I headed down the mountain to get help and a pickup came and took me up to a construction site where we called for help.". The game was officiated by then Washburn head coach John H. Outland. No plans have been made for the construction of a new multi-purpose athletic facility to replace the decrepit stadium. Wichita State football players arrive at their Little Rock, Ark., hotel on Oct. 23, 1970, exactly three weeks after the plane crash that killed 14 teammates and 17 others. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Trailing 216 in the fourth quarter, Wichita's freshman quarterback Tom Owen threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to wingback Tim Thissen to narrow the score to 2112. People can donate to the 70 Football Memorial Scholarship Fund at foundation.wichita.edu/give. Instead of hanging around campus, the two traveled to Naputano's hometown of Altoona, Pa., with Withers making a detour to visit his maternal grandparents who lived in nearby Johnstown.. Current Team: Lurleen B. Wallace CC Birthplace/Hometown: Freeport, Florida Nationality: United States Height: 6-1 (185cm) Weight: 160 (73kg) Current NBA Status: Draft Eligible in 2026 Draft Entry: 2026 NBA Draft Pre-Draft Team: Lurleen B. Wallace CC (Fr) Change player? All rights reserved. Six years later, the Shockers dropped their football program and have not played since. Register for free to see them all, or buy a printed copy of yearbooks from West High School from Wichita, Kansas today. Arkansas' fans refrained from calling the Hogs as they supported the Shockers. on a mountain near Silver Plume, Colorado while en route to Logan, Utah for a game really had to, essentially, trust myself. It landed in Logan. Its just something you live with all the time. 9 in the country, Wichita lost by a 620 score. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. We present them here for purely educational purposes. The Shockers fielded a team from 1897 to 1986. 1 Houston, How Wichita State basketball coach Billy Kennedy hasnt let Parkinsons slow him down, While others shy away, Wichita States Craig Porter sees opportunity in the mid-range, Who I do it for: WSUs Jaron Pierre puts on a show for family in New Orleans homecoming. The elevation of the site is 10,750 feet. High quality and affordable tuition make Wichita State a great value. 1970-71 Men, 1958-59 Men, 2008-09 Women, 1975-76 Men, 1995-96 . Without football, the Shockers' basketball program has become a powerhouse. Lettermen from the 1970 FSU Football Handbook, page 41. . Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. I feel badly that we were even flying the team that day. Explaining Shocker football's peculiar role in 'Ted Lasso', Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wichita_State_Shockers_football&oldid=1133405551, American football teams established in 1895, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Independent (18951923, 1927, 19401945, 1986), Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Longest field goal (tied) Joe Williams 67 yards vs Southern Illinois October 21, 1978, This page was last edited on 13 January 2023, at 16:51. In 1986, president Warren Armstrong said the football program lost $839,000. Senior center Hayden Gillum became the first to make the leap, announcing Friday on social media that he will be back for the . Hugh McElroy, who that week became the . Those that died they wouldnt have wanted us to quit. 9 Arkansas had the plane carrying their starters not crashed three weeks before, but it was even more pronounced with the young players they were forced to use. Once there, the senior parked his car and . Self Proclaimed or Named by Newspaper Champions: 1937: Pittsburg (10-1) / Bishop Ward (7-0-1) / Great Bend (9-0) 1936: Pittsburg (11-1) 1935: Chanute (8-0) 1934: Wichita North (8-0) 1933: Wyandotte (9-0) / Pittsburg (11-0) 1932: Wyandotte (8-0-1) 1931: 1930: Topeka 1929: El Dorado (8-0) / Topeka (7-0) / Independence (9-0) 1928: Lawrence (7-0) / El Dorado (9-0) That meant the Arkansas game was the beginning of what the Shockers were calling their "Second Season," in which they obtained special permission from the NCAA and Missouri Valley Conference to play freshmen, who were ineligible for varsity play back then. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Richard Taylor Minister at University United Methodist Church, he knew many of the players, coaches and administrators on the plane. On Oct. 2, 1970, two airplanes, dubbed Gold and Black for the colors of Wichita State University, were carrying players, boosters, coaches and others to Utah for a football game against Utah State. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 6:41AM. At Wichita State, our students are the engine of innovation, with a collaborative infrastructure that helps develop new ideas, and get new projects and businesses off the ground. It was shown that $24 million in improvements were needed. Full Wichita State Shockers roster for the 2022-23 season including position, height, weight, birthdate, years of experience, and college. Fewer people are familiar with another football tragedy that happened the month before the crash of an airplane carrying Wichita State University football players. The main thing is that people take a few minutes to remember. