Conference Independent Head coach Dee Andros (2nd year) | 1963 record 5–4 Home stadium Neale Stadium | |
Defensive coordinator Steve Musseau (2nd year) | ||
The 1963 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1963 college football season. The Vandals were led by second-year head coach Dee Andros and were an independent in the NCAA's University Division. Home games were played on campus at Neale Stadium in Moscow, with one home game in Boise at old Bronco Stadium at Boise Junior College.
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Season
Led on the field by quarterbacks Gary Mires and Mike Monahan, Idaho compiled a 5–4 record for the program's first winning season in a quarter century, since 1938 under head coach Ted Bank. The victory over Fresno State was their first opening game win wince 1950. All five Vandal wins came in Idaho, played in three different regions of the state.
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. The rivalry game with Montana for the Little Brown Stein was not played this year or the next.
The season-ending game at Arizona State in Tempe on November 23 was cancelled following the assassination of President Kennedy.
Although Idaho was a charter member of the new Big Sky Conference, it did not participate in football until 1965, and was an independent from 1959 through 1964. The only Big Sky opponent on the schedule in 1963 was conference champion Idaho State, whom they shut out on the road in Pocatello. All others on the schedule were in the University Division.