What Is 1997 La Salle Explorers football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1997 La Salle Explorers football team represented La Salle University in the NCAA Division I-AA football season as a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). They finished the season with a 2–9 record under head coach Tim Miller, who was in his second year leading the program.

Key Facts

The 1997 La Salle Explorers finished with a 2–9 overall record
They were part of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) football league
Head coach Tim Miller was in his second season at the helm
La Salle played its home games at McCarthy Stadium in Philadelphia
The program was discontinued after the 2007 season

Overview

The 1997 La Salle Explorers football team competed in the NCAA Division I-AA football season as a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). Led by head coach Tim Miller, the team struggled on both offense and defense, finishing with a 2–9 overall record and 1–5 in conference play.

As a small private university in Philadelphia, La Salle faced challenges competing against larger programs with deeper resources. Despite the losing record, the season contributed to the broader history of the school’s short-lived football program, which was ultimately discontinued in 2007.

2–9 record: The Explorers won only two games during the 1997 season, both against non-conference opponents, highlighting struggles in competitive consistency.
MAAC membership: La Salle competed in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, which sponsored football from 1993 to 2007 before dissolving the league.
Tim Miller: In his second year as head coach, Miller led the team through rebuilding efforts but failed to improve on the previous season’s 3–8 record.
McCarthy Stadium: The team played its home games at McCarthy Stadium, a small on-campus facility with limited seating and outdated infrastructure.
Program history: The 1997 season was part of a decade-long run of football at La Salle, which began in 1990 and ended after 2007 due to financial and logistical challenges.

Season Structure and Competition

The 1997 season followed a typical 11-game college football schedule, with a mix of conference and non-conference matchups. The Explorers faced teams from the MAAC and independent programs, most of which were similarly sized Division I-AA schools.

Division I-AA: Now known as the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), this level featured schools with smaller athletic budgets and scholarship limits compared to Division I-A.
Non-scholarship program: La Salle did not offer athletic scholarships for football, placing it at a disadvantage against schools that did.
Offensive struggles: The team averaged fewer than 17 points per game, reflecting difficulties in sustaining drives and converting scoring opportunities.
Defensive performance: The Explorers allowed over 30 points per game, indicating challenges in stopping both the run and the pass.
Home and away splits: La Salle won one home and one away game, showing no significant advantage playing at McCarthy Stadium.
Final game: The season concluded with a 34–14 loss to Marist, a fellow MAAC member, on November 15, 1997.

Comparison at a Glance

The 1997 La Salle Explorers are best understood in comparison to peer programs in the MAAC and other non-scholarship FCS teams. The table below highlights key metrics.

Team	Record (1997)	Conference	Scholarships?	Stadium Capacity
La Salle Explorers	2–9	MAAC	No	3,000
Marist Red Foxes	4–7	MAAC	No	5,000
Wagner Seahawks	6–5	NEC	Yes	3,500
Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens	5–6	Atlantic 10	Yes	22,000
Dayton Flyers	7–4	Pioneer League	No	12,500

La Salle’s performance was below average even among non-scholarship peers. Dayton, also non-scholarship, posted a winning record, suggesting structural or coaching differences. The lack of scholarships and limited fan support contributed to the program’s long-term unsustainability.

Why It Matters

The 1997 season is a case study in the challenges faced by small, non-scholarship football programs at private institutions. While not a national contender, La Salle’s efforts reflected broader trends in college athletics.

Financial strain: Maintaining a football program cost La Salle hundreds of thousands annually, leading to eventual discontinuation in 2007.
Student-athlete balance: The program emphasized academics, with many players maintaining strong GPAs despite limited playing time.
Community impact: Games provided campus events and spirit, though attendance rarely exceeded 1,000 fans.
Conference instability: The MAAC dropped football after 2007, leaving several schools without a league.
Historical record: The 1997 season remains part of La Salle’s athletic archives, accessible through university records and NCAA databases.
Legacy: Former players and coaches note the program fostered leadership and teamwork, even without on-field success.

Though the 1997 La Salle Explorers did not achieve winning records or postseason play, their season exemplifies the dedication required to sustain collegiate sports at smaller institutions. Their story continues to inform discussions about the future of non-scholarship football in NCAA athletics.