63 days until Texas Football: Ten notable stats from Texas' 1963 season

Inside Texas is putting a new twist on long-time photographer Will Gallagher’s time-honored countdown to Texas football kickoff. In addition to Will’s great pictures, the Inside Texas staff will go through every player on the roster by jersey number and offer a season outlook on all, from five-star to walk-on. 

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We’ll also look back at other greats to wear that day’s number, with special reverence to some of Texas’ best. 

Today is 63 days until kickoff. No. 63 for the Longhorns this season will be worn by Rick McBroom, a walk-on sophomore offensive lineman. We will also look at 10 notable stats from the Longhorns’ national championship 1963 season

Rick McBroom season outlook

McBroom, a product of Fort Worth (Texas) All Saints Episcopal, earned third- or fourth-team reps at center during spring football. He will likely fill that role for the scout team in the upcoming season.

McBroom did not see any action in his freshman season at Texas in 2022. He was a member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (fall 2022).

Ten notable stats from Texas’ 1963 season

Various selectors labeled Texas as the national champion in 1914 and 1941, but the Longhorns wouldn’t claim a national championship until the 1963 season. Texas entered the year ranked No. 5, then moved up one spot per week. They claimed the top spot after defeating No. 1 Oklahoma, 28-7. From there, Texas ran the table, playing five one-possession games on their way to a perfect regular season, a Southwest Conference, and a national title.

Tommy Nobis, Duke Carlisle, and Ernie Koy led a team that defeated Roger Staubach and No. 2 Navy in the Cotton Bowl, and completed a 11-0 year as the unanimous National Champion.

5

As mentioned, Texas played five one-possession games after topping No. 1 Oklahoma on Oct. 12, 1963. Texas defeated Arkansas in Little Rock, 17-13. The Longhorns overcame the SMU Mustangs 17-12 before welcoming the Baylor Bears on Nov. 9. Thanks to Duke Carlisle’s heroic interception, the Longhorns maintained the shutout of BU to keep the perfect season alive. A 17-0 shutout of TCU ensued before the Longhorns traveled to College Station to face the Aggies. A 12-point fourth quarter helped the Horns to a perfect regular season and the first claimed national title in program history.

65

UT opponents scored 65 total points versus one of the best defenses in school history. No team scored more than 13 points versus the Longhorn defense, and the Horns shut out Tulane, Baylor, and TCU and held Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Rice, and Navy to seven points or fewer.

2 to 6

Texas recorded two passing touchdowns in 1963. Opponents recorded six.

4 to 1

Duke Carlisle played both ways for the Horns, making that massive interception versus Baylor. That was three fewer than the four interceptions he threw in his 79 attempts.

79 to 61

Tommy Nobis remains a legend of Texas football, but he actually recorded the second most tackles on the team in 1963. He was outpaced by Scott Appleton, who tallied 79.

2

Texas boasted two first-team All-Americans in 1963. Scott Appleton was a unanimous All-American, while Tommy Ford also earned All-America accolades.

738

That was the amount of rushing yards recorded by leading rusher Tommy Ford. He averaged 73.8 yards per game, rushing 160 times for nine touchdowns.

11

Texas completed undefeated and untied seasons in 1914, 1918, and 1920. In addition to 1963 being the first time UT claimed a national championship, it was the first time the Longhorns completed an undefeated and untied season with double-digit wins.

100

Six major awards were in existence in college football in 1963: the Heisman Trophy, the Outland Trophy, the Maxwell Award, the Sammy Baugh Trophy, the FWAA coach of the year award, and the AFCA coach of the year award.

During the 1963 season, the Longhorns either won or lined up against the winner of all those awards. Appleton won the Outland, given annually to the best interior lineman, while Royal won both coach of the year awards.

Staubach won the Heisman and the Maxwell, two player of the year honors. The Sammy Baugh Trophy, given to the nation’s most outstanding passer, was won by Baylor’s Don Trull.

60

This year is the 60th anniversary of that 1963 team. In 2013 for the 50th anniversary, the Longhorns wore helmets with numerals above the steer head logo affixed to the side of the helmet.

Recent player to wear No. 63: Michael Huey

Huey played in 47 games in his four years on the 40 Acres, starting 20 including all eight games in which he played in 2010 as a senior. He was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection in 2009. Huey was a three-time member of UT’s Athletics Director’s Honor Roll and a second-team Academic All-Big 12 selection in 2020. 

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All-Americans to wear No. 63

Mike Williams, T, 2001

Justin Blalock, T, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006

Steve Habel co-authored this story