hands of the football players, university officials and eligibility rules. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. For information, please contact us at: Wichita State University Libraries Special Collections and University Archives 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS 67260-0068 That event is the subject of the 2006 movie "We Are Marshall," starring Matthew McConaughey. When the clock ticked off the final second, the Razorbacks exploded to midfield, Thompson wrote. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. They fielded a football team every year from 1895-1942 and 1944-1986. Wichita State University football players. Kostal, Dave Lewis, Keith Morrison, Bob Renner, Rick Stephens and co-pilot Ronald He would subsequently drop the plan weeks later. The visiting Shockers fumbled the football an incredible 17 times, with the Seminoles recovering 10 times. Wichita State's game against Arkansas at War Memorial Stadium on Oct. 24, 1970 was one of those times. [1] The team played its home games at Cessna Stadium in Wichita, Kansas. Survivors of the crash were players Mike Bruce, John Hoheisel, Randy Jackson, Glenn 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. And when I heard that airplane, I knew there was something different. The Arkansas players were clearly affected by the events that transpired, evidenced by a story written by James Thompson, another Arkansas Gazette journalist. Dorothy Harmon She served as interim athletic director after the crash. The 1970 Wichita Shockers football teamwas an American footballteam that represented Wichita State Universityas a member of the Missouri Valley Conferenceduring the 1970 NCAA University Division football season. Bob Seaman took over as head coach after the crash. Former college football team in Kansas, USA, Breaking the color barrier in college football coaching, 1897 Fairmount Wheatshockers football team, 1905 Washburn vs. Fairmount football game, Wichita State University football team plane crash, "Wichita State suspends football program", "MEMORIAL '70 - Memorial '70 Home - Wichita State University", "Wichita State gives up football, too expensive", "Shocker football players return to Cessna Stadium", "Stadium Fix-up Costs Throw WSU Football Hopes For Loss", "PRICE FOR WSU TO START FOOTBALL AGAIN: $11 MILLION * REPORT CALCULATES COST OF ADDING 1-AA FOOTBALL AND THREE WOMEN'S SPORTS", "Not so fast: Football's return to campus no done deal - The Sunflower: Campus Life", "WSU gets the OK to tear down Cessna Stadium", "How and why Wichita State? Tolle made it look like 1993 all over again at Eck Stadium on Saturday, doing his best Darren Dreifort impression. (What's happening with the Arkansas Razorbacks? Hey, theyre cheering for us, commented a Wichita footballer as the red wave of Razorback fans cheered the Wheatshockers onto the field. 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. The crash site is about a 575-mile drive from Wichita and is above I-70 on the north side of the highway, sitting on public land in the Arapaho National Forest. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? (AP Photo)ASSOCIATED PRESS. Flag hangs at half staff on Marshall University campus by bust of John Marshall, for whom school named, in tribute to the 75 people, including most of football squad, who were killed in a plane crash on Saturday, Nov. 16, 1970 in Huntington. A list of the 31 people killed in the Wichita State football plane crash on Oct. 2, 1970. [10], On November 21, the Shockers lost to North Texas State by a 4124 score. Arkansas' fans refrained from calling the Hogs as they supported the Shockers. A sardine dinner proved irresistible, Drunken pyros unite! An Ohio State football fan who wants to better document the history of the program. service was held Monday evening at Cessna Stadium. The two schools shared in the proceeds from the A Night of Stars benefit at Levitt Arena. 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.. Fifty years ago Friday. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. I feel badly that it happened, of course. "I look up there and think of them." Lewis could have been on the list. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Not a subscriber yet? [9], On November 14, Wichita lost to Memphis State by a 516 score. Football players and coaches on the "Black" plane were told of the crash by Bob Seaman, assistant coach, shortly after arrival in Logan, [11], In the final game of the season, the Shockers took a 170 lead over Lee Corso's bowl-bound Louisville Cardinals. Dubbed the "Second Season," Wichita State took 46 players 39 of them freshmen and sophomores to Little Rock to face No. Learn more. So I went out back and here was this big plane flying up the canyon really low. The only time I ever have is in the (NFL). We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. We know you hear with us the thrill and excitement of the game. [2], The team included 22 returning lettermen led by junior quarterback Bob Renner, senior fullback Randy Jackson, and middle linebacker John Hoheisel. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Portrait of John Yeros near the site of a plane crash near Loveland Pass, Colo., on Thursday, August 27, 2010. Maybe they should leave it just the way it is.. In 1986, president Warren Armstrong said the football program lost $839,000. Every year on Oct. 2, Wichita State University remembers the victims of the 1970 plane crash in Colorado, a tragedy that took the lives of 31 people on the trip to a football game in Utah the next day. 