1963 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 1963

| team = Pittsburgh Panthers

| sport = football

| image =

| image_size =

| conference = Independent

| CoachRank = 3

| APRank = 4

| record = 9–1

| head_coach = John Michelosen

| hc_year = 9th

| captain =

| stadium = Pitt Stadium

}}

The 1963 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 1963 NCAA University Division football season. Led by ninth-year head coach John Michelosen, the Panthers were 9–1 and were fourth in the final AP poll, third in the coaches poll.

The Panthers did not play in a bowl game; their most recent postseason appearance was in 1956 and the next was in 1973.

Schedule

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1963

| poll = AP

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 20

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = UCLA

| site_stadium = Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA

| score = 20–0

| attend = 28,095

| source = {{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mLcpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9E4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6036%2C1560011 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Press|title=Pitt passes test with UCLA |last=McHugh |first=Roy |date=September 21, 1963 |page=6}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 28

| w/l = w

| rank = 10

| opponent = Washington

| site_stadium = Pitt Stadium

| site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA

| score = 13–6

| attend = 36,946

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 5

| w/l = w

| rank = 9

| opponent = California

| site_stadium = Pitt Stadium

| site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA

| score = 35–15

| attend = 21,931

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 19

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 3

| opponent = West Virginia

| site_stadium = Mountaineer Field

| site_cityst = Morgantown, WV

| gamename = Backyard Brawl

| score = 13–10

| attend = 31,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-pitt-avoids-upse/139161282/|work=Richmond Times-Dispatch|title=Pitt avoids upset by WVU, wins, 13–10, with late score|date=October 20, 1963|accessdate=January 20, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 26

| w/l = l

| away = y

| rank = 3

| opponent = Navy

| opprank = 10

| site_stadium = Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Annapolis, MD

| score = 12–24

| attend = 30,231

| source = {{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yBkrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=aJwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6702%2C5887329 |newspaper=Reading Eagle |location=(Pennsylvania) |agency=UPI |title=Navy hands Pitt first grid loss |date=October 27, 1963 |page=31}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 2

| w/l = w

| homecoming = y

| rank = 10

| opponent = Syracuse

| site_stadium = Pitt Stadium

| site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 35–27

| attend = 44,217

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 9

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 8

| opponent = Notre Dame

| site_stadium = Notre Dame Stadium

| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 27–7

| attend = 41,306

| source = {{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QRMrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=d5wFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2063%2C4557707 |newspaper=Reading Eagle |location=(Pennsylvania) |agency=UPI |title=Devore loses temper, Irish bow to Panthers |date=November 10, 1963 |page=34}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 16

| w/l = w

| rank = 6

| opponent = Army

| site_stadium = Pitt Stadium

| site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA

| score = 28–0

| attend = 47,947

| source = {{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KY4jAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FZwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4086%2C1265300|newspaper=Reading Eagle |location=(Pennsylvania) |agency=UPI |title=Pitt wallops Army for No. 7 |date=November 17, 1963 |page=37}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 30

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 5

| opponent = Miami (FL)

| site_stadium = Miami Orange Bowl

| site_cityst = Miami, FL

| score = 31–20

| attend = 33,230

| source = {{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZsZaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OmwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7111%2C175508 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |last=Jordan |first=Jimmy |title=Pitt sure of one game against State Saturday |date=December 2, 1963 |page=35}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = December 7

| w/l = w

| rank = 4

| opponent = Penn State

| site_stadium = Pitt Stadium

| site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 22–21

| attend = 52,349

| source = {{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kp1RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YGwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6642%2C3627863 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |last=Jordan |first=Jimmy |title=57,331 sellout for Pitt-Penn State tilt |date=November 22, 1963 |page=25}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=a8ZaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OmwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7316%2C1189762 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |last=Jordan |first=Jimmy |title=55,000 to see Pitt battle Penn State at stadium today |date=December 7, 1963 |page=12}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yBMrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Z5wFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4147%2C4239378 |newspaper=Reading Eagle |location=(Pennsylvania) |agency=UPI |title=Pitt rallies to edge Penn State 22-21 |date=December 8, 1963 |page=40}}

}}

Opener at UCLA was played on Friday night.
Following the assassination of President Kennedy, the Penn State game was postponed two weeks to December 7.

Coaching staff

class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"
colspan="10" style="background:#091C44; color:#CEC499; text-align: center;" \| 1963 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff
colspan="10" align="right" \|
valign="top" \| \| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" \| Coaching staff John Michelosen – Head coach

class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"

colspan="10" style="background:#091C44; color:#CEC499; text-align: center;" | 1963 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff

colspan="10" align="right" |

valign="top" |

| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | Coaching staff

John Michelosen – Head coach

Game summaries

=At UCLA=

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Pittsburgh Panthers|year=1963|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Pittsburgh Panthers at UCLA Bruins – Game summary

|date=September 20

|time=11:15 PM EDT

|road=Panthers

|R1=7|R2=10|R3=3|R4=0

|home=Bruins

|H1=0|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0

|stadium=Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA

|attendance=28,095

|weather=

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=

}}

class="wikitable" style="float: left;" ! Statistics !! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|Pittsburgh Panthers\|year=1963\|border=1}}"\|PITT !!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|UCLA Bruins\|year=1963\|border=1}}"\|UCLA
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

class="wikitable" style="float: right;" ! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|Pittsburgh Panthers\|year=1963\|border=1}}"\|Pittsburgh	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|UCLA Bruins\|year=1963\|border=1}}; text-align:center;"\|UCLA	Passing
Rushing
Receiving

