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1963 Idaho Vandals football
1963 Idaho Vandals football
Conference	Big Sky Conference
Record	5–4 (1–0 Big Sky)
Head coach	Dee Andros (2nd season);
Defensive coordinator	Steve Musseau (2nd season)
Base defense	5–2
Captains	Don Matthews; Galen Rogers;
Home stadium	Neale Stadium
	Seasons ← 1962 1964 →

1963 Big Sky Conference football standings
v t e	Conf					Overall
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
Idaho State $	3	–	1	–	0	5	–	3	–	0
Montana State	2	–	1	–	0	6	–	3	–	0
Weber State	1	–	2	–	0	6	–	3	–	0
Montana	0	–	3	–	0	1	–	9	–	0
Idaho *	1	–	0	–	0	5	–	4	–	0

$ – Conference champion * – Insufficient number of games for conference championship

The 1963 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho as a member of the newly-formed Big Sky Conference during the 1963 NCAA University Division football season. Led by second-year head coach Dee Andros, the Vandals compiled an overall record of 5–4 with a mark of 1–0 in conference play. Idaho was ineligible for the Big Sky championship because the team did not play a sufficient number of conference games.^[2]^[3] The Vandals played home games at Neale Stadium, on campus in Moscow, Idaho.

Season

Led on the field by quarterbacks Gary Mires and Mike Monahan,^[4] Idaho compiled a 5–4 record for the program's first winning season in a quarter century, since 1938 under head coach Ted Bank.^[5]^[6] 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.^[7] All five Vandal wins came in Idaho, played in three different regions of the state.

Although a slight favorite,^[8] 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.^[9]^[10] 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.^[5]^[6] 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.^[6]

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

Final game was canceled following the assassination of President Kennedy.^[5]^[6]

Coaching staff

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

All-Coast

No Vandals were selected to the All-Coast teams.^[18]^[19]^[20]

References

^ Musseau, Steve (August 30, 1963). "Idaho basic defense same – "wild-card" backfield subs". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 22.
^ "Idaho State Tackles Wichita; Vandals Face Arizona State". Idaho State Journal. Pocatello, Idaho. Associated Press. November 18, 1963. p. 7. Retrieved January 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Big Sky Conference Football Record Book" (PDF). Big Sky Conference. 2023. p. 65. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
^ "Cougars vs. Vandals". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). (probable lineups. November 2, 1963. p. 8.
^ ^a ^b ^c Missildine, Harry (November 24, 1963). "Big Six presidents commended for action". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Vandal gridders are happy, but –". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). November 25, 1963. p. 16.
^ ^a ^b Payne, Bob (September 22, 1963). "Cougs tripped, Vandals surprise". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
^ Missildine, Harry (November 2, 1963). "WSU, Idaho fans await "answer"". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 8.
^ ^a ^b Missildine, Harry (November 3, 1963). "Long dash defeats Vandals". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
^ ^a ^b "Gaskins gallops; WSU boss rides". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). November 4, 1963. p. 15.
^ Payne, Bob (September 29, 1963). "Vandals derail late blitz for 10-9 victory over Utah". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
^ "Missouri shuts out Idaho eleven". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. October 6, 1963. p. 5B.
^ Leutzinger, Dick (October 13, 1963). "Renfro leads Oregon to win". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1B.
^ Payne, Bob (October 20, 1963). "Vandals romp, Cougs submerged". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
^ Payne, Bob (October 27, 1963). "Vandals (4-2) turn back Spartans". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
^ Payne, Bob (October 17, 1963). "Idaho wins; Ford leads Cougars". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
^ "Idaho foe eyes bowl bid". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). November 22, 1963. p. 16.
^ "All-Coast teams include Cougars". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). November 27, 1963. p. 12.
^ "Mel Renfro gains berth on 1963 All-Pacific Coast eleven". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. November 27, 1963. p. 2B.
^ "Huskies, Trojans dominate AP All-Pacific Coast team". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. November 27, 1963. p. 12.