Led on the field by quarterbacks Gary Mires and Mike Monahan, Idaho compiled a record for the program's first winning season in a quarter century, since
1938 under head coach
Ted Bank. In between, Idaho had three seasons at an even .500, (
1947,
1952,
1957). The victory over
Fresno State was their first in a season opener in
thirteen years. All five Vandal wins came in Idaho, played in three different regions of the state. Although a slight favorite, the Vandals suffered a ninth straight loss in the
Battle of the Palouse with neighbor
Washington State, falling at
Rogers Field in
Pullman on November 2. The difference was a fourth quarter Cougar touchdown on a kickoff return. The rivalry game with
Montana for the
Little Brown Stein was not played this year or
the next. This was the second season (
1959) in which Idaho scheduled ten games, but the finale at
Arizona State in
Tempe on November 23 was canceled following the
assassination of President Kennedy. Although many teams postponed their games for a week, ASU had its
rivalry game scheduled for November 30 against
Arizona, so the game was not played. Idaho was a charter member of the new
Big Sky Conference, but did not participate in football until
1965, and was an independent from
1959 through
1964. The only Big Sky opponent on the Vandals' schedule in 1963 was conference champion
Idaho State, whom they shut out on the road in
Pocatello; the remainder of Idaho's opponents were in the University Division. Senior guard
Don Matthews went on to a successful coaching career in the
Canadian Football League; he was a head coach for over twenty seasons and won five of nine
Grey Cup games. ==Schedule==