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Q: How did the Black plane reach Utah safely? Utah State placed a memorial wreath at the 50-yard line at its football stadium. Radio voice Gus Grebe was supposed to ride on the Gold plane, but was late arriving and flew on the Black plane. The Shockers were a common opponent for the Razorbacks in those days; they played five times between 1964 and 1980. However, the score took a backseat in this game. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Dubbed the "Second Season," Wichita State took 46 players 39 of them freshmen and sophomores to Little Rock to face No. Bill Cosby, Kate Smith, Lou Rawls and Marilyn Maye performed and Ohio State coach Woody Hayes read a statement from president Richard Nixon. Do you have a sports website? In an annual ceremony of remembrance, a wreath is placed at Wichita State's Memorial The Wichita State Shockers football team was the college football program of Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. All rights reserved. Florida State and Wichita State wallowed around in the slop looking for the football. 1970-71 Wichita State Roster and Stats Previous Season Next Season Record: 10-16 (0-0, in MVC ) Coach: Gary Thompson PS/G: 80.0 (82nd of 206) PA/G: 80.0 (136th of 206) SRS: 1.65 (81st of 203) SOS: 1.61 (80th of 203) Wichita State School History Roster & Stats Polls, Schedule & Results On this page: Roster Per Game Team and Opponent Stats Per Game [2], The team included 22 returning lettermen led by junior quarterback Bob Renner, senior fullback Randy Jackson, and middle linebacker John Hoheisel. According to Orville Henry's story in the following day's Arkansas Gazette, a crowd of 40,000 at War Memorial Stadium gave Wichita State's team - a 46-man roster with 19 freshmen and 20 sophomores - a minute-long standing ovation. In addition to the 14 players killed, eight other players survived the crash with varying degrees of injury: On the scheduled game day, the team held a memorial service at Romney Stadium in Logan and placed a wreath on the 50-yard line. The team was known as Fairmount from its first season in 1897 to 1925 and Wichita from 1926 through 1963. A: The Gold plane carried the starters, coach Ben Wilson and athletic director Bert Katzenmeyer. And for the next five minutes, players for both sides embraced, shook hands and talked about the football game.. [2] [3] They played their home games at Cessna Stadium and were members of the Missouri Valley Conference until the program was discontinued. Some of the wreckage remains on the side of Mount Trelease and memorial on I-70 marks the area. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Tragedy struck the Aggies before the 1970 season as all-SWC defensive end Mike DeNiro died in a car crash. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Player Randy Kiesau flew from Wichita to Denver on the Black plane, then changed to the Gold plane. However, the surviving members of the team voted 76-to-1 to complete the 1970 schedule. The event was organized by former Wichita State player John Potts and former Arkansas player Chuck Dicus, according to The Wichita Eagle. On Saturday, Nov. 14, 1970, a plane carrying members of the Marshall University Thundering Herd football team and coaching staff crashed in West Virginia killing all 75 people on board and plunging the university and community into grief. And thats only because I had to. Randy Jackson, You get used to sounds in the valley. Portrait of John Yeros near the site of a plane crash near Loveland Pass, Colo., on Thursday, August 27, 2010. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). The university had a contract with Golden Eagle Aviation to provide a Douglas DC-6B to transport the team to away games. ON THE MORNING of Oct. 2, 1970, 21-year-old Malory W. Kimmel drove away from Wichita State University's Jardine Hall, heading for the Field House nearby. Were still all so close, and we do so much of that in their memory. A: Nine days after the crash, the players voted 76-1 to start what became known as the Second Season. The players said returning to practice gave them a sense of comfort and allowed them to honor their teammates. Keywords: Wichita, education, people. According to history.com, on the plane were 37 football players, head coach Rick Tolley, team doctors, the university athletic director and 25 football boosters from the Huntington, W.Va. community. The 1970 team had a 3-6. All-Conference Center Is Among Dead in Football Plane Crash", "Former Buster Gene Robinson: Fund Established For Crash Victim", ESPN Classic Wichita State suffers tragic plane crash, "Remembering the 1970 Wichita State football plane crash", "Plane Crash Survivor Calls It 'A Miracle', "Survivor recalls horror of crash that killed team", "Fresh Start at Wichita: Rarely Mention 'Crash', "Surviving Oct 2nd: Remembering the Fallen with Rick Stephens", "Wichita, Marshall Aircraft Disasters Not Similar", "Wichita State Will Open 'Second Season' Saturday", "Competition Best Therapy For Saddened Shockers", "61 Hogs Play: Arkansas Fans Cheer Wichita", "Black & Gold: Remembering The WSU Plane