1963 Sun Bowl

The 1963 Sun Bowl was a college football bowl game between the SMU Mustangs and the Oregon Webfoots in El Paso, Texas.[1][2][3][4] It was the 30th edition of the Sun Bowl (29th played between college teams), played on Tuesday, December 31, with a kickoff at 2 pm MST.[1]

1963 Sun Bowl
30th Sun Bowl
Oregon Webfoots SMU Mustangs
(7–3) (4–6)
Independent SWC
21 14
Head coach: 
Len Casanova		 Head coach: 
Hayden Fry
1234 Total
Oregon 71400 21
SMU 00014 14
DateDecember 31, 1963
Season1963
StadiumSun Bowl
LocationEl Paso, Texas
MVPBob Berry
FavoriteOregon by 3½ [1]
Attendance26,500
United States TV coverage
NetworkNBC

Background

SMU (4–6) of Dallas was seventh in the Southwest Conference in 1963; they were invited on the basis of their October non-conference wins over fourth-ranked Navy (with Roger Staubach) and Air Force. The Webfoots were 7–3, led by head coach Len Casanova to their third bowl game in five years. It was Oregon's fifth and final year as an independent, following the disbandment of the Pacific Coast Conference. They joined the AAWU (Pac-8 Conference) in 1964, which had bowl restrictions (Rose Bowl only) until 1975; their next bowl appearance was in 1989.

This was the Sun Bowl's first game at the new stadium,[1] which opened in September; previous games were played at Kidd Field, adjacent to the east.

Game summary

The Ducks headed into the game without injured All-American halfback and defensive back Mel Renfro. They needed H.D. Murphy, who played those same positions, to step up against SMU and he did not disappoint. The junior college transfer made two clutch interceptions,[5] coupled with Dennis Keller's touchdown run in the first quarter and quarterback Bob Berry throwing two touchdown passes in the second quarter to give Oregon a 21–0 lead at halftime.[2][3][4] One of those interceptions came at Oregon’s own three-yard line to thwart a potential scoring drive for the Mustangs, and the other Murphy returned 49 yards to set up the Ducks’ first touchdown. Murphy’s outstanding defensive play greatly contributed to the first half margin.

It was up to Danny Thomas and Mac White to try to bring SMU back, and they narrowed the lead to 21–14 as each threw a touchdown pass to John Roderick in the fourth quarter. SMU's onside kick with less than a minute remaining went out of bounds, giving the Webfoots the ball and ultimately the win. Redshirt junior Berry was 11 of 26 for 146 yards with two touchdowns (and one interception) and was named the game's MVP. Conversely, SMU's Thomas was 15-of-26 for 188 yards for one touchdown and two interceptions. Oregon's defense (with Murphy's interceptions) held off SMU in the second half to win 21–14. Murphy also added 49 yards rushing on only three carriers on the offensive side of the ball. [6][7][8][9]

Oregon won their first bowl game in 47 years (Rose Bowl in January 1917); it was their last bowl for over a quarter century, until a win in the 1989 Independence Bowl.

Statistics
Statistics  SMU  Oregon
First Downs2016
Yards Rushing145173
Yards Passing232146
Total Yards377319
Punts-Average4–39.27–36.0
Fumbles-Lost4–31–1
Interceptions14
Penalties-Yards5–387–79

References
  1. Uhrhammer, Jerry (December 30, 1963). "Webfoots favored by 3½". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1B.
  2. "Oregon's fast start trips SMU, 21-14". Milwaukee Sentinel. UPI. January 1, 1964. p. 8, part 2.
  3. "Berry leads Ducks to sunny 21-14 win". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 1, 1964. p. 13.
  4. Uhrhammer, Jerry (January 1, 1964). "Berry leads Oregon to 21-14 Sun Bowl win". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1B.
  5. "Oregon nips ailing Ponies". Victoria Advocate. (Texas). Associated Press. January 1, 1964. p. 7.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 3, 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 3, 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. http://www.sunbowl.org/the_sun_bowl_game/recap/30
  9. http://fishduck.com/2012/12/the-1963-sun-bowl-casanovas-only-bowl-victory/
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