Steam floated off their sweat-drenched heads, and a holler could be heard for the water boy. Head coach Ben Wilson, 14 players, and 16 others died on October 2 in the Wichita State University football team plane crash. The stadium is still used by the schools track and field, soccer, and lacrosse programs. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. He would subsequently drop the plan weeks later. Wichita State wore black jerseys, normally reserved for home games, for all six remaining games. 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. 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. "[9] According to Nelson, Washburn completed three passes, and Fairmount completed two. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. "[39] Assistant coach Bob Seaman took over as the team's head coach after the crash. [13] Hoheisel, who was described by coach Wilson in the preseason as "the heart and soul of our defense",[13] was selected as the team captain. Summarize this article for a 10 years old. [16], In 1998, an advisory committee at Wichita State recommended reinstating the football program at Wichita State after a 15-month study for $70,000. We will use old editions of the "Arkansas Recruiting Report" compiled by Otis Kirk during the 1990s, as well as newspaper reports accessed via microfilm, oral stories and other sources. Two planes carrying Wichita State University football players, coaches, administrators and fans refueled on Oct. 2, 1970, in Denver. The Shockers voted 76-1 to continue the season against Arkansas in Little Rock. Twenty-nine persons died 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. Hugh McElroy, who that week became the . [1] The team played its home games at Cessna Stadium in . Remembering the 1970 Wichita State football plane crash Cheers in this stadium have turned to tears and back again to cheers and all are a part of life.. 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 The Shockers were a common opponent for the Razorbacks in those days; they played five times between 1964 and 1980. Three generations later, the secrets of Wichita State's devastating In one of the worst tragedies of college sports history, a plane carrying WSU football teacher and coach at Robinson Middle School, he died in 2010 from pancreatic cancer. The Black airplane carried the reserve players and assistant coaches. However, the score took a backseat in this game. 9 in the country, Wichita lost by a 620 score. Herald-Dispatch photo archive - Marshall University (dark jerseys) beat Morehead State (white jerseys) 17-7 in the season opener Sept. 19, 1970, at Fairfield Stadium. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Make sure you're in the loop --- take five seconds to Sign up for our FREE Razorbacks newsletter now!). I think about them all the time. Bruce Gerleman, I have just felt bad about those other kids dying and me living. The Shockers took 46 players to the game, 39 of them freshmen and sophomores. Tramel: How 1970 Wichita State football plane crash survivors are [17], In 2006, Wichita Mayor Carlos Mayans proposed to use public funds to restart the football program at Wichita State. It was bigger than most planes we get down here and flying a lot lower. 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.". 'I don't want it to be forgotten': TC man avoided fatal 1970 Wichita the "Second Season." Conrad Downing, Sports Information Director, Dale Mullen, Wichita Beacon sports writer, Bob Seaman, Coaching Staff - Offensive Coordinator. Texas A&M Sports Information. See our list of forfeits and vacated games for more details. game was to be played Saturday and placed a black and yellow wreath on the 50-yard Out of that great loss came a strength that was given to each survivor, to each member of the athletic administration, she said. [2], 1970 NCAA University Division football season, 1970 Missouri Valley Conference football standings, Wichita State University football team plane crash. Wichita State Shockers football - Wikipedia Throwback Thursday: 1970 Wichita State game - HawgSports.com The Thomas A. Reeves Memorial Scholarship honors the Wichita State trainer who died in the crash. 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. In 1986, president Warren Armstrong said the football program lost $839,000. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. 1969 Roster - By Number From the 1969 FSU Football Handbook, page 42. . They reached the Final Four in 2013 and finished the 2013-14 regular season with a perfect 31-0 record. For information, please contact us at: Wichita State University Libraries Special Collections and University Archives 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS 67260-0068 It crashed around 1 p.m. about 40 miles west of Denver on Mount Trelease. Maybe they should leave it just the way it is.. 1986 Football Roster; Search for: 1990 Roster. | Opinion, Rare critter eluded Kansas biologists for years. If you have this information and would like to share (AP Photo/Chris Schneider) I feel badly that we were even flying the team that day. A plane carrying the Wichita State University football team had crashed. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses. [41], On October 31, the Shockers lost by at 355 score to Cincinnati before a homecoming crowd of 27,210. [2], The team included 22 returning lettermen led by junior quarterback Bob Renner, senior fullback Randy Jackson, and middle linebacker John Hoheisel. The MVC dropped football to NCAA Division I-AA status in 1985, leaving WSU an independent in its final season. Wichita State University football players. Radio voice Gus Grebe was supposed to ride on the Gold plane, but was late arriving and flew on the Black plane. The show depicts the Shockers winning a national championship at the NCAA Division II level under the titular character.[23]. The elevation of the site is 10,750 feet. On May 16, 2009 the Wichita State University alumni association held an all football players reunion at Cessna Stadium. How journalists remember 1970 WSU plane crash | Wichita State News Many of us are familiar with the Marshall University story from the 2006 movie We Are Marshall.. An Ohio State football fan who wants to better document the history of the program. Holly, NJ: Rancocas Valley Regional: . 