University of North Carolina Athletics
CAR-O-LINES: The 40th Anniversary of the 1963 Gator Bowl Team
September 29, 2003 | Football
Sept. 29, 2003
By Rick Brewer
When North Carolina's 1963 Gator Bowl team celebrates its 40th anniversary this weekend, it's only fitting the opponent should be Virginia.
It was an opening win over the Cavaliers that ignited that 9-2 season. The Tar Heels would lose the following week at Michigan State, who would finish eighth in the country, and later drop an 11-7 decision to Clemson. Those would be the only setbacks in a magical 8-2 season. The year would be capped by a 35-0 rout of the Air Force Academy in the Gator Bowl.
ut, all that could have been ruined if the Tar Heels had not staged a late rally to beat Virginia in the season's opening game.
Carolina entered 1963 as the mystery team in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tar Heels had compiled just a 3-7 record the previous year. But, there was good talent on hand with running backs Ken Willard and Eddie Kesler, quarterbacks Junior Edge and Gary Black, ends Bob Lacey and Joe Robinson, center Chris Hanburger and guard Jerry Cabe.
Any hopes to rebound from 1962 were almost ruined by a Virginia team that would finish 2-7-1.
The Tar Heels dominated play all afternoon in Kenan Stadium. Carolina ran 86 plays to just 39 for Virginia and outgained the Cavaliers, 330 yards to 80. Each team committed only two turnovers and Virginia did not complete a pass all day. However, a 27-yard field goal by UNC's Max Chapman was the game's only scoring in the first half.
The Cavaliers' Henry Massie then stunned the Tar Heels with a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second half and give his team a 7-3 lead.
Carolina had reached the Virginia 22-yard line in the first quarter and drove to the Cavalier six and five in the second half without getting any points.
"Our players were really getting frustrated," said UNC Coach Jim Hickey afterwards. "We were moving the ball all over the field, but couldn't get in the end zone."
Midway in the fourth quarter the Tar Heels began a drive at their own 47-yard line. Faced with a third-and-nine at the 48, Black completed a 21-yard pass over the middle to Robinson. On first down at the 31 Robinson ran the same pattern and Black hit him for 13 yards.
Two plays later Black again found Robinson over the middle for 14 yards to the two-yard line. On third down from the one Willard finally blasted into the end zone. Black threw to Willard for a two-point conversion and an 11-7 lead with only 5:01 to play. With Virginia unable to move the ball against the Tar Heel defense, that was enough for the victory.
This would not prove to be Carolina's only close win of the year. The Tar Heels intercepted six Maryland passes at College Park, but trailed 7-0 at halftime. In the second half Edge scored on an eight-yard run and Black had a seven-yard scoring pass to Lacey for a 14-7 victory.
Two weeks later Carolina outgained South Carolina 311 yards to 121, but needed a touchdown run by Willard with 1:48 in the game for a 7-0 win.
And then there was the season finale at Duke. In what has become one of the most famous games in the storied rivalry between the two schools, Carolina edged the Blue Devils, 16-14.
The game was scheduled for November 23. But, when John Kennedy was assassinated on Friday, it was moved to the following Thursday. On Thanksgiving Day the Tar Heels faced Duke with a Gator Bowl bid on the line.
A 12-play, 92-yard drive ended with a Willard 14-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. That was the only scoring in the first half.
Early in the third period the Tar Heels pounded out 77 yards in another 12-yard march with Kesler scoring from the one. Max Chapman missed the conversion, but Carolina held a 13-0 lead.
Duke followed with touchdowns on a 70-yard pass from Scotty Glacken to Steve Holloway and a 24-yard run by Jay Wilkinson. The Blue Devils pushed ahead, 14-13. The Tar Heels immediately suffered an interception on their next possession.
After a Duke punt, Carolina then showed the resiliency of this team and how special it really was.
Only 1:25 remained as the Tar Heels took over on their own 28. Edge began the drive with two passes to Lacey and ran for nine yards himself. His10-yard run gave his team a first down at the Blue Devil 21.
Two incomplete passes and a five-yard penalty left the Tar Heel with fourth down at the 26. Chapman came on to kick a 42-yard field goal with 21 seconds on the clock.
"I've never sweated out a game as much as this one," Hickey said after the game. "This game was sort of like the our season. Before the year began I wasn't sure what to expect. But, this team responded every week. You would really have had to be around these guys all year to really appreciate how special they really were."
The Gator Bowl win over the Air Fore was almost an anti-climax to the season. Willard ran for 94 yard on 18 carries and Black completed all six of his passes for 71 yards and a touchdown. The Tar Heel defense intercepted five Falcon passes and recovered two fumbles, while Carolina did not have a turnover.
It was a perfect finish for what was a special team.