Carsh", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1970_Wichita_State_Shockers_football_team&oldid=1134674669, Marvin Brown, sophomore, running back, Solomon, Kansas - age 18, John Dunren, sophomore, quarterback, Oklahoma City - age 19, Ron Johnson, senior, defensive back, Kansas City, Missouri - age 21, Randy Kieusau, junior, running back, Clinton, Oklahoma - age 20, Carl Krueger, sophomore, tackle, Chicago - age 19, Steve Moore, senior, linebacker, Derby, Kansas - age 21, Tom Shedden, junior, tackle, Oklahoma City - age 20, Rick Stines, guard, Kansas City, Kansas - age 19, John Taylor, back, Sherman, Texas - died later in the month from injuries sustained in the crash, Jack Vetter Jr., senior, lineman, McPherson, Kansas - age 22, Mike Bruce, tight end/offensive tackle, Sherman, Texas - He later recalled: "When we climbed out of the plane, I could tell I was in about the best condition. We need your support. When the clock ticked off the final second, the Razorbacks exploded to midfield, Thompson wrote. Matthew McConaughey stars as new head football coach Jack Lengyel who was brought in to rebuild the team. A plane was made available by Governor Docking to take university officials and family The pilots of the doomed aircraft were blamed for the accident by the National Transportation Safety Board. WSU players spent the night in Logan at Cessna Stadium. It crashed around 1 p.m. about 40 miles west of Denver on Mount Trelease. Tolley was Marshall's head football coach when the team's plane crashed in 1970 killing all 75 people aboard. An Ohio State football fan who wants to better document the history of the program. Preview pages of the 1970 yearbook from West High School from Wichita, Kansas online. The official 1970 Football Roster for the North Dakota State Bison The 1970 Wichita Shockers football team was an American football team that represented Wichita State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference during the 1970 NCAA University Division football season. [1] The team played its home games at Cessna Stadium in . [7] The Arkansas crowd cheered for the effort demonstrated by Wichita State, and Arkansas coach Frank Broyles benched his first team after seven minutes and used 61 players in the game. The crash claimed the lives of 31 members of the Wichita State University football team. We were even joking about being so close to the ground, saying things like, Look, you can see the rabbits down there. Wichita State player Glenn Kostal, When we climbed out of the plane, I could tell with one quick look that I was in about the best condition. Another 14 were university staff members and football boosters. This years is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday. The Shockers would have likely still been over-matched against No. To read last week's Throwback Thursday on the previous nine times Arkansas and Texas A&M played when both were ranked, click here. The 1970 matchup was the most lopsided of a lopsided series, as Arkansas cruised to a 62-0 win. A: Other factors budget woes,losing records, low attendance and loss of conference affiliation caused the demise of football. The future of the 1970 football season was in doubt, with the decision lying in the Reeves died Oct. 5 in a Wheat Ridge, Colo., hospital. And it was dedicated to all those guys who didnt make it.. This is a weekly feature at Hawgs247. All 75 people aboard were killed. | Opinion, Rare critter eluded Kansas biologists for years. Bob Seaman took over as head coach after the crash. Wichita State has helped me put marketing strategy in a real-world perspective. Classes were cancelled Monday, October 5, and a memorial Record: 0-9 (123rd of 123) (Schedule & Results). Bill Husted, an Arkansas Democrat journalist at the game, observed several scenes in his front-page story. It gave us a real release and a real outlet and a real focus, safety Bruce Gerleman said. 1970 Wichita State Shockers Roster | College Football at Sports-Reference.com via Sports Logos.net About logos 1970 Wichita State Shockers Roster Previous Year Next Year Record: 0-9 (123rd of 123) ( Schedule & Results ) Conference: MVC Conference Record: 0-4 Coach: Ben Wilson (0-9) Points For: 99 Points/G: 11.0 (116th of 123) Points Against: 381 Many of us are familiar with the Marshall University story from the 2006 movie We Are Marshall.. 9 Arkansas on Oct. 24. Understanding the 1970 Wichita State football plane crash. 1990 Roster # Player Position Birthday Hometown High School Height Weight; 1: . The NTSB said rain and poor visibility contributed to the . As a matter of policy, Sports Reference only reports the results of games as played on the field. Steam floated off their sweat-drenched heads, and a holler could be heard for the water boy. But it was a team that hung together. John Yeros, The friendships and bonds forged have been a very important of all our lives. Eight players and the co-pilot survived. Wichita State University football players. