1997 Southwest Texas State Bobcats football team

1997 Southwest Texas State Bobcats football
Conference	Southland Football League
Record	5–6 (2–5 Southland)
Head coach	Bob DeBesse (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	Scott Bruning (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	David Bailiff (1st season)
Home stadium	Bobcat Stadium
Seasons ←  1996 1998  →

1997 Southland Football League standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 7 McNeese State +^		6	–	1					13	–	2
No. 21 Northwestern State +^		6	–	1					8	–	4
No. 13 Stephen F. Austin		5	–	2					8	–	3
Sam Houston State		3	–	4					5	–	6
Nicholls State		3	–	4					5	–	6
Southwest Texas State		2	–	5					5	–	6
Troy State		2	–	5					5	–	6
Jacksonville State		1	–	6					1	–	10
+ – Conference co-champions ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant Rankings from The Sports Network poll

The 1997 Southwest Texas State Bobcats football team was an American football team that represented Southwest Texas State University (now known as Texas State University) during the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA football season as a member of the Southland Football League. In their first year under head coach Bob DeBesse, the team compiled an overall record of 5–6 with a mark of 2–5 in conference play.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 4	Sacramento State *	Bobcat Stadium San Marcos, TX	W 24–14	14,164	[1]
September 13	at Hofstra *	Hofstra Stadium Hempstead, NY	L 24–28		[2]
September 20	Montana State *	Bobcat Stadium San Marcos, TX	W 28–26	19,198	[3]
October 2	No. 7 Troy State	Bobcat Stadium San Marcos, TX	W 31–17		[4]
October 11	at No. 18 Nicholls State	John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA (Rivalry)	L 28–29		[5]
October 18	at Northwestern State	Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA	L 3–31		[6]
October 25	Southern Utah *	Bobcat Stadium San Marcos, TX	W 21–7	11,413	[7]
November 1	at No. 7 Stephen F. Austin	Homer Bryce Stadium Nacogdoches, TX	L 28–31		[8]
November 8	McNeese State	Bobcat Stadium San Marcos, TX	L 21–31		[9]
November 15	at Jacksonville State	Paul Snow Stadium Jacksonville, AL	W 35–27	3,208	[10]
November 22	Sam Houston State	Bobcat Stadium San Marcos, TX	L 30–35		[11]
*Non-conference game Rankings from The Sports Network Poll released prior to the game

References

1. "Southwest Texas downs Sac State". The Sacramento Bee. September 5, 1997. Retrieved March 10, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
2. "Flinging Dutchman, Career day passing for Carmazzi". Newsday. September 14, 1995. Retrieved March 6, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
3. "SW Texas wins battle of Bobcats". The Missoulian. Associated Press. September 21, 1997. p. C5. Retrieved March 6, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
4. "Bobcats barrage, ruthless defense, Mathis' running knock off No. 7 Troy". Austin American-Statesman. October 3, 1997. Retrieved March 10, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
5. "Southwest Texas edged on late field goal". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. October 12, 1997. Retrieved March 10, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
6. "Demons defense dominates". The Shreveport Times. October 19, 1997. Retrieved March 10, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
7. "T-Birds can't turn yards into points in 21–7 loss to Bobcats". The Salt Lake Tribune. October 26, 1997. Retrieved March 10, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
8. "SFA edges Southwest Texas". The Tyler Courier-Times. November 2, 1997. Retrieved March 8, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
9. "McNeese St. 31, SW Texas 21". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. November 9, 1997. Retrieved March 10, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
10. "SW Texas runs over Gamecocks". The Anniston Star. November 16, 1997. Retrieved March 10, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
11. "SHSU edges Bobcats". Victoria Advocate. November 23, 1997. Retrieved March 10, 2022– via Newspapers.com.