1963 Holy Cross Crusaders football team

The 1963 Holy Cross Crusaders football team was an American football team that represented the College of the Holy Cross as an independent during the 1963 NCAA University Division football season. Eddie Anderson returned for the 14th consecutive year as head coach, his 20th year overall. The team compiled a record of 2–6–1.[1]

1963 Holy Cross Crusaders football
Conference	Independent
1963 record	2–6–1
Head coach	Eddie Anderson (20th season)
Captain	Jon N. Morris
Home stadium	Fitton Field

1963 NCAA University Division independents football records
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Memphis State			–					9	–	0	–	1
No. 4 Pittsburgh			–					9	–	1	–	0
No. 2 Navy			–					9	–	2	–	0
Syracuse			–					8	–	2	–	0
Utah State			–					8	–	2	–	0
Oregon			–					8	–	3	–	0
Penn State			–					7	–	3	–	0
Army			–					7	–	3	–	0
Air Force			–					7	–	4	–	0
Boston College			–					6	–	3	–	0
Buffalo			–					5	–	3	–	1
Southern Miss			–					5	–	3	–	1
Idaho			–					5	–	4	–	0
Villanova			–					5	–	4	–	0
Oregon State			–					5	–	5	–	0
San Jose State			–					5	–	5	–	0
Xavier			–					5	–	4	–	1
West Texas State			–					4	–	4	–	1
Florida State			–					4	–	5	–	1
Colgate			–					3	–	4	–	1
New Mexico State			–					3	–	6	–	1
Colorado State			–					3	–	7	–	0
Miami (FL)			–					3	–	7	–	0
Texas Western			–					3	–	7	–	0
Detroit			–					2	–	6	–	1
Holy Cross			–					2	–	6	–	1
Notre Dame			–					2	–	7	–	0
Pacific (CA)			–					2	–	8	–	0
Houston			–					2	–	8	–	0
Boston University			–					1	–	6	–	1
Dayton			–					1	–	7	–	2
Rankings from AP Poll

All home games were played at Fitton Field on the Holy Cross campus in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 28	Buffalo	Fitton Field Worcester, MA	T 6–6	12,000	[2]
October 5	at Syracuse	Archbold Stadium Syracuse, NY	L 0–48	22,000	[3]
October 12	Boston University	Fitton Field Worcester, MA	L 6–18	14,000	[4]
October 19	at Dartmouth	Memorial Field Hanover, NH	L 8–13	13,909	[5]
October 26	Quantico Marines ^	Fitton Field Worcester, MA	L 6–7	10,000	[6]
November 2	at Villanova	Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA	L 14–22	10,000	[7]
November 9	Virginia Military Institute	Fitton Field Worcester, MA	W 14–12	7,500	[8]
November 16	at Penn State	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA	L 14–28	24,200	[9]
November 30	Boston College	Fitton Field Worcester, MA (rivalry)	W 9–0	25,000	[10]
Homecoming ^ Family Weekend

Statistical leaders

Statistical leaders for the 1963 Crusaders included:[11]

• Rushing: Jim Marcellino, 406 yards and 1 touchdown on 105 attempts
• Passing: Fran Coughlin, 486 yards, 36 completions and 3 touchdowns on 79 attempts
• Receiving: Jim Marcellino, 277 yards and 1 touchdown on 21 receptions
• Scoring: Fran Coughlin and Jim Gravel (tie), each with 14 points from 2 touchdowns and 1 two-point conversion
• Total offense: Fran Coughlin, 517 yards (486 passing, 31 rushing)
• All-purpose yards: Jim Marcellino, 939 yards (406 rushing, 277 receiving, 256 returning)

References

1. "2019 Holy Cross Football Fact Book" (PDF). Worcester, Mass.: College of the Holy Cross. p. 122. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
2. "Holy Cross Pass Ties Buffalo, 6-6". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. Associated Press. September 29, 1963. p. S4.
3. Reddy, Bill (October 6, 1963). "SU Routs Holy Cross 48-0". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, N.Y. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
4. Rosa, Francis (October 13, 1963). "BU Whips HC by Ball Control". The Boston Sunday Globe. Boston, Mass. p. 81 – via Newspapers.com. Attendance figure in "Boston U. Tops Holy Cross, 18-6". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pa. October 13, 1963. p. S6.
5. Strauss, Michael (October 20, 1963). "Dartmouth Downs Holy Cross, 13 to 8". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. p. S1.
6. "HC Edged, 7 to 6, by Quantico". The Boston Sunday Globe. Boston, Mass. United Press International. October 27, 1963. p. 71 – via Newspapers.com.
7. Dell, John (November 3, 1963). "Dunn Dashes 99 Yards as Villanova Rallies to Defeat Holy Cross". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pa. p. S1 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Holy Cross Is 14-12 Victor". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. Associated Press. November 10, 1963. p. S3.
9. "Penn State Beats Holy Cross, 28-14". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. Associated Press. November 17, 1963. p. S5.
10. Cunavelis, Jimmy (December 1, 1963). "Holy Cross Upsets BC, 9-0". The Hartford Courant. Hartford, Conn. p. 1C – via Newspapers.com.
11. "2019 Holy Cross Football Fact Book" (PDF). Worcester, Mass.: College of the Holy Cross. p. 68-70. Retrieved June 15, 2020.