1963 Eau Claire State Blugolds football team

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1963 Eau Claire State Blugolds football
WSCC champion
ConferenceWisconsin State College Conference
Record7–0 (6–0 WSCC)
Head coach
Home stadiumCarson Park
Seasons
← 1962
1964 →
1963 Wisconsin State College Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 13 Eau Claire State $ 6 – 0 – 0 7 – 0 – 0
Stevens Point State 6 – 1 – 0 6 – 2 – 0
Whitewater State 5 – 2 – 0 6 – 3 – 0
Superior State 4 – 2 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Platteville State 3 – 3 – 0 3 – 5 – 0
River Falls State 3 – 3 – 1 4 – 3 – 2
Stout State 2 – 4 – 1 2 – 5 – 1
Milwaukee 1 – 4 – 1 1 – 6 – 1
Oshkosh State 0 – 5 – 2 0 – 5 – 2
La Crosse State 0 – 6 – 1 0 – 8 – 1
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from NAIA poll

The 1963 Eau Claire State Blugolds football team was an American football team that represented Wisconsin State College at Eau Claire (now known as the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire) as a member of the Wisconsin State College Conference (WSCC) during the 1963 NAIA football season. In their seventh year under head coach James J. Rice, the Blugolds compiled a perfect 7–0 record (6–0 in conference play), won the WSCC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 122 to 55. It was Eau Claire's first undefeated season since 1920.[1]

Junior quarterback Jim Van Gorden led the WSCC in passing with an average of 133.3 passing yars per game.[2] He also set six school records.[3] The Blugolds also led the WSCC in pass defense, giving up only 52.5 passing yards per game.[2]

The team's statistical leaders included Van Gorden with 764 passing yards, eight interceptions, and ten touchdown passes; Ray Cheyka with 321 rushing yards on 89 carries; and Gerry Gendron with 20 pass receptions for 315 yards and six touchdowns.[4]

Four Eau Claire players were selected as first-team players on the 1963 All-WSCC football team: Van Gorden at quarterback; Dave La Viollette at halfback; Gerry Gendron at offensive end; and Gene Golden at defensive end. Other players received honorable mention: fullback Ray Cheyka; offensive guard Pat Page; offensive tackle Ken Hoffman; defensive guard Jerry Gourink; linebackers Marv Holptas and Ken Biegel; and defensive backs Dennis Rivers and Pat Fraley.[5]

The team played its home games at Carson Park in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Schedule[edit]

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 14Winona State*
W 27–8[6]
September 21at Whitewater StateWhitewater, WIW 14–12[7][8]
September 28at River Falls State
W 14–74,500[9]
October 5Oshkosh State
  • Carson Park
  • Eau Claire, WI
W 19–7[10]
October 12at Stout State
W 12–2[11]
October 19La Crosse Statedagger
  • Carson Park
  • Eau Claire, WI
W 22–135,000[12][13]
October 26Superior State
  • Carson Park
  • Eau Claire, WI
W 14–66,000[14]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Pass Offense, Defense Key Blugolds Greatest Season". The Daily Telegram. November 2, 1963. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b "Blugolds Top WSCC in Pass Offense Defense". The Eau Claire Leader. November 12, 1963. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Van Gorden 'Mister Big' for Undefeated Blugolds". The Daily Telegram. November 1, 1963. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Blugold Statistics". The Daily Telegram. November 2, 1963. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Van Gorden, Gendron, Golden, LaViollete Gain All-Conference". The Daily Telegram. November 23, 1963. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Jim Pickett (September 15, 1963). "Blugolds Jar Winona in Grid Opener, 27-6: Strong Third Quarter Paves Way to Victory". The Eau Claire Leader. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Jim Pickett (September 20, 1963). "Blugolds Play at Whitewater". The Daily Telegram. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ {Jim Pickett (September 23, 1963). "Blugolds Upend Whitewater: Van Gordon Sets Pass Mark in 14-12 Victory". The Daily Telegram. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Jim Pickett (September 30, 1963). "Blugolds Hand Falcons 14-7 Loop Loss: Eau Claire Ties Point for First". The Daily Telegram. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Jim Pickett (October 6, 1963). "Blugolds Topple Oshkkosh, 19-13, Stay Undefeated: Van Gordon Sets Pass Record, Ties Another". The Eau Claire Leader. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Jim Pickett (October 13, 1963). "Trotzer Leads Blugolds Past Stout, 12-2: Gendron Catches Two TD Passes". The Eau Claire Leader. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Blugolds Meet LaCrosse in Homecoming". Leader-Telegram. October 18, 1963. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Jim Pickett (October 20, 1963). "Van Gorden Hurls Blugolds into 1st as Point Loses: La Crosse 22-13 Eau Claire Victim". The Eau Claire Leader. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Jim Pickett (October 27, 1963). "Blugolds Win Title with Undefeated Season". The Eau Claire Leader. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
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