The 1963 Texas Longhorns football team was an American football team that represented the University of Texas (now known as the University of Texas at Austin) as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1963 NCAA University Division football season. In their seventh year under head coach Darrell Royal, the Longhorns compiled an overall record of 11–0, with a mark of 7–0 in conference play, and finished as SWC champion. Texas concluded their season with a victory over Navy in the Cotton Bowl Classic.
The Longhorns won their first national championship. Tommy Nobis was the only sophomore starter, and was an important participant on the Longhorns' 1963 team, which defeated #2 Navy led by Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach in the 1964 Cotton Bowl Classic, 28–6.
Schedule After defeating Baylor in their eighth game, the Longhorns became the only major team with no losses and no ties in college football. After defeating their first nine opponents, the Longhorns clinched the Southwestern Conference title and a spot in the Cotton Bowl. The Longhorns ended up finishing the regular season with a 10–0 record and defeated #2 Navy in the 1964 Cotton Bowl Classic, 28–6. Texas was the consensus national champion before the game with #2 Navy, regardless of the outcome because the AP Poll and UPI Poll did not release polls after bowl games until years later. However, the win ensured that there would be no dispute as had happened in other years when #1 teams lost their bowl games.
Game summaries
At Tulane
Statistics TEX TU First downs 22 8 Total yards 368 138 Rushes/yards 60/282 32/103 Passing yards 86 35 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 8–18–0 4–14–2 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsTexas Passing Duke Carlisle 3–8, 45 yards Rushing Ernie Koy 13 car, 61 yards Receiving Charles Talbert 3 rec, 39 yardsTulane Passing TEAM 4–14, 35 yards, 2 INTs Rushing TEAM 32 car, 103 yards Receiving TEAM 4 rec, 35 yards
Vs. Texas Tech
Statistics TTU TEX First downs 7 23 Total yards 142 390 Rushes/yards 32/59 61/269 Passing yards 83 121 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 8–17–3 7–16–1 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsTexas Tech Passing TEAM 8–17, 83 yards, 3 INTs Rushing TEAM 32 car, 59 yards, 1 TD Receiving TEAM 8 rec, 83 yardsTexas Passing Duke Carlisle 3–5, 65 yards, 1 TD Rushing Marv Kristynik 7 car, 51 yards Receiving Knox Nunnally 2 rec, 45 yards
Vs. Oklahoma State
Statistics OSU TEX First downs 8 21 Total yards 198 353 Rushes/yards 34/153 69/266 Passing yards 45 87 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 4–17–2 7–13–1 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsOklahoma State Passing TEAM 4–17, 45 yards, 2 INTs Rushing TEAM 34 car, 153 yards, 1 TD Receiving TEAM 4 rec, 45 yardsTexas Passing Duke Carlisle 2–7, 31 yards, 1 INT Rushing Harold Philipp 13 car, 79 yards Receiving Dan Mauldin 2 rec, 28 yards
Vs. Oklahoma
Statistics TEX OU First downs 16 8 Total yards 253 190 Rushes/yards 65/239 36/127 Passing yards 14 63 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 1–3–0 4–10–3 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsTexas Passing Marv Kristynik 1–2, 14 yards, 1 TD Rushing Tommy Ford 21 car, 77 yards, 1 TD Receiving George Sauer 1 rec, 14 yards, 1 TDOklahoma Passing TEAM 4–10, 63 yards, 3 INTs Rushing TEAM 36 car, 127 yards, 1 TD Receiving TEAM 4 rec, 63 yards
At Arkansas
Statistics TEX ARK First downs 18 10 Total yards 301 162 Rushes/yards 58/247 32/71 Passing yards 54 91 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 5–7–0 9–19–1 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsTexas Passing Duke Carlisle 5–7, 54 yards Rushing Harold Philipp 20 car, 135 yards Receiving Charles Talbert 1 rec, 17 yardsArkansas Passing TEAM 9–19, 91 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing TEAM 32 car, 71 yards, 1 TD Receiving TEAM 9 rec, 91 yards, 1 TD
Vs. Rice