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. www.kansas.com/sports/college/wichita-state/, Those left behind mourned and built new lives, A beautiful fall day then an ominous sound, Pilot steadfast in denying fault: Someone needed to be blamed, The years drive a wedge between survivors linked by tragedy, 1970 healing process began on a Saturday night in Little Rock, Former Utah State player still feels linked to Shockers, Former WSU player Rick Stephens rides to remember friends who died, Photos: Crash survivor and friends honor victims in Colorado, Bob Lutz: Bob Seaman kept Shocker football going in the wake of 1970s tragic plane crash, Payton Tolle delivers one of the best two-way games in Wichita State baseball history, About that bloody fetus picture you found on your car . Each year, the university holds a ceremony on campus at the Memorial 70 monument. Description: . and supporters who died in a plane crash Friday, October 2, 1970. 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. They met Wichita coming the other way. The "Gold" plane carrying the first-team players and staff crashed in Colorado's Loveland Pass. had no objection of using freshman in the remaining games; neither did the Missouri The first year of Wichita State Shockers football was in 1895. Trainer Tom Reeves and athlete John Taylor died later in hospitals after suffering burns. It crashed around 1 p.m. about 40 miles west of Denver on Mount Trelease. 31 people were killed. 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. The team was headed to Logan, Utah, for a game the next day against Utah State. No plans have been made for the construction of a new multi-purpose athletic facility to replace the decrepit stadium. But I dont feel badly about anything I did. co-pilot Ronald Skipper. The main thing is that people take a few minutes to remember. 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. Do you have a sports website? [21], Wichita State won fourteen conference titles.[22]. The records below only includes games while a member of the conference and does not include games against teams listed below considered non-conference games. 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.. I think about them all the time. Bruce Gerleman, I have just felt bad about those other kids dying and me living. Bill Husted, an Arkansas Democrat journalist at the game, observed several scenes in his front-page story. 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) This years is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday. Sure enough, Arkansas led 14-0 just three minutes in and head coach Frank Broyles quickly got his reserves into the game. We acknowledge you as a real and important part of both. The starters played only 18 snaps, long enough to build a 20-0 lead. 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? [36] At the end of the season, a nationally televised fundraising program hosted by Monty Hall was aired to raise money for the victims of the two crashes. KPTS will show its 2009 documentary Black & Gold: Remembering the WSU Plane Crash at 8 p.m. Friday. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Randy Jackson, fullback, Atlanta, Texas - escaped through a hole in the fuselage; hospitalized in serious condition after the crash with deep lacerations on his face and multiple bruises; Glenn Kostal, linebacker, Chicago - dug his way out from under a pile of debris, dirt and tree limbs and crawled through a rip in the fuselage; sustained a broken leg, Dave Lewis, lineman, Duncan, Oklahoma - listed in satisfactory condition after the crash, Rick Baehr, led the team with 513 passing yards, Don Gilley, led the team with 290 rushing yards and 12 points scored, Bill Moore, led the team with 12 receptions and 175 receiving yards, This page was last edited on 19 January 2023, at 23:20. Date Original: Circa 1970. There was talk over the summer about reviving the football program. Join our linker program. As a former starter, he asked to move to sit with his friends. Wichita State's 2017 move to the American Athletic Conference leaves it as the only full member of the conference which does not play football. [13] On May 16, 2009 the Wichita State University alumni association held an all football players reunion at Cessna Stadium. 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. Withers, according to the story, hooked up with junior defensive end Pete Naputano, who also stayed behind while nursing a biceps injury. (AP Photo/Henry Griffin)AP. 9 in the country, Wichita lost by a 620 score. Subject: Wichita (Kan.) -- Pictorial works. and returned to Wichita by commercial plane Saturday. Bob Seaman took over as head coach after the crash. The elevation of the site is 10,750 feet. List of Wichita . All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Do you have a blog? The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. school at this time. High quality and affordable tuition make Wichita State a great value. 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. WSU lost to. In 2008, Howard Johnson, father of victim Ron Johnson, dedicated a stage musical called Waltzing in Heaven to the 1970 team in memory of his son. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. [2], 1970 NCAA University Division football season, 1970 Missouri Valley Conference football standings, Wichita State University football team plane crash. 