The 1963 Eau Claire State Blugolds football team was an American football team that represented Wisconsin State College at Eau Claire (now known as the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire) as a member of the Wisconsin State College Conference (WSCC) during the 1963 NAIA football season. In their seventh year under head coach James J. Rice, the Blugolds compiled a perfect 7–0 record (6–0 in conference play), won the WSCC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 122 to 55. It was Eau Claire's first undefeated season since 1920.[1]
| 1963 Eau Claire State Blugolds football | |
|---|---|
WSCC champion | |
| Conference | Wisconsin State College Conference |
| Record | 7–0 (6–0 WSCC) |
| Head coach |
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| Home stadium | Carson Park |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 13 Eau Claire State $ | 6 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stevens Point State | 6 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Whitewater State | 5 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Superior State | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Platteville State | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| River Falls State | 3 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 3 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stout State | 2 | – | 4 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Milwaukee | 1 | – | 4 | – | 1 | 1 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oshkosh State | 0 | – | 5 | – | 2 | 0 | – | 5 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| La Crosse State | 0 | – | 6 | – | 1 | 0 | – | 8 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Junior quarterback Jim Van Gorden led the WSCC in passing with an average of 133.3 passing yars per game.[2] He also set six school records.[3] The Blugolds also led the WSCC in pass defense, giving up only 52.5 passing yards per game.[2]
The team's statistical leaders included Van Gorden with 764 passing yards, eight interceptions, and ten touchdown passes; Ray Cheyka with 321 rushing yards on 89 carries; and Gerry Gendron with 20 pass receptions for 315 yards and six touchdowns.[4]
Four Eau Claire players were selected as first-team players on the 1963 All-WSCC football team: Van Gorden at quarterback; Dave La Viollette at halfback; Gerry Gendron at offensive end; and Gene Golden at defensive end. Other players received honorable mention: fullback Ray Cheyka; offensive guard Pat Page; offensive tackle Ken Hoffman; defensive guard Jerry Gourink; linebackers Marv Holptas and Ken Biegel; and defensive backs Dennis Rivers and Pat Fraley.[5]
The team played its home games at Carson Park in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Schedule
edit| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 14 | Winona State* | W 27–8 | [6] | ||||
| September 21 | at Whitewater State | Whitewater, WI | W 14–12 | [7][8] | |||
| September 28 | at River Falls State |
| W 14–7 | 4,500 | [9] | ||
| October 5 | Oshkosh State |
| W 19–7 | [10] | |||
| October 12 | at Stout State |
| W 12–2 | [11] | |||
| October 19 | La Crosse State |
| W 22–13 | 5,000 | [12][13] | ||
| October 26 | Superior State |
| W 14–6 | 6,000 | [14] | ||
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References
edit- ^ "Pass Offense, Defense Key Blugolds Greatest Season". The Daily Telegram. November 2, 1963. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Blugolds Top WSCC in Pass Offense Defense". The Eau Claire Leader. November 12, 1963. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Van Gorden 'Mister Big' for Undefeated Blugolds". The Daily Telegram. November 1, 1963. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Blugold Statistics". The Daily Telegram. November 2, 1963. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Van Gorden, Gendron, Golden, LaViollete Gain All-Conference". The Daily Telegram. November 23, 1963. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Jim Pickett (September 15, 1963). "Blugolds Jar Winona in Grid Opener, 27-6: Strong Third Quarter Paves Way to Victory". The Eau Claire Leader. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Jim Pickett (September 20, 1963). "Blugolds Play at Whitewater". The Daily Telegram. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Jim Pickett (September 23, 1963). "Blugolds Upend Whitewater: Van Gordon Sets Pass Mark in 14-12 Victory". The Daily Telegram. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Jim Pickett (September 30, 1963). "Blugolds Hand Falcons 14-7 Loop Loss: Eau Claire Ties Point for First". The Daily Telegram. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Jim Pickett (October 6, 1963). "Blugolds Topple Oshkkosh, 19-13, Stay Undefeated: Van Gordon Sets Pass Record, Ties Another". The Eau Claire Leader. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Jim Pickett (October 13, 1963). "Trotzer Leads Blugolds Past Stout, 12-2: Gendron Catches Two TD Passes". The Eau Claire Leader. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Blugolds Meet LaCrosse in Homecoming". Leader-Telegram. October 18, 1963. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Jim Pickett (October 20, 1963). "Van Gorden Hurls Blugolds into 1st as Point Loses: La Crosse 22-13 Eau Claire Victim". The Eau Claire Leader. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Jim Pickett (October 27, 1963). "Blugolds Win Title with Undefeated Season". The Eau Claire Leader. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.