The 1897 New Hampshire football team was an American football team that represented New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts during the 1897 college football season—the school became the University of New Hampshire in 1923. The team played a seven-game schedule and finished with a record of 2–5.
Schedule Scoring during this era awarded four points for a touchdown, two points for a conversion kick (extra point), and five points for a field goal. Teams played in the one-platoon system and the forward pass was not yet legal. Games were played in two halves rather than four quarters.
The team's original schedule included games against Holy Cross, Maine, and Boston College. New Hampshire would not play these teams until 1909, 1903, and 1899, respectively.
The October 2 game in Amherst was the first meeting in the New Hampshire–Massachusetts football rivalry.
The final game of the season was awarded to Dover by a score of 6–0, as the New Hampshire team left the field due to rough play. The score on the field had been 6–0 in favor of New Hampshire at the time the game was abandoned.
Roster Name Position Team photo location Harry E. Barnard right tackle seated, third from left Richard C. Butterfield left guard standing, third from right Henry H. Calderwood fullback on floor, second from right Guy M. Cleaveland right halfback on floor, leftmost G. S. Demerritt student manager seated, center (in suit) Dimick right guard standing, third from left Harry G. Farwell right end seated, rightmost Arthur Given center standing, center Fred H. Grover left guard (sub.) seated, third from right Hancock right end standing, leftmost Fred F. Hayes (captain) right halfback on floor, center (with football) J. Norton Hunt left end standing, rightmost Rutherford B. Lewis quarterback on floor, second from left Harry C. Mathes left tackle seated, second from right Fred D. Sanborn right guard standing, second from left Twombly left halfback (sub.) seated, second from left John E. Wilson left halfback on floor, rightmost Robert M. Wright left tackle standing, second from right York left end (sub.) seated, leftmost Source:
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