The 1963 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1963 Big Ten Conference football season. In its fifth year under head coach Bump Elliott, Michigan compiled a 3–4–2 record (2–3–2 against conference opponents), tied for fifth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 131 to 127. The highlight of the season was an upset victory over No. 2 Illinois led by Dick Butkus, the only loss suffered by the 1963 Illinois team.
Left guard Joe O'Donnell was the team captain, and was selected by the Associated Press as a first-team guard on the 1963 All-Big Ten Conference football team. Left tackle Tom Keating received the team's most valuable player award, and was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten player by the United Press International.
The team's statistical leaders included Bob Timberlake with 593 passing yards, Mel Anthony with 394 rushing yards and 30 points scored, and John Henderson with 330 receiving yards.
Schedule
Season summary
Preseason
The 1962 Michigan Wolverines football team compiled a 2–7 record and was outscored, 214 to 70. At the end of the 1962 season, Joe O'Donnell was elected by his teammates to be captain of the 1963 team. Several starters from the 1962 returned in 1963, including O'Donnell, Tom Keating, and Bob Timberlake.
In May 1963, Tom Keating received the Meyer W. Morton Trophy as the team's most improved player in spring drills. Dick Sygar received the John Maulbetsch Award.
SMU
On September 28, Michigan opened its season with a 27–16 victory over Hayden Fry's SMU before a Band Day crowd of 63,659 (including 13,000 high school band members) at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. After a scoreless first quarter, Michigan scored three touchdowns in the second quarter (including a 98-yard touchdown drive following a fumble recovery by Brian Patshen and a 50-yard touchdown run by Joe O'Donnell on a fake punt) and led 27–0 at the end of the third quarter. All of SMU's points were scored in the final six-and-a-half minutes. Bob Timberlake kicked three extra points, but was unable to start at quarterback due to a shoulder injury; Frosty Evashevski (son of Forest Evashevski) played at the quarterback position in Timberlake's place.
Navy
On October 5, Michigan lost to Navy by a 26–13 score before a crowd of 55,877 at Michigan Stadium. Navy, led by junior quarterback Roger Staubach, was ranked No. 6 in the AP poll. Staubach broke his own Navy single-game record with 307 yards of total offense. He completed 14 of 16 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 70 yards and one touchdown. Michigan quarterback Bob Timberlake was again sidelined; Frosty Evashevski started in his place, and Bob Chandler took over in the second half. Chandler completed nine of ten passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in a comeback that fell short.
Michigan State
On October 12, Michigan played to a 7–7 tie with Michigan State in their annual rivalry game. The game was played before a crowd of 101,450 at Michigan Stadium. Michigan took the lead in the first quarter on a 15-yard pass from quarterback Bob Chandler to split end John Henderson. Michigan's scoring drive began with a 26-yard punt return by Jack Clancy. The Spartans tied it up late in the third quarter on a seven-yard touchdown pass from Steve Juday to Sherman Lewis.
Purdue
On October 19, Michigan lost to Purdue by a 23–12 score before a small crowd of 45,557 at Michigan Stadium. Purdue took advantage of two Michigan fumbles to take a 14–0 lead in the first quarter. The Boilermakers extended their lead to 23-0 with field goal in the third quarter and another touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
Bob Chandler started the game at quarterback, but was replaced after he fumbled on a fourth-down play at Michigan's 26-yard line. Chandler was then replaced by Frosty Evashevski, but Evashevski also turned the ball over on a misdirected pitchout. Late in the third quarter, Bob Timberlake came off the bench to take over at quarterback. He had been selected as the team's starting quarterback before the season, but a shoulder injury relegated him to kickoffs and field goals in the team's first three games. In his return to the quarterback spot, Timberlake completed 10 of 16 passes for 133 yards. He also scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter – first on a one-yard run and 71 seconds later on a 14-yard run.
Tom Cecchini suffered a knee injury in the game that caused him to lose the remainder of the season.