What Is 1963 Wyoming Cowboys football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1963 Wyoming Cowboys football team represented the University of Wyoming during the 1963 NCAA University Division season, finishing with a 2-8 record under head coach Bob Devaney. They played in the Skyline Conference and were outscored 178 to 102 over the season.

Key Facts

2-8 overall record in the 1963 season
0-6 record in the Skyline Conference
Outscored 178 to 102 by opponents
Head coach Bob Devaney in his final season
Played home games at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie

Overview

The 1963 Wyoming Cowboys football team represented the University of Wyoming in the NCAA University Division football season, competing as a member of the Skyline Conference. Under the leadership of head coach Bob Devaney, who was in his final year with the program, the team struggled to find consistency and finished with a disappointing 2-8 overall record.

The Cowboys' performance reflected a transitional period for the program, as Devaney departed after the season to take over at Nebraska, where he would later achieve national prominence. The team played its home games at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie, a venue that had opened just a few years earlier and was becoming a cornerstone of Wyoming football.

Record: The team finished the season with a 2-8 overall record, one of the worst in program history at the time, indicating significant struggles on both offense and defense.
Skyline Conference: Competing in the Skyline Conference, the Cowboys went 0-6 in conference play, failing to secure a single league victory during the season.
Scoring: Wyoming was outscored 178 to 102 over the course of the season, highlighting both offensive inefficiency and defensive vulnerabilities against stronger opponents.
Head Coach:Bob Devaney coached his final season in 1963 before leaving for Nebraska, where he would win two national championships and be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Home Stadium: The team played home games at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie, which opened in 1950 and had a capacity of approximately 30,000 spectators by the early 1960s.

Season Performance

The 1963 campaign was marked by a series of tough losses and limited offensive production, with only two wins against non-conference opponents. The team’s struggles were compounded by a lack of depth and the impending departure of their head coach, which may have affected morale and preparation.

Season Opener: The Cowboys lost their first game 14-7 to Utah State, setting a tone of defensive battles and narrow margins that would persist throughout the year.
Win Against Denver: One of only two victories came in a 14-13 win over Denver, a closely contested non-conference matchup that provided a brief highlight.
Loss to Colorado: The team fell to in-state rival Colorado 28-0, underscoring the gap between Wyoming and more established programs in the region.
Final Game: The season concluded with a 20-7 loss to New Mexico, sealing a winless conference record and a last-place finish in the Skyline Conference standings.
Offensive Stats: The Cowboys averaged just 12.8 points per game, ranking near the bottom nationally in scoring offense during the 1963 season.

Comparison at a Glance

The 1963 season can be better understood by comparing it to adjacent years in the program’s history, particularly Devaney’s earlier, more successful campaigns.

Season	Record (Overall)	Conference Record	Head Coach	Notable Outcome
1961	6-3-1	5-1-1	Bob Devaney	Won conference title
1962	5-5	4-2	Bob Devaney	Middle of conference
1963	2-8	0-6	Bob Devaney	Worst record in years
1964	4-6	3-3	Phil Dickens	Rebuilding phase begins
1967	7-3	5-1	Phil Dickens	Return to competitiveness

This comparison shows a sharp decline from the successful 1961 season to the difficult 1963 campaign. The drop in performance coincided with Devaney’s departure, suggesting a leadership and strategic transition that temporarily weakened the team. While the program rebounded in later years, 1963 remains a low point in Wyoming football history.

Why It Matters

The 1963 season is significant not only for its poor record but also for its place in the broader narrative of Wyoming football and the legacy of Bob Devaney. It marks the end of an era and the beginning of a rebuilding phase that would eventually lead to future success.

The season highlighted the importance of coaching stability, as Devaney’s departure left a leadership vacuum that took years to fill adequately.
It served as a wake-up call for program investment, prompting the university to reevaluate recruiting, facilities, and athletic support.
The transition to the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in 1968 was partly influenced by the need for stronger conference alignment after the Skyline Conference dissolved.
Despite the record, the team maintained loyal fan support in Laramie, demonstrating the resilience of the Wyoming football community.
The 1963 season is a benchmark for measuring progress, often referenced when discussing the program’s historical challenges and growth.
It underscores how individual seasons can reflect larger institutional shifts, such as coaching changes and conference realignment, beyond just win-loss records.

While not a season of triumph, the 1963 Wyoming Cowboys football team remains a pivotal chapter in the university’s athletic history, illustrating the cyclical nature of college football programs and the long-term impact of leadership decisions.