The 1963 Stanford Indians football team represented Stanford University in the 1963 NCAA University Division football season. The team was led by first-year head coach John Ralston. Ralston succeeded Jack Curtice, who had been fired at the end of the previous season.[1] The team played home games at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California.
Schedule
Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
---|
September 21 | San Jose State* | | W 29–13 | 31,000 | |
September 28 | Oregon* | - Stanford Stadium
- Stanford, CA
| L 7–36 | 31,000 | |
October 5 | UCLA | - Stanford Stadium
- Stanford, CA
| L 9–10 | 21,000 | |
October 12 | at Rice* | | L 13–23 | 30,000 | [2] |
October 19 | at Washington | | L 11–19 | 54,213 | |
October 26 | Notre Dame* | - Stanford Stadium
- Stanford, CA (rivalry)
| W 24–14 | 55,000 | |
November 2 | at Oregon State* | | L 7–10 | 13,697–17,697 | |
November 9 | at USC | | L 11–25 | 57,035 | |
November 16 | Washington State* | - Stanford Stadium
- Stanford, CA
| L 15–32 | 27,500 | |
November 30[a 1] | California | | W 28–17 | 82,000 | |
|
[3]
Game summaries
California
Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
California |
3 |
0 | 14 | 0 |
17 |
• Stanford |
0 |
3 | 12 | 13 |
28 |
Scoring summary |
1 | | CAL | Tom Blanchfield 37-yard field goal | CAL 3–0 |
|
2 | | STAN | Braden Beck 36-yard field goal | Tied 3–3 |
|
3 | | STAN | Steve Thurlow 5-yard run (run failed) | STAN 9–3 |
|
3 | | CAL | Jim Blakeney 7-yard run (Tom Blanchfield kick) | CAL 10–9 |
|
3 | | CAL | Tom Blanchfield 69-yard punt return (Tom Blanchfield kick) | CAL 17–9 |
|
3 | | STAN | Ken Babajian 1-yard run (run failed) | CAL 17–15 |
|
4 | | STAN | Braden Beck 48-yard field goal | STAN 18–17 |
|
3 | | STAN | Steve Thurlow 5-yard run (Braden Beck kick) | STAN 25–17 |
|
4 | | STAN | Braden Beck 46-yard field goal | STAN 28–17 |
The 66th Big Game was scheduled for November 23, but after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, like nearly all sporting events, the game was canceled and rescheduled for the following week.[4] Stanford was winless in the conference coming into the game, and following a California punt return for a touchdown, were behind their rival 17–9 late in the second half. But the Indians fought back, scoring the last 19 points in the game on two touchdowns and two field goals to win the game.[5]
Roster
1963 Stanford Cardinal football team roster
|
Players
|
Coaches
|
Offense
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
|
|
Steve Thurlow
|
Sr
|
OL
|
|
Marvin Harris
|
Sr
|
FB
|
|
Ray Handley
|
So
|
|
Defense
|
Special teams
|
- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
|
Players drafted by the NFL/AFL
[6][7]
- ^ AFL Draft selections shown in italics.
- ^ Signed with Pittsburgh.
- ^ Signed with Chicago.
References
- ^ "Coach Jack Curtice fired by Stanford". The News and Courier. November 27, 1962. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
- ^ "Rice trips Tribe, 23–13". The Fresno Bee. October 13, 1963. Retrieved March 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Schedule/Results (1963 Stanford)". NCAA Statistics. National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ Migdol, Gary (1997). Stanford: Home of Champions. Champaign, Illinois: Sports Publishing LLC. p. 140. ISBN 1-57167-116-1.
- ^ "Stanford defeats California by 28–17". The Register-Guard. December 1, 1963. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
- ^ "1964 NFL Draft". Retrieved November 25, 2013.
- ^ "1964 AFL Draft". Retrieved November 25, 2013.
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National championship seasons in bold |