1963 Prairie View A&M Panthers football team

The 1963 Prairie View A&M Panthers football team was an American football team that represented Prairie View A&M University in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) during the 1963 NCAA College Division football season. In their 15th season under head coach Billy Nicks, the Panthers compiled a 10–1 record (7–0 against SWAC opponents), won the SWAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 364 to 144.[1]

1963 Prairie View A&M Panthers football
ConferenceSouthwestern Athletic Conference
1963 record10–1 (7–0 SWAC)
Head coach
Home stadiumBlackshear Stadium
1963 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
Prairie View A&M $^ 7 –0 –0  10 –1 –0
Southern 5 –2 –0  7 –3 –0
Texas Southern 5 –2 –0  7 –3 –0
Grambling 3 –3 –1  5 –3 –1
Arkansas AM&N 3 –3 –1  5 –4 –1
Jackson State 2 –5 –0  4 –5 –0
Wiley 2 –5 –0  4 –5 –0
Alcorn A&M 0 –7 –0  3 –7 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from College Division poll

The Panthers were recognized by the Pittsburgh Courier as the 1963 black college football national champion with a rating of 26.00, well ahead of second-place North Carolina College at 23.00 and third-place Morgan State at 21.97.[2] At the end of the season, the team was invited to participate in the small college playoffs sponsored by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), marking the first time a black college was invited to participate in the playoffs.[2] Prairie View defeated Nebraska State Teachers in the NAIA semifinal game before losing to John Gagliardi's Saint John's Johnnies in the NAIA Championship Game at the Camellia Bowl.

Key players for Prairie View included quarterback Jimmy Kearney and halfbacks Otis Taylor and Ezell Seals. Taylor later played 11 seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Schedule
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 13at Lackland Air Force Base
W 22–14[3]
September 21Jackson State
W 28–12[4]
October 5at Texas SouthernHouston, TXW 44–6
October 14vs. Wiley
W 27–10[5]
October 19at Grambling
W 28–710,000[6]
October 26at Arkansas AM&NPine Bluff, ARW 36–21[7]
November 9Bishop
  • Blackshear Stadium
  • Prairie View, TX
W 53–14200[8]
November 16at Alcorn A&MLorman, MSW 44–20[9]
November 23at SouthernBaton Rouge, LAW 35–0[10]
December 7at Kearney StateKearney, NE (NAIA seminfinal)W 20–7[11]
December 14vs. Saint John's (MN)Sacramento, CA (Camellia Bowl)L 27–3312,200[12][13]
  • Homecoming

References
  1. "Prairie View A&M Yearly Results". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  2. "National Champs Carry Big Load Into Playoffs". The Pittsburgh Courier. December 7, 1962. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Prairie View Rally Beats Lackland". San Antonio Express/News. September 14, 1963. p. 3E – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Jackson Dumped By Prairie View". The Pittsburgh Courier. September 28, 1963. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Prairie View A&M Clobbers Wiley". The Odessa American. October 15, 1963. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Prairie View Stays Unbeaten; PV Takes 28 to 7 Win Over Grambling". The Pittsburgh Courier. October 26, 1963. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "PVSC Skein Continues As Ark. Tumbles". The Pittsburgh Courier. November 2, 1963. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Bishop Falls: Pr. View In Soft Tune-Up". The Pittsburgh Courier. November 16, 1963. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Prairie View Rips Alcorn". The Clarion-Ledger and Jackson Daily News. November 17, 1963. p. 1B – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Mighty Prairie View Near National 1963 Grid Title: Rips Southern, 35-0, With Only Central State Barring the Way". The Pittsburgh Courier. November 30, 1963. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Prairie View Is Bowl Bound Following, 20-7, Victory: Panthers Roll By Kearney; Camellia Bowl Is Final Test". The Pittsburgh Courier. December 14, 1963. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "St. John's Tames Tough Prairie View Via Air, 33-27: Texas Team Muffs Historic Chance to Also Top NAIA". The Pittsburgh Courier. December 21, 1963. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "St. John's Passes Beat Prairie View". The San Francisco Examiner. December 15, 1963. p. IV-5 – via Newspapers.com.
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