1997 Colgate Red Raiders football team

The 1997 Colgate Red Raiders football team was an American football team that represented Colgate University during the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Colgate won the Patriot League championship.

1997 Colgate Red Raiders football
Patriot League champion
NCAA Division I-AA First Round, L 28–49 vs. Villanova
Conference	Patriot League
1997 record	7–5 (6–0 Patriot)
Head coach	Dick Biddle (2nd season)
Captains	Tim Girard Blair Hicks Dan Rivera
Home stadium	Andy Kerr Stadium

1997 Patriot League football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Colgate $^		6	–	0					7	–	5
No. 24 Bucknell		5	–	1					10	–	1
Fordham		4	–	2					5	–	6
Holy Cross		2	–	4					4	–	7
Lehigh		2	–	4					4	–	7
Lafayette		2	–	4					3	–	8
Towson		0	–	6					2	–	8
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant Rankings from The Sports Network poll

In its second season under head coach Dick Biddle, the team compiled a 7–5 record. Tim Girard, Blair Hicks and Dan Rivera were the team captains.[1]

The Red Raiders outscored opponents 414 to 300. Colgate was undefeated in league play to win its first conference championship. Because of the addition of Towson University to the league schedule, Colgate became the first Patriot League member to win six conference games in a year.[2]

The team played its home games at Andy Kerr Stadium in Hamilton, New York.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 6	at Richmond*	Andy Kerr Stadium Hamilton, NY	L 7–23	5,000	[3]
September 20	Fordham	Andy Kerr Stadium Hamilton, NY	W 27–14	7,000	[4]
September 27	at Cornell*	Schoellkopf Field Ithaca, NY (rivalry)	W 44–38 ^OT	11,700	[5]
October 4	Lehigh	Andy Kerr Stadium Hamilton, NY	W 61–28	6,000	[6]
October 11	at Lafayette	Fisher Field Easton, PA	W 44–6	3,098	[7]
October 18	Princeton*	Andy Kerr Stadium Hamilton, NY	L 28–31		[1]
October 25	at Army*	Michie Stadium West Point, NY	L 27–35	39,351	[8]
November 1	at Holy Cross	Fitton Field Worcester, MA	W 42–7	2,826	[9]
November 8	Towson	Andy Kerr Stadium Hamilton, NY	W 34–3	2,000	[10]
November 15	at Navy*	Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, MD	L 24–52	21,038	[11]
November 22	No. 24 Bucknell	Andy Kerr Stadium Hamilton, NY	W 48–14	6,000	[12]
November 29	at Villanova*	Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA (Division I-AA playoffs	L 28–49	8,875	[13]
*Non-conference game Rankings from The Sports Network Poll released prior to the game

References

1. "Colgate Athletic History: Football" (PDF). Hamilton, N.Y.: Colgate University. pp. 13-14 and 26. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
2. "Football All-Time Year-by-Year Results". Patriot League Football Record Book (PDF). Center Valley, Pa.: Patriot League. 2020. p. 6. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
3. "Spiders Start Fast, Climb Over Colgate". Press & Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton, N.Y. Associated Press. September 7, 1997. pp. 6F, 7F – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Colgate Thwarts Fordham 27-14". Rockland Journal-News. White Plains, N.Y. Associated Press. September 21, 1997. p. 7D – via Newspapers.com.
5. McShea, Keith (September 29, 1997). "A Wild One on Homecoming: Colgate Flies Past Cornell in Overtime Shootout, 44-38". The Ithaca Journal. Ithaca, N.Y. p. 3B – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Colgate Rolls with 678 Yards in Romp". Press & Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton, N.Y. Associated Press. October 5, 1997. pp. 6F, 7F – via Newspapers.com.
7. Meixell, Ted (October 12, 1997). "Colgate's 41-Point First Half Buries Leopards". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pa. p. C3 – via Newspapers.com.
8. Gross, Andrew (October 26, 1997). "Cadets Get Mission Accomplished". Rockland Journal-News. White Plains, N.Y. p. 7D – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Colgate Ends Skid vs. Crusaders in Style". Press & Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton, N.Y. Associated Press. November 2, 1997. pp. 4F, 6F – via Newspapers.com.
10. Hickling, Dan (November 26, 1997). "Colgate Rolls Past Towson in the Rain, 34-3". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Md. p. 7C – via Newspapers.com.
11. Goldstein, Alan (November 16, 1997). "Navy's Offense Pours It on Colgate, 52-24". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Md. p. 5C – via Newspapers.com.
12. Baker, Wayne (November 23, 1997). "BU Less Than Perfect: Colgate Brushes Back Bison's Bid for Unbeaten Year". The Daily Item. Sunbury, Pa. pp. C1, C10 – via Newspapers.com.
13. Juliano, Joe (November 30, 1997). "Villanova's Strong Finish Eliminates Colgate, 49-28". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pa. p. C6 – via Newspapers.com.