1963 Idaho Vandals football team

Led on the field by quarterbacks Gary Mires and Mike Monahan,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mdxXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JOkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7047%2C330914 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |title=Cougars vs. Vandals |agency=(probable lineups |date=November 2, 1963 |page=8 }} Idaho compiled a {{nowrap|5–4}} record for the program's first winning season in a quarter century, since 1938 under head coach Ted Bank.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3bZWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GukDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6452%2C2840009 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |last=Missildine |first=Harry |title=Big Six presidents commended for action |date=November 24, 1963 |page=1, sports}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=w95YAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ePcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4575%2C6056744 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington) |title=Vandal gridders are happy, but –|date=November 25, 1963 |page=16}} 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.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Gs1YAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3-gDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6582%2C2367041 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |last=Payne |first=Bob |title=Cougs tripped, Vandals surprise|date=September 22, 1963 |page=1, sports}} All five Vandal wins came in Idaho, played in three different regions of the state.

Although a slight favorite,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mdxXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JOkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7047%2C330914 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington)|last=Missildine|first=Harry |title=WSU, Idaho fans await "answer" |date=November 2, 1963 |page=8}} the Vandals suffered a ninth straight loss in the Battle of the Palouse with neighbor Washington State, falling {{nowrap|14–10}} at Rogers Field in Pullman on November 2. The difference was a fourth quarter Cougar touchdown on a kickoff return.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mtxXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JOkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6673%2C992656|newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |last=Missildine |first=Harry |title=Long dash defeats Vandals |date=November 3, 1963 |page=1, sports}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sd5YAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ePcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7220%2C565536 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington)|title=Gaskins gallops; WSU boss rides |date=November 4, 1963 |page=15}} 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. Although many teams postponed their games for a week, ASU had its rivalry game scheduled for November 30 against Arizona, so the {{nowrap|UI–ASU}} game was not played.

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.

{{CFB schedule

| timezone = Pacific

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 21

| time = 1:30 pm

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| opponent = Fresno State

| site_stadium = Neale Stadium

| site_cityst = Moscow, ID

| score = 32–8

| attend = 8,200

| source =

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 28

| time = 1:00 pm

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| neutral = y

| opponent = Utah

| site_stadium = old Bronco Stadium

| site_cityst = Boise, ID

| score = 10–9

| attend = 10,000

| source = {{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ic1YAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3-gDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3534%2C4943018 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |last=Payne |first=Bob |title=Vandals derail late blitz for 10-9 victory over Utah |date=September 29, 1963 |page=1, sports}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 5

| time =

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Missouri

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Columbia, MO

| score = 0–24

| attend = 40,000

| source = {{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-xhWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BeMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6183%2C736797 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |title=Missouri shuts out Idaho eleven |date=October 6, 1963 |page=5B }}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 12

| time = 1:30 pm

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Oregon

| site_stadium = Hayward Field

| site_cityst = Eugene, OR

| score = 21–41

| attend = 19,200

| source = {{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AhlWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BeMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5558%2C1970757 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |last=Leutzinger |first=Dick |title=Renfro leads Oregon to win |date=October 13, 1963 |page=1B }}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 19

| time = 1:30 pm

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| homecoming = y

| opponent = Pacific (CA)

| site_stadium = Neale Stadium

| site_cityst = Moscow, ID

| score = 64–6

| attend = 12,000

| source = {{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZWtWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6OgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6362%2C1877277 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |last=Payne |first=Bob |title=Vandals romp, Cougs submerged |date=October 20, 1963 |page=1, sports}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 26

| time = 1:30 pm

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| opponent = San Jose State

| site_stadium = Neale Stadium

| site_cityst = Moscow, ID

| score = 28–12

| attend = 8,700

| source = {{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bGtWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6OgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5716%2C3837695 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |last=Payne |first=Bob |title=Vandals (4-2) turn back Spartans |date=October 27, 1963 |page=1, sports}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 2

| time = 1:30 pm

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Washington State

| site_stadium = Rogers Field

| site_cityst = Pullman, WA

| gamename = Battle of the Palouse

| score = 10–14

| attend = 18,500

| source =

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 9

| time =

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Arizona

| site_stadium = Arizona Stadium

| site_cityst = Tucson, AZ

| score = 7–34

| attend = 17,000

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 16

| time =

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = Idaho State

| site_stadium = Spud Bowl

| site_cityst = Pocatello, ID

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 14–0

| attend =   6,500

| source = {{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1rZWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GukDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6677%2C635964 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |last=Payne |first=Bob |title=Idaho wins; Ford leads Cougars |date=October 17, 1963 |page=1, sports}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 23

| time =

| w/l = Canceled

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Arizona State

| site_stadium = Sun Devil Stadium

| site_cityst = Tempe AZ

| source = {{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=27ZWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GukDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4273%2C2106443 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |title=Idaho foe eyes bowl bid |date=November 22, 1963 |page=16}}

}}

}}

Final game was canceled following the assassination of President Kennedy.

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

No Vandals were selected to the All-Coast teams.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xd5YAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ePcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7038%2C6648488 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington) |title=All-Coast teams include Cougars |date=November 27, 1963 |page=12}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WvxVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UuMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6068%2C4900423 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |title=Mel Renfro gains berth on 1963 All-Pacific Coast eleven |date=November 27, 1963 |page=2B}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4LZWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GukDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6915%2C3853967 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |agency=Associated Press |title=Huskies, Trojans dominate AP All-Pacific Coast team |date=November 27, 1963 |page=12}}

{{clear}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1964/256 Gem of the Mountains: 1964 University of Idaho yearbook] – 1963 football season
• [https://gomightyvandals.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/1963-big-sky-founded/ Go Mighty Vandals] – 1963 football season
• [https://collections.lib.utah.edu/details?id=768572 Game program: Utah vs. Idaho at Boise] – September 28, 1963
• [https://content.libraries.wsu.edu/digital/collection/wsu_fb/id/3794/rec/1 Game program: Idaho at Washington State] – November 2, 1963
• [http://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/argonaut/years/1963.html Idaho Argonaut] – student newspaper – 1963 editions

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