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The first official football game played by Wichita State was in 1897, when they were known as Fairmount, under the coaching of T. H. Morrison. [12], On December 2, 1986, Wichita State President Warren Armstrong announced that the university would no longer sponsor football due to the financial strain the program placed on the university. ABC televised the event with Monty Hall as host. By the numbers. [1] The team played its home games at Cessna Stadium in Wichita, Kansas. Caden Henderson NCAA Stats Splits: Stat Type: Pace Adjusted Season View The chartered Southern Airways DC-9 was returning from a game the team played earlier in the day against East Carolina University in North Carolina. "[7] The Los Angeles Times reported that there was much kicking and that the game was considered much safer than regular play, but that the new rule was not "conducive to the sport."[8]. Members of the 1970 Wichita State and Arkansas teams will have a reunion at War Memorial Stadium this weekend for the Alcorn State game. Bob Seaman took over as head coach after the crash. Wichita State did not play Arkansas again until 1980, when the Razorbacks won 27-7 in Fayetteville. However, at that point on the flight path, the crew would have been unable to see that the valley ended at Loveland Pass, and thus they proceeded into an area from which an escape was not possible. NTSB report, I feel I did everything that I could have done in the situation. and returned to Wichita by commercial plane Saturday. with Utah State University. Some school's results have been altered by retroactive NCAA penalties. (AP Photo/File)AP. A sardine dinner proved irresistible, Drunken pyros unite! Thanks for visiting PennLive. The NCAA [2], 1970 NCAA University Division football season, 1970 Missouri Valley Conference football standings, Wichita State University football team plane crash. The "Gold" plane carrying the first-team players and staff crashed in Colorado's Loveland Pass. Looking back on it, we probably expected the coaches to do way too much, Rhatigan said. Texas A&M Sports Information. [3] They followed with losses to Arkansas State on September 19 and West Texas State on September 26. The show depicts the Shockers winning a national championship at the NCAA Division II level under the titular character.[23]. It is also available at watch.kpts.org. Physical Details: 5 x 7 inches . 31 people were killed. We do not have detailed roster information for this All rights reserved (About Us). Head coach Ben Wilson, 14 players, and 16 others died on October 2 in the Wichita State University football team plane crash. Check out the detailed 2000-01 Wichita State Shockers Roster and Stats for College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Trainer Tom Reeves and athlete John Taylor died later in hospitals after suffering burns. The Shockers voted 76-1 to continue the season against Arkansas in Little Rock. Orville Henry of the Arkansas Gazette wrote that WSU entered the stadium in a single-file line to a minute-long standing ovation from the crowd of 40,000. You really do. Mike Bruce, I hate like hell to fly. Last year, the Tampa Bay Times, published a story about another player, David Withers, who also was not on the plane because of an injury. On Nov. 28, 1970, Levitt Arena hosted A Night of Stars benefit for the victims of the Wichita State and Marshall University plane crashes. game was to be played Saturday and placed a black and yellow wreath on the 50-yard The 1970 Wichita Shockers football team was an American football team that represented Wichita State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference during the 1970 NCAA University Division football season. (AP file photo) This Oct. 2, 1970, file photo shows wreckage of a plane that carried members of the Wichita State University football team, in Silver Plume, Colo. Rusted and ragged pieces of . I headed down the mountain to get help and a pickup came and took me up to a construction site where we called for help. Wichita State player Mike Bruce, If the crew had been concerned about the aircrafts ability to clear the terrain ahead less than one minute sooner, when the aircraft was 1 1/2 to 2 miles east of Dry Gulch, a successful turnaround could have been executed. View Previous Seasons LSFN All-Time Record 466-287-31 College Football at Sports-Reference.com Blog and Articles. [11], In the final game of the season, the Shockers took a 170 lead over Lee Corso's bowl-bound Louisville Cardinals. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The 1970 Wichita Shockers football team was an American football team that represented Wichita State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference during the 1970 NCAA University Division football season. Marvin Brown, 19, Solomon, sophomore tailback, Don Christian, 20, Duncan, Okla., junior defensive back, John Duren, 19, Oklahoma City, sophomore end, Ron Johnson, 21, Kansas City, Mo., senior safety, Randy Kiesau, 20, Clinton, Okla., junior defensive back, Mal Kimmel, 21, St. Genevieve, Mo., senior center, Carl Krueger, 19, Chicago, sophomore tackle, Steve Moore, 21, Derby, senior linebacker, Tom Owen, 20, Temple Terrace, Fla., junior running back, Gene Robinson, 21, Dayton, Ohio, junior end, Tom Shedden, 20, Oklahoma City, junior tackle, Richard Stines, 19, Kansas City, Kan., sophomore guard, John Taylor, 21, Sherman, Texas, senior cornerback, Jack Vetter, 21, McPherson, senior tackle. Of the 40 people on board, 29 died