1963 Stanford Indians football team

{{{year}}} [[{{{team}}} football]]

1963 Athletic Association of Western Universities football standings

	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 15 Washington $	4	–	1	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
No. 16 USC	3	–	1	–	0			7	–	3	–	0
UCLA	2	–	2	–	0			2	–	8	–	0
Washington State	1	–	1	–	0			3	–	6	–	1
California	1	–	3	–	0			4	–	5	–	1
Stanford	1	–	4	–	0			3	–	7	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from Coaches Poll

The 1963 Stanford Indians football team represented Stanford University in the 1963 NCAA football season. The team was led by new head coach John Ralston. Ralston succeeded Jack Curtice, who had been fired at the end of the previous season. The team played their home games at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California.

Schedule

September 21San Jose State*

• Stanford Stadium
• Stanford, CA (Rivalry)

W 29–13 September 28Oregon*

• Stanford Stadium
• Stanford, CA

L 7–36 October 5UCLA

• Stanford Stadium
• Stanford, CA

L 9–10 October 12at Rice*

• Rice Stadium
• Houston, TX

L 13–23 October 19at Washington

• Husky Stadium
• Seattle, WA

L 11–19 October 26Notre Dame*

• Stanford Stadium
• Stanford, CA (Rivalry)

W 24–14 November 2at Oregon State*

• Parker Stadium
• Corvallis, OR

L 7–10 November 9at USC

• Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
• Los Angeles, CA (Rivalry)

L 11–25 November 16Washington State*

• Stanford Stadium
• Stanford, CA

L 15–32 November 30California

• Stanford Stadium
• Stanford, CA (66th Big Game)

W 28–17

Game notes

California

1 2 3 4 Total Bears 3 0 14 0 17 • Indians 0 3 12 13 28 Date: November 30 Location: Stanford Stadium, Stanford, CA Game attendance: 82,000

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. Stanford was winless in the conference coming in to 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.

Players drafted by the NFL/AFL

Player	Position	Round	Pick	NFL/AFL Club
Steve Thurlow	Running back	2	25	New York Giants
Bob Nichols	Tackle	9/18	122/142	Pittsburgh Steelers/Houston Oilers
Dick Leeuwenburg	Tackle	11/17	154/134	Chicago Bears/Houston Oilers
Marv Harris	Linebacker	13	175	Los Angeles Rams