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 team was known as Fairmount from its first season in 1897 to 1925 and Wichita from 1926 through 1963. The Shockers have won five Missouri Valley Conference football championships. All 75 on board were killed. Matthew McConaughey stars as new head football coach Jack Lengyel who was brought in to rebuild the team. Preview pages of the 1970 yearbook from West High School from Wichita, Kansas online. In one of the worst tragedies of college sports history, a plane carrying WSU football players, athletic staff members and team boosters crashed at approximately 3 p.m. on a mountain near Silver Plume, Colorado while en route to Logan, Utah for a game with Utah State University. [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. 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. [5] Fairmount won the game 240.[6]. The Shockers voted 76-1 to continue the season against Arkansas in Little Rock. It was shown that $24 million in improvements were needed. He earned All-MVC honors as a senior and played three seasons in the NFL. Judy Dunn, 39, Oklahoma City, flight attendant, Judy Lane, 28, Oklahoma City, flight attendant, Oct. 31: Cincinnati 35, WSU 5 (moved from Oct. 17), Leading passer: Rick Baehr, 43 of 121, 514 yards, Leading receiver: Bill Moore, 12 for 175 yards, Honorable mention All-Missouri Valley Conference: C Kelly Cook, RB Don Gilley, DT Don Pankratz, LB George Whitfield, LB Bruce Gerleman. Remembering the 31 people who died on Oct. 2, 1970 through the archives of The Wichita Eagle: Photos of the team and the crash | The names of the victims, Those left behind mourned and built new lives | A beautiful fall day then an ominous sound | Pilot steadfast in denying fault: Someone needed to be blamed | The years drive a wedge between survivors linked by tragedy |, 1970 healing process began on a Saturday night in Little Rock | It is time to heal | Playing with pain, Marvin Brown was Solomons favorite son | Daughter grew up without her da-da | Complex connection for WSU survivors | Families never lose memories | Former Utah State player still feels linked to Shockers, Former WSU player Rick Stephens rides to remember friends who died | Photos: Crash survivor and friends honor victims in Colorado. This article uses material from the Wikipedia article 1970 Wichita State Shockers football team, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. 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 Utah. teacher and coach at Robinson Middle School, he died in 2010 from pancreatic cancer. This story was originally published October 1, 2015, 12:36 PM. 1990 Roster # Player Position Birthday Hometown High School Height Weight; 1: . Register for free to see them all, or buy a printed copy of yearbooks from West High School from Wichita, Kansas today. (AP Photo)AP. Wichita State was playing its first game since head coach Ben Wilson, athletic director Bert Katzenmeyer, 14 players and 15 other people died in a plane crash on Oct. 2, 1970 en route to a. But they could not pull the overweight plane, a Martin 404, out of a box canyon. This week, we take a look back at Arkansas' game against Wichita State in 1970. Wichita waving white flag on Fourth of July skyrockets | Opinion, Wichita man sentenced for murdering 19-year-old who tried to steal $450 worth of marijuana, Kansas State at West Virginia could have major Big 12 Tournament seed implications, AAC tournament seeding on the line for Wichita State basketball: a look at tiebreakers, The bizarre stats the Wichita State basketball team finished with in loss to Houston, Turnovers spoil valiant road effort for Wichita State basketball in loss to No. It was the first night football game played west of the Mississippi River. Do you have a blog? Former T. C. Williams High School football coach Herman Boone, who was portrayed by Denzel Washington in the film Remember the Titans, compared Jeffriess hiring to that of Jackie Robinson signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers. 2022-23 Men's Basketball Roster - Wichita State Athletics Skip To Main Content Pause All Rotators Skip To Main Content Wichita State Athletics Main Navigation Menu Menu Sports Baseball Basketball (M) Basketball (W) Cross Country Golf (M) Golf (W) Softball Tennis (M) Tennis (W) Track & Field Volleyball Tickets SHOCKER TICKET OFFICE 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. (AP Photo/Randy Snyder)AP. 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. The National Transportation Safety Board issued this executive summary, The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the intentional operation of the aircraft over a mountain valley route at an altitude from which the aircraft could neither climb over the obstructing terrain ahead, nor execute a successful course reversal. On May 16, 2009 the Wichita State University alumni association held an all football players reunion at Cessna Stadium. President Clark Ahlberg and dean of students Jim Rhatigan The universitys leaders dealt with the crush of notifications, funerals and memorial services. The NCAA The team's statistical leaders included Rick Baehr with 513 passing yards, Don Gilley with 290 rushing yards and 12 points scored, Bill Moore with 175 receiving yards. But, the DC-6 was damaged so the aviation company opted to use two Martin 4-0-4 aircraft. Texas A&M Sports Information. Steam floated off their sweat-drenched heads, and a holler could be heard for the water boy. Wichita State University 1970 Football Team Airplane Crash Tragedy. Caden Henderson NCAA Stats Splits: Stat Type: Pace Adjusted Season View Wichita State did not play Arkansas again until 1980, when