at the scene and two died later. After starting all 14 games for Michigan in 2021 and injuring his knee three games into 2022, Cade McNamara looks at his move to Iowa as a fresh start. Head coach Ben Wilson, 14 players, and 16 others died on October 2 in the Wichita State University football team plane crash. Valley Conference. A list of the 31 people killed in the Wichita State football plane crash on Oct. 2, 1970. This article uses material from the Wikipedia article 1970 Wichita State Shockers football team, and is written by contributors. We acknowledge you as a real and important part of both. Harmon, the first female member of the Shocker Sports Hall of Fame, worked as executive secretary, fieldhouse director, academic counselor and assistant to the athletic director. On April 15, 2020, it was announced that the Kansas Board of Regents had given Wichita State University permission to demolish Cessna Stadium, the former home of the school's football team. All 75 on board were killed. They fielded a football team every year from 1895-1942 and 1944-1986. Taylor died Oct. 28 in a San Antonio hospital. The NTSB said rain and poor visibility contributed to the crash. The "Gold" plane, a Martin 404, carried 36 passengers and a crew of four. Lex James took over at quarterback and the team got off to a quick start with a blowout win over Wichita State, putting up a school-record 534 yards of total offense. [38] The remaining portion of the schedule was designated the "second season. I think about them all the time. Bruce Gerleman, I have just felt bad about those other kids dying and me living. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Wichita Falls Coyotes State Champions: 1941 1949 1950 1958 1961 1969 1961 Schedule Record: 10-0-0 Head Coach: Joe Golding Vs Common Opponents (See All) Click on teams to see side-by-side scores. Skipper. [14] Prior to the start of the season, second-year head coach Ben Wilson described his squad as a young club with good team speed, room to improve, and "a chance to surprise a lot of people."[13]. [11], When Willie Jeffries became Wichita States head coach in 1979, he became the first African-American head coach of a Division I-A football program. But I dont feel badly about anything I did. co-pilot Ronald Skipper. It was - and still is - the largest shutout victory for Arkansas since 1947. The Utah State football team held a brief memorial service at the stadium where the Maybe they should leave it just the way it is.. Kostal, Dave Lewis, Keith Morrison, Bob Renner, Rick Stephens and co-pilot Ronald [21], Wichita State won fourteen conference titles.[22]. We present them here for purely educational purposes. All Rights Reserved. Ahlberg traveled to Colorado with the families to visit survivors and identify the dead. A marker on I-70 near the Eisenhower Tunnel is close to the crash site in Colorado. The first home game was WSU's homecoming on October 31 against the University of Cincinnati 9-ranked football team the Arkansas Razorbacks. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. A memorial to Wichita State University football player John Taylor lies among the remains of the tragic plane clash Oct. 2, 1970, near the Loveland Ski Area that killed 31 people. Do you have a blog? The plane crashed while trying to land at Tri-State Airport in Kenova, W.Va. Bulldozers plow through wreckage of the DC9 chartered jet that crashed in Kenova, W.V., Nov. 15, 1970. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. According to several newspaper accounts, the. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. FILE - In this Oct. 3, 1970, file photo, a charred Wichita State University football helmet is shown amid the wreckage of a plane that crashed in Silver Plume, Colo. Six weeks later, on Nov. 14, 1970, a plane carrying members of the Marshall football team crashed. They reached the Final Four in 2013 and finished the 2013-14 regular season with a perfect 31-0 record. The NCAA allowed WSU to play freshmen, who were ineligible at the time by NCAA rule. Fifty years ago Friday. Looking back on it, while we were admiring the strength of the character of the players who carried on, we did not see the pain underneath.. The 2006 movie, We Are Marshall, depicted the aftermath of the crash. The first year of Wichita State Shockers football was in 1895. [1] The team played its home games at Cessna Stadium in Wichita, Kansas. Not a subscriber yet? Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. As a former starter, he asked to move to sit with his friends. The stories of the people affected by the crash and its aftermath serve as a tribute to all - teammates, friends and family. On October 2, 1970, a plane crashed that was carrying about half of the football team on their way to play a game against Utah State University. Do you have a blog? On September 12, Wichita State opened its season with a 4114 loss to Gene Stallings' Texas A&M Aggies before a crowd of 30,006 in College Station, Texas. The 1970 Wichita State University plane crash. Homecomings are exciting times, Father, whether it be a homecoming with you when the game of life is over or whether it be a grand homecoming with this tremendous crowd today at Wichita State University.