1963 BC Lions season
Encyclopedia
The 1963
BC Lions
finished the season in 1st place in the West Division for the first time ever with a 12–4 record. Over the course of the season, the Lions' defense allowed an average of only 14.5 points per game while running back
Willie Fleming
rushed for 1,234 yards and an astounding 9.7 yard average. It was first time the Lions finished with a perfect home record and, as of the 2009 season
, the only time in Lions' history. After claiming first place, the Lions earned a bye into the West Finals where they beat the Saskatchewan Roughriders
two games to one. They made their first Grey Cup
appearance in franchise history, losing to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
by a score of 21–10 at Empire Stadium
.
| valign="top" |
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" | November 30
51st Annual Grey Cup Game
: Empire Stadium
– Vancouver, British Columbia
|-
! Western Champion
!! Eastern Champion
|-
| BC Lions
10 || Hamilton Tiger-Cats
21
|-
| align="center" colspan="4" | The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are the 1963 Grey Cup Champions
|-
|}
This would be the first of three MOP awards for Russ Jackson proving that Canadians could play the (QB) position.
CFL's Most Outstanding Lineman Award
– Tom Brown
(LB)
1963 CFL season
The 1963 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 10th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 6th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1963:...
BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
finished the season in 1st place in the West Division for the first time ever with a 12–4 record. Over the course of the season, the Lions' defense allowed an average of only 14.5 points per game while running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Willie Fleming
Willie Fleming
Willie Fleming is a former professional Canadian football player with the Canadian Football League BC Lions. Fleming played collegiately as a halfback at the University of Iowa, where he was a member of the Hawkeye's 1959 Rose Bowl championship team. He is a member of the Canadian Football Hall...
rushed for 1,234 yards and an astounding 9.7 yard average. It was first time the Lions finished with a perfect home record and, as of the 2009 season
2009 BC Lions season
The 2009 BC Lions season is the 52nd season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 56th overall. The Lions attempted to win their 6th Grey Cup championship....
, the only time in Lions' history. After claiming first place, the Lions earned a bye into the West Finals where they beat the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
two games to one. They made their first Grey Cup
51st Grey Cup
The 51st Grey Cup took place on November 30, 1963, at Empire Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, and decided the Canadian Football League champion for the 1963 season. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats defeated the BC Lions 21-10, in front of 36,545 spectators....
appearance in franchise history, losing to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
by a score of 21–10 at Empire Stadium
Empire Stadium, Vancouver
Empire Stadium was a multipurpose stadium that formerly stood at the Pacific National Exhibition site at Hastings Park in Vancouver. Track and field and Canadian football, as well as soccer and musical events, were held in the stadium. The stadium was originally constructed for the 1954 British...
.
Season Standings
| Team | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BC Lions BC Lions The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954... |
16 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 387 | 232 | 24 |
| Calgary Stampeders Calgary Stampeders The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium... |
16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 427 | 323 | 22 |
| Saskatchewan Roughriders Saskatchewan Roughriders The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor... |
16 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 223 | 226 | 16 |
| Winnipeg Blue Bombers Winnipeg Blue Bombers The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded... |
16 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 302 | 325 | 14 |
| Edmonton Eskimos Edmonton Eskimos The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895... |
16 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 220 | 425 | 4 |
Season schedule
| Game | Date | Opponent | Score | Result | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 8 | at Saskatchewan Roughriders | 16–7 | Win | 1–0 |
| 2 | Aug 12 | vs. Edmonton Eskimos | 31–12 | Win | 2–0 |
| 3 | Aug 19 | vs. Toronto Argonauts | 22–12 | Win | 3–0 |
| 4 | Aug 26 | at Calgary Stampeders | 22–19 | Win | 4–0 |
| 5 | Aug 29 | at Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 16–15 | Loss | 4–1 |
| 6 | Sept 7 | vs. Calgary Stampeders | 37–21 | Win | 5–1 |
| 7 | Sept 9 | at Saskatchewan Roughriders | 8–2 | Win | 6–1 |
| 8 | Sept 16 | vs. Montreal Alouettes | 20–9 | Win | 7–1 |
| 9 | Sept 21 | at Hamilton Tiger-Cats | 38–21 | Loss | 7–2 |
| 10 | Sept 23 | at Ottawa Rough Riders | 23–17 | Loss | 7–3 |
| 11 | Sept 30 | vs. Calgary Stampeders | 32–14 | Win | 8–3 |
| 12 | Oct 5 | at Edmonton Eskimos | 40–1 | Win | 9–3 |
| 13 | Oct 12 | vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders | 26–6 | Win | 10–3 |
| 14 | Oct 19 | vs. Edmonton Eskimos | 32–6 | Win | 11–3 |
| 15 | Oct 27 | at Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 34–26 | Loss | 11–4 |
| 16 | Nov 3 | vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 28–10 | Win | 12–4 |
West Finals
|
|
|
- BC wins the best of three series 2–1. The Lions will advance to the Grey Cup Championship game.