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=Pittsburgh|HomeName=UCLA|state=collapsed}}

=Washington=

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Pittsburgh Panthers|year=1963|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Washington Huskies at No. 10 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary

|date=September 28

|time=1:30 PM EDT

|road=Huskies

|R1=|R2=|R3=|R4=

|home=No. 10 Panthers

|H1=|H2=|H3=|H4=

|stadium=Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA

|attendance=36,946

|weather=

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=

}}

class="wikitable" style="float: left;" ! Statistics !! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|Washington Huskies\|year=1963\|border=1}}"\|WASH !!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Pittsburgh Panthers\|year=1963\|border=1}}"\|PITT
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

class="wikitable" style="float: right;" ! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|Washington Huskies\|year=1963\|border=1}}"\|Washington	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Pittsburgh Panthers\|year=1963\|border=1}}; text-align:center;"\|Pittsburgh	Passing
Rushing
Receiving

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=Washington|HomeName=Pittsburgh|state=collapsed}}

=California=

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Pittsburgh Panthers|year=1963|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=California Golden Bears at No. 9 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary

|date=October 5

|time=1:30 PM EDT

|road=Golden Bears

|R1=|R2=|R3=|R4=

|home=No. 9 Panthers

|H1=|H2=|H3=|H4=

|stadium=Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA

|attendance=21,931

|weather=

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=

}}

class="wikitable" style="float: left;" ! Statistics !! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|California Golden Bears\|year=1963\|border=1}}"\|CAL !!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Pittsburgh Panthers\|year=1963\|border=1}}"\|PITT
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

class="wikitable" style="float: right;" ! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|California Golden Bears\|year=1963\|border=1}}"\|California	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Pittsburgh Panthers\|year=1963\|border=1}}; text-align:center;"\|Pittsburgh	Passing
Rushing
Receiving

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=California|HomeName=Pittsburgh|state=collapsed}}

=At West Virginia=

{{see also|1963 West Virginia Mountaineers football team|Backyard Brawl}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Pittsburgh Panthers|year=1963|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=No. 3 Pittsburgh Panthers at West Virginia Mountaineers – Game summary

|date=October 19

|time=2:00 PM EDT

|road=No. 3 Panthers

|R1=7|R2=0|R3=0|R4=6

|home=Mountaineers

|H1=0|H2=3|H3=0|H4=7

|stadium=Mountaineer Field • Morgantown, WV

|attendance=32,000

|weather=

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=

}}

class="wikitable" style="float: left;" ! Statistics !! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|Pittsburgh Panthers\|year=1963\|border=1}}"\|PITT !!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|West Virginia Mountaineers\|year=1963\|border=1}}"\|WVU
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

class="wikitable" style="float: right;" ! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|Pittsburgh Panthers\|year=1963\|border=1}}"\|Pittsburgh	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|West Virginia Mountaineers\|year=1963\|border=1}}; text-align:center;"\|West Virginia	Passing
Rushing
Receiving

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=Pittsburgh|HomeName=West Virginia|state=collapsed}}

=At #10 Navy=

=Syracuse=

=At Notre Dame=

=Army=

=At Miami (FL)=

=Penn State=

{{see also|1963 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State–Pittsburgh football rivalry}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Pittsburgh Panthers|year=1963|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Penn State Nittany Lions at No. 4 Pittsburgh Panthers – Game summary

|date=December 7

|time=1:00 PM EST

|road=Nittany Lions

|R1=7|R2=7|R3=7|R4=0

|home=No. 4 Panthers

|H1=0|H2=12|H3=3|H4=7

|stadium=Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA

|attendance=52,349

|weather=

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=

}}

class="wikitable" style="float: left;" ! Statistics !! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|Penn State Nittany Lions\|year=1963\|border=1}}"\|PSU !!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Pittsburgh Panthers\|year=1963\|border=1}}"\|PITT
First downs
Total yards
Rushes/yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

class="wikitable" style="float: right;" ! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|Penn State Nittany Lions\|year=1963\|border=1}}"\|Penn State	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Pittsburgh Panthers\|year=1963\|border=1}}; text-align:center;"\|Pittsburgh	Passing
Rushing
Receiving

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=Penn State|HomeName=Pittsburgh|state=collapsed}}

Team players drafted into the NFL

class="wikitable" width="60%"
align="center" style="background:#091C44;color:#CEC499;" \| Player	Position	Round	Pick	NFL club
align="center" bgcolor="" \|Paul Martha	Defensive back	1	10	Pittsburgh Steelers
align="center" bgcolor="" \|Ray Popp	Guard	8	100	New York Giants
align="center" bgcolor="" \|Rick Leeson	Back	10	130	Washington Redskins
align="center" bgcolor="" \|Paul Cercel	Center	16	213	Dallas Cowboys
align="center" bgcolor="" \|Bryan Generalovich	End	20	275	Pittsburgh Steelers
align="center" bgcolor=""

Source{{cite web| url = https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1964.htm| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071223123711/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1964.htm| archive-date = 2007-12-23| title = 1964 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com| website = Pro-Football-Reference.com}}

Media

=Radio=

style="min-width:80%;text-align:center;" class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader\|team=Pittsburgh Panthers\|Flagship station\|Play-by-play\|Color commentator\|Sideline reporter\|Studio host}}
WWSW–AM 970

References

Pittsburgh

Category:Pittsburgh Panthers football seasons

Pittsburgh Panthers football

Category:Long stubs with short prose