1963 Idaho Vandals football team

The 1963 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1963 NCAA University Division football season. The Vandals were led by second-year head coach Dee Andros and were an independent in the NCAA's University Division. Three home games were played on campus at Neale Stadium in Moscow, with one in Boise at old Bronco Stadium at Boise Junior College.

1963 Idaho Vandals football
ConferenceIndependent
Record5–4
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorSteve Musseau (2nd season)
Base defense5–2[1]
Captains
Home stadiumNeale Stadium
Seasons
← 1962
1964 →
1963 NCAA University Division independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 14 Memphis State     9 0 1
No. 3 Pittsburgh     9 1 0
No. 2 Navy     9 2 0
No. 12 Syracuse     8 2 0
Utah State     8 2 0
Oregon     8 3 0
No. 16 Penn State     7 3 0
Army     7 3 0
Air Force     7 4 0
Boston College     6 3 0
Buffalo     5 3 1
Southern Miss     5 3 1
Idaho     5 4 0
Villanova     5 4 0
Oregon State     5 5 0
San Jose State     5 5 0
Xavier     5 4 1
West Texas State     4 4 1
Florida State     4 5 1
Colgate     3 4 1
New Mexico State     3 6 1
Colorado State     3 7 0
Miami (FL)     3 7 0
Texas Western     3 7 0
Detroit     2 6 1
Holy Cross     2 6 1
Notre Dame     2 7 0
Pacific (CA)     2 8 0
Houston     2 8 0
Boston University     1 6 1
Dayton     1 7 2
Rankings from Coaches Poll

Season

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Led on the field by quarterbacks Gary Mires and Mike Monahan,[2] Idaho compiled a 5–4 record for the program's first winning season in a quarter century, since 1938 under head coach Ted Bank.[3][4] In between, Idaho had three seasons at an even .500, (1947, 1952, 1957). The victory over Fresno State was their first in a season opener in thirteen years.[5] All five Vandal wins came in Idaho, played in three different regions of the state.

Although a slight favorite,[6] the Vandals suffered a ninth straight loss in the Battle of the Palouse with neighbor Washington State, falling 14–10 at Rogers Field in Pullman on November 2. The difference was a fourth quarter Cougar touchdown on a kickoff return.[7][8] The rivalry game with Montana for the Little Brown Stein was not played this year or the next.

This was the second season (1959) in which Idaho scheduled ten games, but the finale at Arizona State in Tempe on November 23 was canceled following the assassination of President Kennedy.[3][4] Although many teams postponed their games for a week, ASU had its rivalry game scheduled for November 30 against Arizona, so the UI–ASU game was not played.[4]

Idaho was a charter member of the new Big Sky Conference, but did not participate in football until 1965, and was an independent from 1959 through 1964. The only Big Sky opponent on the Vandals' schedule in 1963 was conference champion Idaho State, whom they shut out on the road in Pocatello; the remainder of Idaho's opponents were in the University Division.

Senior guard Don Matthews went on to a successful coaching career in the Canadian Football League; he was a head coach for over twenty seasons and won five of nine Grey Cup games.

Schedule

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DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 211:30 pmFresno StateW 32–8  8,200[5]
September 281:00 pmvs. UtahW 10–910,000[9]
October 5at MissouriL 0–2440,000[10]
October 121:30 pmat OregonL 21–4119,200[11]
October 191:30 pmPacific (CA) 
  • Neale Stadium
  • Moscow, ID
W 64–612,000[12]
October 261:30 pmSan Jose State
  • Neale Stadium
  • Moscow, ID
W 28–12  8,700[13]
November 21:30 pmat Washington StateL 10–1418,500[7][8]
November 9at ArizonaL 7–3417,000
November 16at Idaho StateW 14–0  6,500[14]
November 23at Arizona StateCanceled [4][15]

Final game was canceled following the assassination of President Kennedy.[3][4]

Coaching career

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  • Dick Monroe, line
  • John Easterbrook, offensive backs
  • Bud Riley, freshmen

All-Coast

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No Vandals were selected to the All-Coast teams.[16][17][18]

References

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  1. ^ Musseau, Steve (August 30, 1963). "Idaho basic defense same – "wild-card" backfield subs". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 22.
  2. ^ "Cougars vs. Vandals". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). (probable lineups. November 2, 1963. p. 8.
  3. ^ a b c Missildine, Harry (November 24, 1963). "Big Six presidents commended for action". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Vandal gridders are happy, but –". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). November 25, 1963. p. 16.
  5. ^ a b Payne, Bob (September 22, 1963). "Cougs tripped, Vandals surprise". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
  6. ^ Missildine, Harry (November 2, 1963). "WSU, Idaho fans await "answer"". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 8.
  7. ^ a b Missildine, Harry (November 3, 1963). "Long dash defeats Vandals". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
  8. ^ a b "Gaskins gallops; WSU boss rides". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). November 4, 1963. p. 15.
  9. ^ Payne, Bob (September 29, 1963). "Vandals derail late blitz for 10-9 victory over Utah". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
  10. ^ "Missouri shuts out Idaho eleven". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. October 6, 1963. p. 5B.
  11. ^ Leutzinger, Dick (October 13, 1963). "Renfro leads Oregon to win". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1B.
  12. ^ Payne, Bob (October 20, 1963). "Vandals romp, Cougs submerged". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
  13. ^ Payne, Bob (October 27, 1963). "Vandals (4-2) turn back Spartans". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
  14. ^ Payne, Bob (October 17, 1963). "Idaho wins; Ford leads Cougars". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
  15. ^ "Idaho foe eyes bowl bid". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). November 22, 1963. p. 16.
  16. ^ "All-Coast teams include Cougars". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). November 27, 1963. p. 12.
  17. ^ "Mel Renfro gains berth on 1963 All-Pacific Coast eleven". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. November 27, 1963. p. 2B.
  18. ^ "Huskies, Trojans dominate AP All-Pacific Coast team". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. November 27, 1963. p. 12.
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