Grey Cup
{| cellspacing="10"| valign="top" |
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" | November 30
51st Annual Grey Cup Game
51st Grey Cup
The 51st Grey Cup took place on November 30, 1963, at Empire Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, and decided the Canadian Football League champion for the 1963 season. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats defeated the BC Lions 21-10, in front of 36,545 spectators....
: Empire Stadium
Empire Stadium, Vancouver
Empire Stadium was a multipurpose stadium that formerly stood at the Pacific National Exhibition site at Hastings Park in Vancouver. Track and field and Canadian football, as well as soccer and musical events, were held in the stadium. The stadium was originally constructed for the 1954 British...
– Vancouver, British Columbia
|-
! Western Champion
N. J. Taylor Trophy
The N.J. Taylor Trophy is a Canadian Football League trophy, formerly awarded to the West Division champions. The winner of this trophy faced the winner of the James S. Dixon Trophy for the Grey Cup. Both the N. J. Taylor Trophy and James S. Dixon Trophy were retired in 2004.The N.J. Taylor Trophy...
!! Eastern Champion
James S. Dixon Trophy
The James S. Dixon Trophy is a Canadian Football League trophy, formerly awarded to the East Division champions. The winner of this trophy faced the winner of the N. J. Taylor Trophy for the Grey Cup. Both the James S. Dixon Trophy and N. J. Taylor Trophy were retired in 2004.The Dixon Trophy was...
|-
| BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
10 || Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
21
|-
| align="center" colspan="4" | The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are the 1963 Grey Cup Champions
|-
|}
Awards and records
- CFL's Most Outstanding Player – Russ Jackson Ottawa Rough Riders (QB)
This would be the first of three MOP awards for Russ Jackson proving that Canadians could play the (QB) position.
CFL's Most Outstanding Lineman Award
CFL's Most Outstanding Lineman Award
The Most Outstanding Lineman Award was an award annually given to the best defensive player or offensive lineman in the Canadian Football League from the year 1955 to 1973...
– Tom Brown
Tom Brown (football player)
Tom Brown is a former professional Canadian football player, and a former outstanding American college football player. He played collegiately at the University of Minnesota, and won the Outland Trophy in 1960 as the nation's best lineman...
(LB)
- CFL's Coach of the YearAnnis Stukus TrophyThe Annis Stukus Trophy is a Canadian Football League trophy, which is presented annually by the Edmonton Eskimos Alumni Association to the Coach of the Year, as determined by the members of the Football Reporters of Canada...
– Dave SkrienDave SkrienDavid A. Skrien was a Canadian Football League player and coach.Skrien graduated from Morris High School and Minnesota where he played fullback and linebacker. He played two seasons in the CFL before becoming a coach.Skrien's first coaching job was at Albert Lea High School where he spent one... - Jeff Nicklin Memorial TrophyJeff Nicklin Memorial TrophyThe Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy is a trophy awarded to the Canadian Football League West Division's Most Outstanding Player, chosen from the nominees from each team in the division...
– Joe Kapp (QB)
1963 CFL All-Stars
- QB – Joe KappJoe KappJoseph Robert Kapp is a former professional American and Canadian football quarterback. He is also a former college football head coach of the University of California, and a former general manager of the CFL's BC Lions. Kapp played primarily with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings and the CFL's BC Lions...
, CFL All-Star - RB – Willie "The Wisp" FlemingWillie FlemingWillie Fleming is a former professional Canadian football player with the Canadian Football League BC Lions. Fleming played collegiately as a halfback at the University of Iowa, where he was a member of the Hawkeye's 1959 Rose Bowl championship team. He is a member of the Canadian Football Hall...
, CFL All-Star - OG – Tom HintonTom HintonWilliam Thomas "Tom" Hinton is a former Canadian Football League offensive guard who played nine years for the BC Lions from 1958 to 1966. In 1991, he was enshrined into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.-College career:...
, CFL All-Star - OT – Lonnie DennisLonnie DennisLonnie Dennis is a former professional Canadian football player with the Canadian Football League's the British Columbia Lions. After playing college football at Brigham Young University, Dennis spent his entire 9-year CFL career as an offensive lineman for the Lions...
, CFL All-Star - DE – Dick FoutsDick FoutsRichard Lee Fouts is a former professional Canadian football player with the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts and the BC Lions. After playing college football at the University of Missouri, where he was an All-American, Fouts spent his entire 13 year CFL career as an defensive lineman...
, CFL All-Star - LB – Tom BrownTom Brown (football player)Tom Brown is a former professional Canadian football player, and a former outstanding American college football player. He played collegiately at the University of Minnesota, and won the Outland Trophy in 1960 as the nation's best lineman...
, CFL All-Star - LB – Norm FieldgateNorm FieldgateNorm "Mouse" Fieldgate is a former professional Canadian football player. Fieldgate played defensive end and linebacker with the Canadian Football League BC Lions for his entire 14-year career. Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Fieldgate is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, the BC...
, CFL All-Star