1963 Gator Bowl


The 1963 Gator Bowl was a college football postseason bowl game that featured the Air Force Falcons and the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Background

This was the Falcons' first bowl game since 1959. The Tar Heels were co-champions of the Atlantic Coast Conference, which was their first conference title since the 1949 Southern Conference title. This was their first bowl game in 1950.

Game summary

  • UNC – Willard 1-yard run, 2:34 remaining
  • UNC – Edge 6-yard run, 9:40 remaining
  • UNC – Robinson 5-yard pass from Black, 4:29 remaining
  • UNC – Kesler 1-yard run, 4:44 remaining
  • UNC – Black 5-yard run, 13:19 remaining
Willard ran for 94 yards on 18 carries.

Aftermath

Air Force did not return to a bowl game until 1971, nor win one until 1982. North Carolina did not return to a bowl game until 1970.
The morning after the game, there was a fire at the Hotel Roosevelt in downtown Jacksonville, with 22 dying.