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. There was talk over the summer about reviving the football program. Tolley was Marshall's head football coach when the team's plane crashed in 1970 killing all 75 people aboard. On Friday, October 2, 1970, Wichita State traveled to Logan, Utah, in two chartered planes, designated as "Gold" and "Black" according to the school colors, for a game against Utah State. Bert Katzenmeyer, 52, Wichita, athletic director, Marian Katzenmeyer, 52, Wichita, wife of athletic director, Marty Harrison, 19, Argonia, team manager, Carl Fahrbach, 50, Wichita, dean of admissions, Floyd Farmer, 35, Wichita, ticket manager, Ray Coleman, 45, Wichita, chairman of Shocker Club, Maxine Coleman, 43, Wichita, wife of chairman, John Grooms, 42, Wichita, won membership drive, Etta Mae Grooms, 38, Wichita, won membership drive, Yvonne King, 41, Hesston, wife of state representative. 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). Ahlberg traveled to Colorado with the families to visit survivors and identify the dead. 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. The good news for the Wildcats is the increasing likelihood their entire offensive line will return, including junior left guard Cooper Beebe. (AP Photo/Randy Snyder)AP. Loria was a former teammate of Beamer. The NCAA allowed WSU to play freshmen, who were ineligible at the time by NCAA rule. Bill Husted, an Arkansas Democrat journalist at the game, observed several scenes in his front-page story. [2][3] They played their home games at Cessna Stadium and were members of the Missouri Valley Conference until the program was discontinued. Florida State and Wichita State wallowed around in the slop looking for the football. I College Football at Sports-Reference.com Blog and Articles. "I look up there and think of them." Lewis could have been on the list. A: The Black plane followed the original flight plan, north toward Laramie, Wyo., to gain altitude before crossing the Rockies. This week, we take a look back at Arkansas' game against Wichita State in 1970. Caden Henderson NCAA Stats, Lurleen B. Wallace CC - RealGM Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Find out more. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Find out the latest on your favorite NCAAB players on . really had to, essentially, trust myself. Do you have a sports website? The stories of the people affected by the crash and its aftermath serve as a tribute to all - teammates, friends and family. The team compiled a 09 record (04 against conference opponents), finished last out of five teams in the MVC, and was outscored by a total of 381 to 99. 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. Eight players and the co-pilot survived. Wichita State has helped me put marketing strategy in a real-world perspective. Wichita State Shockers football - American Football Database 1970 Wichita State Shockers football team - Wikipedia @ WordDisk Survivors of the crash were players Mike Bruce, John Hoheisel, Randy Jackson, Glenn Physical Details: 5 x 7 inches . Few times has a home crowd openly cheered for the visitors. 1970-71 Wichita State Roster and Stats | College Basketball at Sports The tragedy-ridden Wichita State football squad looked for all the world like kids just out of high school as they warmed up Saturday night to face the nations No. 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. Two airplane crashes in 1970 devastated two college football teams 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. Utah. 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. And for the next five minutes, players for both sides embraced, shook hands and talked about the football game.. The experiment was considered a failure. We present them here for purely educational purposes. It gave us a real release and a real outlet and a real focus, safety Bruce Gerleman said. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. The two schools shared in the proceeds from the A Night of Stars benefit at Levitt Arena. [35], The following month, Southern Airways Flight 932 carrying the Marshall University football team crashed, killing 37 members of that team. Six years later, the Shockers dropped their football program and have not played since. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The NTSB estimated the plane exceeded its takeoff weight limitation by around 5,165 pounds. List of Wichita . 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. ABC televised the event with Monty Hall as host. Description: . But it was a team that hung together. John Yeros, The friendships and bonds forged have been a very important of all our lives. The team compiled a 09 record (04 against conference opponents), finished last out of five teams in the MVC, and was outscored by a total of 381 to 99. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. [2] [3] They played their home games at Cessna Stadium and were members of the Missouri Valley Conference until the program was discontinued. Wichita State Shockers Roster | ESPN Do you have a blog? [40], On October 24, 1970, the team played the first game after the crash. Join our linker program. The Shockers fielded a team from 1897 to 1986. Wichita State University 2023. The Shockers only points were scored in the first quarter on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Tom Owen to Eddie Plopa. The Shockers would have likely still been over-matched against No. Head coach Ben Wilson, 14 players, and 16 others died on October 2 in the Wichita State University football team plane crash. Without football, the Shockers' basketball program has become a powerhouse. [18][19], In 2012, an attempt was made to begin a club-level football team at Wichita State with hopes of eventually reviving the football program, though no official endorsement was given by the university.[20]. 