, 2021 Springfield News-Leader October 26, 1997 1C Newspapers.com November 1 w 2 Southern Illinois Hanson Field Macomb, IL 31–26 5,241 Hardwig Greg Stecker sticks it to SIU https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88482946/ November 6, 2021 The Southern Illinoisan November 2, 1997 1C Newspapers.com November 8 w y 2 Illinois State Hancock Stadium Normal, IL 37–23 6,512 Reinhardt Randy Redbirds go out with a bang, loss https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88483309/ November 6, 2021 The Pantagraph November 9, 1997 F1 Newspapers.com November 22 w y 2 Youngstown State 4 Stambaugh Stadium Youngstown, OH 24–21 12,134 Leathernecks capture Gateway championship https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88483506/ November 6, 2021 The Southern Illinoisan Associated Press November 23, 1997 3C Newspapers.com November 29 w y 2 Jackson State 14 Hanson Field Macomb, IL NCAA Division I-AA First Round 31–24 8,980 Cooper Craig WIU wins a wild one https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88483716/ November 6, 2021 Quad-City Times November 30, 1997 10S Newspapers.com December 6 l y 2 McNeese State 7 Hanson Field Macomb, IL NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 12–14 5,000 Western Illinois falls to McNeese State in quarters https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88484173/ November 6, 2021 The Pantagraph Associated Press December 7, 1997 F3 Newspapers.com References Western Illinois Category:Western Illinois Leathernecks football seasons Category:Missouri Valley Football Conference champion seasons Western Illinois Leathernecks football Western Illinois