1997 Hampton Pirates football team

The 1997 Hampton Pirates football team represented Hampton University as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) during the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Joe Taylor, the Pirates compiled an overall record of 10–2, with a mark of 7–0 in conference play, and finished as MEAC champion. Hampton finished their season with a loss against Youngstown State in the Division I-AA playoffs. At the conclusion of the season, the Pirates were also recognized as black college national champion.

1997 Hampton Pirates football
Black college national champion MEAC champion
NCAA Division I-AA First Round, L 13–28 vs. Youngstown State
Conference	Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Ranking
Sports Network	No. 9
Record	10–2 (7–0 MEAC)
Head coach	Joe Taylor (6th season)
Offensive coordinator	Donald Hill-Eley (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Alonzo Lee (1st season)
Home stadium	Armstrong Stadium
Seasons ← 1996 1998 →

1997 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 9 Hampton $^		7	–	0					10	–	2
No. 22 South Carolina State		5	–	2					9	–	2
No. 10 Florida A&M ^		5	–	2					9	–	3
Howard		4	–	3					7	–	4
North Carolina A&T		3	–	4					7	–	4
Morgan State		2	–	5					3	–	7
Bethune–Cookman		1	–	6					4	–	7
Delaware State		1	–	6					3	–	8
Norfolk State		0	–	0					3	–	7
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant Norfolk State games did not count as conference games. Rankings from The Sports Network poll

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
August 30	at No. 4 William & Mary*		Zable Stadium Williamsburg, VA	L 6–31	10,667	[1]
September 13	at Howard		RFK Stadium Washington, DC (Greater Washington Urban League Football Classic, rivalry)	W 49–21	11,711	[2]
September 20	at North Carolina A&T		Aggie Stadium Greensboro, NC	W 7–2	15,278	[3]
September 27	vs. Grambling State*		Giants Stadium East Rutherford, NJ (Urban League Classic)	W 42–7	49,156	[4]
October 4	No. 12 Florida A&M		Armstrong Stadium Hampton, VA	W 18–15	12,207	[5]
October 11	at Liberty*	No. 25	Williams Stadium Lynchburg, VA	W 33–27 OT	12,431	[6]
October 18	at Norfolk State	No. 19	William "Dick" Price Stadium Norfolk, VA (rivalry)	W 9–2	6,521	[7]
October 25	No. 18 South Carolina State	No. 15	Armstrong Stadium Hampton, VA	W 20–14	5,979	[8]
November 8	at Bethune–Cookman	No. 12	Daytona Stadium Daytona Beach, FL	W 27–0	3,500	[9]
November 15	Delaware State	No. 9	Armstrong Stadium Hampton, VA	W 24–20	14,311	[10]
November 22	Morgan State	No. 9	Armstrong Stadium Hampton, VA	W 10–0	4,015	[11]
November 29	at No. 4 Youngstown State*	No. 9	Stambaugh Stadium Youngstown, OH (NCAA Division I-AA First Round)	L 13–28	12,431	[12]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from The Sports Network Poll released prior to the game