the Razorbacks won 27-7 in Fayetteville. Head coach Ben Wilson, 14 players, and 16 others died on October 2 in the Wichita State University football team plane crash. A: The Gold plane carried the starters, coach Ben Wilson and athletic director Bert Katzenmeyer. In his history of the sport of football, David M. Nelson concluded that "the first forward passes were thrown at the end of the 1905 season in a game between Fairmount and Washburn colleges in Kansas. All Rights Reserved. However, the score took a backseat in this game. Wichita State University 2023. [17], In 2006, Wichita Mayor Carlos Mayans proposed to use public funds to restart the football program at Wichita State. Out of that great loss came a strength that was given to each survivor, to each member of the athletic administration, she said. Player Randy Kiesau flew from Wichita to Denver on the Black plane, then changed to the Gold plane. The first home game was WSU's homecoming on October 31 against the University of Cincinnati medical attention for their injuries. Twenty-nine persons died Its almost like another memorial to them, with all of that still up there, teammate Ed Plopa said. Wichita State cancelled its games against Utah State (Oct. 3) and Southern Illinois (Oct. 10) and moved its game against Cincinnati from Oct. 17 to Oct. 31. He conducted a memorial service and wrote Homecoming Prayer, which was read at the first home game after the crash. Understanding the 1970 Wichita State football plane crash Two planes carrying Wichita State University football players, coaches, administrators and fans refueled on Oct. 2, 1970, in. Another 14 were university staff members and football boosters. The experiment was considered a failure. ABC televised the event with Monty Hall as host. The NTSB also cited the overloaded condition of the plane and a virtual absence of planning by the flight crew. All rights reserved (About Us). [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. Quality local journalism has never been more important. 9 Arkansas on Oct. 24. Summarize this article for a 10 years old. This is an opportunity to put the events in the publics mind, Stephens said in 2014. [1] The team played its home games at Cessna Stadium in Wichita, Kansas. The NTSB estimated the plane exceeded its takeoff weight limitation by around 5,165 pounds. Two planes carrying Wichita State University football players, coaches, administrators and fans refueled on Oct. 2, 1970, in Denver. Record: 0-9 (123rd of 123) (Schedule & Results). Thirty-one people died as a result of the crash: 14 players, 14 WSU staff and boosters, and three crew members. Wichita State was playing its first game since head coach Ben Wilson, athletic director Bert Katzenmeyer, 14 players and 15 other people died in a plane crash on Oct. 2, 1970 en route to a game at Utah State. Id say Wichita State and they would say, Thats the school that had the plane crash, wasnt it? Id say, Yeah, it sure was. But nothing else, because I didnt want to talk about it. Dave Lewis, In almost every conversation, when people ask you where you went to school, they remember the crash and ask about it. Aboard the plane were the Marshall University football team, coaching staff and boosters. "I honor their memory every day," Lewis said. John Duren, 19, Oklahoma City, Okla., Sophomore TE, Randy Kiesau, 20, Clinton, Okla., Junior CB, Mal Kimmel, 21, St. Genevieve, Mo., Senior C, Carl Krueger, 19, Chicago, Ill., Sophomore DE, Tom Owen, 20, Temple Terrace, Fla., Junior RB, Gene Robinson, 21, Dayton, Ohio, Junior TE, Tom Shedden, 20, Oklahoma City, Okla., Junior OT, Richard Stines, 19, Kansas City, Kan., Sophomore G, Jack Vetter, 21, McPherson, Kan., Senior DT, Bert Katzenmeyer, 52, Elwood City, Penn., Athletic Director, Ray Coleman, 45, Wichita, Kan., Shocker Club Chairman, Minority Owned Businesses & Cultural Opportunities in the AAC, Wichita State Crash Survivor Relives Details, Crash site an important memorial for 'Gold Plane' family, Triumph and tragedy: Scotties grad Barkell starred at Wichita State, recalls plane crash, Forgotten tragedy: Survivors' quest to keep memories of 1970 Wichita State crash from fading, Daughter of WSU plane crash victim never knew her 'Da-da', 1990: Those left behind mourned and built new lives, Three generations later, the secrets of Wichita State's devastating plane crash are still unfolding, Wichita State plane crash killing 31 in 1970 revisited Saturday, Youve got to go on: Children of Wichita State crash victims share a 50-year bond, Wichita State marks anniversary of 1970 football team plane crash - Wichita Eagle, Overshadowed: The Wichita State Football Crash, Black & Gold: Remembering the WSU Plane Crash, Surviving Oct. 2nd: Remembering the Fallen with Rick Stephens, 'Gold Plane' & Silver Plume: the Wichita State Plane Crash Revisited, A Look at the WSU Plane Crash's Aftermath, Crash Site an Important Memorial for 'Gold Plane' Family, Former Utah State player still feels linked to Shockers, Shocker Summer: 1970 healing process began on a Saturday night in Little Rock, Shockers forever: Area graduates were part of Wichita State program when plane crash killed 31 in 1970, Greg Hansen: Remembering the Wichita State plane crash, 50 years later, The Valley of No Return: The Story of the Wichita State University Football Team Plane Crash, Wichita State University Football Team Airplane Crash Collection.

Laura Hall And Linda Taylor Relationship, Boy Names That Mean Toxic, Avoyelles Parish Plantations, The Secret Life Of Pets Snowball Crying, Articles OTHER