1997 Illinois State Redbirds football team

1997 Illinois State Redbirds football
ConferenceGateway Football Conference
Record2–9 (0–6 GFC)
Head coach
Home stadiumHancock Stadium
1997 Gateway Football Conference standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 2 Western Illinois $^   6 – 0     11 – 2  
Northern Iowa   5 – 1     7 – 4  
No. 4 Youngstown State ^   4 – 2     13 – 2  
Southwest Missouri State   3 – 3     5 – 6  
Indiana State   2 – 4     3 – 8  
Southern Illinois   1 – 5     3 – 8  
Illinois State   0 – 6     2 – 9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
Rankings from The Sports Network poll

The 1997 Illinois State Redbirds football team represented Illinois State University as a member of the Gateway Football Conference (GFC) during the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA football season. In their second year under head coach Todd Berry, the Redbirds compiled an overall record of 2–9, with a mark of 0–6 in conference play, and finished seventh in the GFC. Illinois State played home games at Hancock Stadium in Normal, Illinois.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
August 30at Southern Utah*
L 13–44[1]
September 6Buffalo*
W 40–288,262[2]
September 13at Southeast Missouri State*
W 41–75,143[3]
September 20No. 19 Eastern Illinois*
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Normal, IL
L 14–25[4]
September 27at UNLV*
L 6–4120,556[5]
October 4No. 23 Northern Iowa
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Normal, IL
L 34–50[6]
October 11at Southern Illinois
L 29–313,000[7]
October 18at Southwest Missouri State
L 7–419,003[8]
October 25Indiana State
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Normal, IL
L 13–16 2OT[9]
November 1at No. 4 Youngstown State
L 0–1313,363[10]
November 8No. 2 Western Illinois
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Normal, IL
L 23–376,512[11]

References

  1. ^ "SUU pummels overmatched Illinois State". The Daily Spectrum. August 31, 1997. Retrieved January 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Mistakes gore Bulls, overshadow individual performances in 40–28 loss". The Buffalo News. September 7, 1997. Retrieved January 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "ISU, defense find road to romp". The Pantagraph. September 14, 1997. Retrieved January 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Eastern gets rush from McDavid". The Times. September 21, 1997. Retrieved January 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Denton passes Nevada Las Vegas to win". The Los Angeles Times. September 28, 1997. Retrieved January 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Panthers erupt for 50–34 win". The Courier. October 5, 1997. Retrieved January 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Reinhardt, Randy (October 12, 1997). "Late TD pass breaks ISU and hearts". The Pantagraph. p. F1. Retrieved January 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "ISU football team drowned by SW Missouri State blitz". The Pantagraph. October 19, 1997. Retrieved January 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Field goal sends Indiana State past Illinois State". The Springfield News-Leader. October 26, 1997. Retrieved January 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Penguins escape Illinois St". The Southern Illinoisan. November 2, 1997. Retrieved January 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Reinhardt, Randy (November 9, 1997). "Redbirds go out with a bang, loss". The Pantagraph. p. F1. Retrieved January 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
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