1997 Hampton Pirates football team

The 1997 Hampton Pirates football team represented Hampton University as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) during the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Joe Taylor, the Pirates compiled an overall record of 10–2, with a mark of 7–0 in conference play, and finished as MEAC champion. Hampton finished their season with a loss against Youngstown State in the Division I-AA playoffs. At the conclusion of the season, the Pirates were also recognized as black college national champion.

1997 Hampton Pirates football
ConferenceMid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Ranking
Sports NetworkNo. 9
Record10–2 (7–0 MEAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorDonald Hill-Eley (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorAlonzo Lee (1st season)
Home stadiumArmstrong Stadium
Seasons
 1996
1998 
1997 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 9 Hampton $^ 70  102 
No. 22 South Carolina State 52  92 
No. 10 Florida A&M ^ 52  93 
Howard 43  74 
North Carolina A&T 34  74 
Morgan State 25  37 
Bethune–Cookman 16  47 
Delaware State 16  38 
Norfolk State 00  37 
  • $ Conference champion
  • ^ NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
  • Norfolk State games did not count as conference games.
Rankings from The Sports Network poll

Schedule

edit
DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
August 30at No. 4 William & Mary*L 6–3110,667[1]
September 13at Howard
W 49–2111,711[2]
September 20at North Carolina A&TW 7–215,278[3]
September 27vs. Grambling State*
W 42–749,156[4]
October 4No. 12 Florida A&MW 18–1512,207[5]
October 11at Liberty*No. 25W 33–27 OT12,431[6]
October 18at Norfolk StateNo. 19W 9–26,521[7]
October 25No. 18 South Carolina StateNo. 15
  • Armstrong Stadium
  • Hampton, VA
W 20–145,979[8]
November 8at Bethune–CookmanNo. 12W 27–03,500[9]
November 15Delaware StatedaggerNo. 9
  • Armstrong Stadium
  • Hampton, VA
W 24–2014,311[10]
November 22Morgan StateNo. 9
  • Armstrong Stadium
  • Hampton, VA
W 10–04,015[11]
November 29at No. 4 Youngstown State*No. 9L 13–2812,431[12]

References

edit
  1. "Balanced Tribe proves too much for Pirates". Richmond Times-Dispatch. August 31, 1997. Retrieved April 15, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Hampton rolls". Richmond Times-Dispatch. September 14, 1997. Retrieved April 15, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Hampton beats N.C. A&T". Anderson Independent-Mail. September 21, 1997. Retrieved April 15, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Hampton U. rumbles past Grambling". Daily Press. September 28, 1997. Retrieved April 15, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Hampton hands FAMU its first loss". The Miami Herald. October 5, 1997. Retrieved April 15, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  6. "HU escapes in OT". Daily Press. October 12, 1997. Retrieved April 15, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Pirates douse Spartans". Daily Press. October 19, 1997. Retrieved April 15, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  8. "S.C. State runs out of late magic in loss to Hampton". The State. October 26, 1997. Retrieved April 15, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Hampton shuts out Wildcats". The Palm Beach Post. November 9, 1997. Retrieved April 15, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Hornets put scare in Hampton". The News Journal. November 16, 1997. Retrieved April 15, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Jackson, Hampton outrun Morgan State, 10–0". The Baltimore Sun. November 23, 1997. Retrieved April 15, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Penguins down Hampton". The Newark Advocate. November 30, 1997. Retrieved April 15, 2023 via Newspapers.com.