1963 Idaho Vandals football team

1963 Idaho Vandals football
Conference	Independent
Record	5–4
Head coach	Dee Andros (2nd season)
Defensive coordinator	Steve Musseau (2nd season)
Base defense	5–2 [1]
Captains	Don Matthews Galen Rogers
Home stadium	Neale Stadium
Seasons ←  1962 1964  →

1963 NCAA University Division independents football records

v t e	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

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.

Season

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

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 21	1:30 pm	Fresno State	Neale Stadium Moscow, ID	W 32–8	8,200	[5]
September 28	1:00 pm	vs. Utah	old Bronco Stadium Boise, ID	W 10–9	10,000	[9]
October 5		at Missouri	Memorial Stadium Columbia, MO	L 0–24	40,000	[10]
October 12	1:30 pm	at Oregon	Hayward Field Eugene, OR	L 21–41	19,200	[11]
October 19	1:30 pm	Pacific (CA)	Neale Stadium Moscow, ID	W 64–6	12,000	[12]
October 26	1:30 pm	San Jose State	Neale Stadium Moscow, ID	W 28–12	8,700	[13]
November 2	1:30 pm	at Washington State	Rogers Field Pullman, WA (Battle of the Palouse)	L 10–14	18,500	[7] [8]
November 9		at Arizona	Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ	L 7–34	17,000
November 16		at Idaho State	Spud Bowl Pocatello, Idaho (rivalry)	W 14–0	6,500	[14]
November 23		at Arizona State	Sun Devil Stadium Tempe AZ	Canceled		[4] [15]
Homecoming All times are in Pacific time

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

Coaching career

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

All-Coast

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

References

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. Missildine, Harry (November 24, 1963). "Big Six presidents commended for action". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
4. "Vandal gridders are happy, but –". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). November 25, 1963. p. 16.
5. 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. Missildine, Harry (November 3, 1963). "Long dash defeats Vandals". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
8. "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.

External links

• Gem of the Mountains: 1964 University of Idaho yearbook – 1963 football season
• Go Mighty Vandals – 1963 football season
• Game program: Utah vs. Idaho at Boise – September 28, 1963
• Game program: Idaho at Washington State – November 2, 1963
• Idaho Argonaut – student newspaper – 1963 editions