1997 Findlay Oilers football team

The 1997 Findlay Oilers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Findlay as a member of the Midwest League within the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) during the 1997 NAIA football season. In their 23rd season under head coach Dick Strahm, the Oilers compiled a perfect 14–0 record (6–0 against conference opponents), outscored opponents by a total of 567 to 179, and won the NAIA national championship, defeating Willamette, 14–7, in the NAIA Championship Game.^[1]

1997 Findlay Oilers football
NAIA national champion MSFA Midwest League champion
NAIA National Championship Game, W 14–7 vs. Willamette
Conference	Mid-States Football Association
Division	Midwest League
Record	14–0 (6–0 MSFA)
Head coach	Dick Strahm (23rd season)
Home stadium	Donnell Stadium
Seasons ← 1996 1998 →

1997 Mid-States Football Association standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Mideast League
No. 5 Geneva x^		6	–	0					11	–	2
No. 8 Westminster (PA) ^		5	–	1					9	–	2
No. 21 Walsh		4	–	2					7	–	3
Malone		3	–	3					5	–	5
Tri-State		2	–	4					4	–	6
Tiffin		1	–	4					4	–	7
Urbana		0	–	6					0	–	10
Midwest League
No. 1 Findlay x^		6	–	0					14	–	0
No. 24 Taylor		5	–	1					7	–	3
Olivet Nazarene		4	–	2					7	–	3
St. Ambrose		3	–	3					4	–	6
Iowa Wesleyan		1	–	5					4	–	7
Saint Xavier		1	–	5					1	–	9
Trinity International		1	–	5					1	–	9
x – League champion/co-champions ^ – NAIA playoff participant Rankings from NAIA poll

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 6	Campbellsville*	Findlay, OH	W 28–20
September 20	at Mercyhurst*	Erie, PA	W 44–14
September 27	at Tiffin*	Tiffin, OH	W 54–14
October 4	at Olivet Nazarene	Bourbonnais, IL	W 35–24
October 11	St. Ambrose	Findlay, OH	W 48–24
October 18	Trinity International	Deerfield, IL	W 34–7
October 25	Iowa Wesleyan	Findlay, OH	W 62–7
November 2	Saint Xavier	Chicago, IL	W 70–8
November 8	Taylor	Findlay, OH	W 55–7
November 15	Tri-State*	Findlay, OH	W 29–15
November 22	Westminster (PA)*	Findlay, OH (NAIA first round)	W 40–0		^[2]
December 6	Geneva*	Findlay, OH (NAIA quarterfinal)	W 28–7		^[3]
December 13	Doane*	Findlay, OH (NAIA semifinal)	W 26–25		^[4]
December 20	Willamette*	Jim Carroll Stadium Savannah, TN (NAIA Championship Game)	W 14–7		^[5]^[6]
*Non-conference game

References

1. "The University of Findlay Oilers Football Media Guide 2011". University of Findlay. 2011. p. 65.
2. "Findlay 40, Westminster 0". The Akron Beacon Journal. November 23, 1997. p. C10 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Findlay 28, Geneva 7". The Newark Advocate. December 7, 1997. p. 5B – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Findlay advances to NAIA title contest". The Marion Star. December 14, 1997. p. 2B – via Newspapers.com.
5. Andrew Gilman (December 21, 1997). "Findlay Takes NAIA Title (part 1)". The Jackson Sun. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.
6. Andrew Gilman (December 21, 1997). "Findlay Takes NAIA Title (part 1)". The Jackson Sun. p. 10D – via Newspapers.com.