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. . Can you list the top facts and stats about 1970 Wichita State Shockers football team? The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. [8], On November 7, the Shockers showed marked improvement in a 2112 loss to Tulsa. He conducted a memorial service and wrote Homecoming Prayer, which was read at the first home game after the crash. 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. President Clark Ahlberg and dean of students Jim Rhatigan The universitys leaders dealt with the crush of notifications, funerals and memorial services. 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. Hey, theyre cheering for us, commented a Wichita footballer as the red wave of Razorback fans cheered the Wheatshockers onto the field. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The only time I ever have is in the (NFL). Dubbed the "Second Season," Wichita State took 46 players 39 of them freshmen and sophomores to Little Rock to face No. Its almost like another memorial to them, with all of that still up there, teammate Ed Plopa said. The game was officiated by then Washburn head coach John H. Outland. A sardine dinner proved irresistible, Drunken pyros unite! 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.. And when I heard that airplane, I knew there was something different. Q: How can I learn more about the plane crash? Q: Why did Wichita State resume its season? By the numbers. The team was known as Fairmount from its first season in 1897 to 1925 and Wichita from 1926 through 1963. The Shockers fielded a team from 1897 to 1986. All rights reserved. No plans have been made for the construction of a new multi-purpose athletic facility to replace the decrepit stadium. The first year of Wichita State Shockers football was in 1895. But, the DC-6 was damaged so the aviation company opted to use two Martin 4-0-4 aircraft. This years is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday. It was shown that $24 million in improvements were needed. Please consider supporting our work. All rights reserved. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 6:03AM. State Champs | Kansas High School Football History Randy Jackson One of the eight surviving players, Jackson led the Shockers in rushing in 1971 with 820 yards, then the second-highest total in program history, and eight touchdowns. and supporters who died in a plane crash Friday, October 2, 1970. Find . Date Original: Circa 1970. Some school's results have been altered by retroactive NCAA penalties. 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. Wichita State has won fourteen conference titles. Tolle made it look like 1993 all over again at Eck Stadium on Saturday, doing his best Darren Dreifort impression. A fireman looks over the wreckage of a DC-9 jet that was carrying the Marshall University football team in Kenova, W.Va., on Nov. 15, 1970. 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. The "Gold" plane carrying the first-team players and staff crashed in Colorado's Loveland Pass. The Utah State football team held a brief memorial service at the stadium where the 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.[2]. The Gold aircraft carried the starting players, head coach and athletic director. The plane crashed on Mount Trelease, west of Denver in the Arapaho National Forest. A little more than a month after Wichita State's tragedy, a plane carrying the Marshall football team crashed and killed all 75 people on board, including 37 players and nine members of the coaching staff. 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 state of Kansas paid an out-of-court settlement of $1.56 million divided among the heirs of survivors and the eight players who survived, on the condition all lawsuits be dismissed. Taylor died Oct. 28 in a San Antonio hospital. 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. Register for free to see them all, or buy a printed copy of yearbooks from West High School from Wichita, Kansas today. 1990 Roster # Player Position Birthday Hometown High School Height Weight; 1: . 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. [11], In the final game of the season, the Shockers took a 170 lead over Lee Corso's bowl-bound Louisville Cardinals. 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. We do not have detailed roster information for this 2022-23 Wichita State Shockers Roster - CBSSports.com Of the 40 people on board, 29 died at the scene and two died later. Another 14 were university staff members and football boosters. 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. The Shockers have won five Missouri Valley Conference football championships. Quality local journalism has never been more important. 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. Wichita State University Football Team Airplane Crash Collection He earned All-MVC honors as a senior and played three seasons in the NFL. I just knew he was going to be in trouble. Mary Lou Rutherford, witness, We just assumed thats the way it was when you fly in the mountains. 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. 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. "I honor their memory every day," Lewis said. 2000-01 Wichita State Shockers Women's Roster and Stats 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. 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. Wichita's freshman quarterback Rick Baher also threw two touchdown passes, and John Potts kicked a 47-yard field goal. . Remembering the 1970 Wichita State football plane crash at Cessna Stadium. Rev. . Q: How is the Wichita State crash connected to Marshall University in West Virginia? [21], Wichita State won fourteen conference titles.[22]. 1970 Wichita State Shockers football team - Wikiwand Check out the detailed 2000-01 Wichita State Shockers Roster and Stats for College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. 1970 | Texas A&M Football History | myaggienation.com 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. This story was originally published October 1, 2015, 12:36 PM. Could have been on Rusty Featherstone's list. 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. 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. 1990 Ohio State Football Roster | Buckeye Rosters Of the 31 people killed, 14 were Wichita State football players.