Statistics RICE TEX First downs 14 18 Total yards 255 258 Rushes/yards 25/39 59/213 Passing yards 216 45 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–27–2 4–11–0 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsRice Passing TEAM 13–27, 216 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs Rushing TEAM 25 car, 39 yards Receiving TEAM 13 rec, 216 yards, 1 TDTexas Passing Duke Carlisle 4–11, 45 yards Rushing Tommy Ford 14 car, 69 yards, 1 TD Receiving Knox Nunnally 1 rec, 29 yards
At SMU
Statistics TEX SMU First downs 10 16 Total yards 265 291 Rushes/yards 49/194 34/115 Passing yards 71 176 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 5–17–1 37–16–1 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsTexas Passing Tommy Wade 3–9, 48 yards Rushing Tommy Ford 13 car, 113 yards, 1 TD Receiving George Sauer 2 rec, 36 yardsSMU Passing TEAM 16–37, 176 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing TEAM 34 car, 115 yards Receiving TEAM 16 rec, 176 yards, 2 TDs
Vs. Baylor
Statistics BAY TEX First downs 13 17 Total yards 210 302 Rushes/yards 18/6 63/242 Passing yards 204 60 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–39–2 5–8–0 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsBaylor Passing TEAM 19–39, 208 yards, 2 INTs Rushing TEAM 18 car, 6 yards Receiving TEAM 19 rec, 204 yardsTexas Passing Duke Carlisle 5–6, 60 yards Rushing Tommy Ford 27 car, 101 yards Receiving Charles Talber 2 rec, 27 yards
Vs. TCU
Statistics TCU TEX First downs 12 18 Total yards 170 241 Rushes/yards 36/34 51/150 Passing yards 136 91 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–26–2 7–19–1 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsTCU Passing TEAM 13–26, 136 yards, 2 INTs Rushing TEAM 36 car, 34 yards Receiving TEAM 13 rec, 136 yardsTexas Passing Duke Carlisle 7–17, 91 yards, 1 INT Rushing Tom Stockton 21 car, 89 yards, 1 TD Receiving Pete Lammons 3 rec, 52 yards
At Texas A&M
Statistics TEX TAMU First downs 19 7 Total yards 315 186 Rushes/yards 55/214 40/95 Passing yards 101 91 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 11–28–3 2–5–1 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsTexas Passing Tommy Wade 8–17, 89 yards, 2 INTs Rushing Tommy Ford 21 car, 113 yards, 1 TD Receiving Charles Talbert 5 rec, 47 yardsTexas A&M Passing TEAM 3–5, 91 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing TEAM 40 car, 95 yards Receiving TEAM 3 rec, 91 yards, 2 TDs
Vs. Navy (Cotton Bowl)
Statistics NAVY TEX First downs 16 18 Total yards 213 402 Rushes/yards 29/-14 43/168 Passing yards 227 234 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–34–1 8–21–1 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsNavy Passing Roger Staubach 21–31, 288 yards, 1 INT Rushing Donnelly 8 car, 12 yards Receiving Orr 9 rec, 112 yardsTexas Passing Duke Carlisle 7–19, 213 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Duke Carlisle 11 car, 54 yards, 1 TD Receiving Phil Harris 3 rec, 157 yards, 2 TDs
Rankings
Personnel Roster 1963 Texas Longhorns football team roster Players Coaches Backfield Pos. # Name Linemen Pos. # Name Special teams Pos. # Name <noinclude> Head coach Darrell Royal Coordinators/assistant coaches Mike Campbell – Assistant Russell Coffee – Assistant Art Davis – Defensive backfield Bill Ellington – Assistant Jim Pittman – Assistant Bob Schulze – Assistant Charles Shira – Defensive coordinator
Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible
Injured
Awards and honors Scott Appleton, tackle: Outland Trophy, consensus All-American
1963 Longhorns in the NFL The following players were drafted into professional football following the season. Scott Appleton Defensive Tackle 1 4 Dallas CowboysAppleton was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas traded their rights to Appleton to the Pittsburgh Steelers for Buddy Dial. The Houston Oilers ended up signing Appleton. Duke Carlisle Back 5 60 Green Bay Packers Walter (Sandy) Sands End 12 159 Minnesota Vikings
Ernie Koy, Jr. and Olen Underwood would be selected in the 1964 NFL Draft, while Tommy Nobis would be selected in the 1965 NFL Draft.
Notes
References