Violence
has, after a lapse of 38 years, once again delayed a Stanford Football Game.
We will
not play San Jose State this Saturday - the game has been
rescheduled for December 1st. (Note: The university has missed a
remarkable opportunity to cancel the game and the series.)
On Friday,
November 22, 1963 I was in my two-year old orthodontic practice
on Welch Road in Stanford's
professional area, when the Kennedy assassination was announced.
The people of the United States were shocked that their leader
could be struck down by madman or political assassin. As a
life-long Republican, I had never warmed to the Kennedys, but
naturally the killing transcended party politics. The loss of
life was limited to three - Kennedy, Tibbets and Oswald, so that
there was not the same widespread personal loss that would be
shared by hundreds, if not thousands, of American families this
last Tuesday morning.
Postponement
of the 1963 Big Game was announced, and as a football fan, I
remember initially questioning this response. If I remember my
feeling at that time, it was that it would not dishonor John
Kennedy to play the game on schedule. I will admit that the
marvelously orchestrated funeral of the fallen president held me
transfixed to our 12" B&W Zenith television set for four
days, a period during which time seemed to stand still.
After a
one week delay, the 66th Big Game was played before a sellout
crowd of over 80,000. Cal and Stanford had served as conference doormats
for the most of the 1963 season; nonetheless, the Big Game was a
thrilling contest. The Indians prevailed 28-17. This was John
Ralston's first Big Game on the Stanford
sidelines; the former Berkeley player had been named head coach
that year by Chuck Taylor, who was serving his initial year as Stanford's athletic director. Bill Walsh
was a member of John's coaching staff. A nationally televised
24-14 win over the visiting Irish of Notre Dame had been the
single bright moment of the season.
Highlights
included three field goals by Braden Beck. (Twenty years later
Braden completed his orthodontic residency at UOP's School of
Dentistry, where I serve as Professor -- his hands proved as
talented as had his foot!) Oddly enough, Stanford
kicker Stan Lindskog had kicked three field goals the
previous year. Stan's dad Vic Lindskog anchored the line at
center for the Wow Boys in the 1941 Rose Bowl.
Photo
Gallery:
Announcement of 1963 Big Game Postponement
1963 Big Game Program
1963 Big Game Lineup
SF Chronicle story on Stanford 28-17 win