1997 Villanova Wildcats football team

1997 Villanova Wildcats football
A-10 Conference Champions
Division I-AA Quarterfinals, L 34–37, vs. #4 Youngstown State
Conference	Atlantic 10 Conference
Ranking
Sports Network	No. 1
1997 record	12–1 (8–0 A-10)
Head coach	Andy Talley (13th season)
Captain	Josh Dolbin
Captain	Derek Forgione
Home stadium	Villanova Stadium
Seasons

Template:1997 Atlantic 10 Conference football standings 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. 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

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 28		No. 18 (Div. II) [[{{{school}}}|West Chester]]*		Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA		W 64–0
September 13		at No. 6 Delaware	No. 19	Delaware Stadium Newark, DE (Battle of the Blue)		W 35–25
September 20		Maine	No. 10	Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA		W 34–14
October 4		No. 22 James Madison	No. 4	Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA		W 49–17
October 11	1:00 p.m.	UMass	No. 3	Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA	NESN	W 49–27	7,109
October 18		at Richmond	No. 3	UR Stadium Richmond, VA		W 40–29
October 25		at No. 14 William & Mary	No. 1	Zable Stadium Williamsburg, VA		W 20–13	10,559
November 1		at Rhode Island	No. 1	Meade Stadium Kingston, RI		W 37–15
November 8		New Hampshire	No. 1	Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA		W 23–20
November 15	1:00 p.m.	Buffalo*	No. 1	Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA		W 42–28	6,831
November 22		No. 20 Northeastern	No. 1	Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA		W 49–35
November 29		Colgate*	No. 1	Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA (Division I-AA First Round)		W 49–28
December 6		No. 4 Youngstown State*	No. 1	Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA (Division I-AA Quarterfinals)		L 34–37
*Non-conference game Rankings from The Sports Network FCS Poll at time of game Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

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