See our list of forfeits and vacated games for more details. Preview pages of the 1970 yearbook from West High School from Wichita, Kansas online. Q: Did the crash contribute to Wichita State dropping football after the 1986 season? The 1970 team had a 3-6. The elevation of the site is 10,750 feet. 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. Prior to the game, a 15-minute ceremony featuring astronaut John Swigert was held to commemorate the team's return to Cessna Stadium for its first game since the crash. Outland commented, "It seems to me that the distance required in three downs would almost eliminate touchdowns, except through fakes or flukes. 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. Full Wichita State Shockers roster for the 2022-23 season including position, height, weight, birthdate, years of experience, and college. Find out the latest on your favorite NCAAB players on . 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. 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. A plane carrying the Wichita State University football team had crashed. (AP Photo)ASSOCIATED PRESS. All Rights Reserved. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Buy 1 Month, Get 2 additional Months FREE. It gave us a real release and a real outlet and a real focus, safety Bruce Gerleman said. 1970-71 Men, 1958-59 Men, 2008-09 Women, 1975-76 Men, 1995-96 . Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 6:03AM. 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. teacher and coach at Robinson Middle School, he died in 2010 from pancreatic cancer. 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.". Portrait of John Yeros near the site of a plane crash near Loveland Pass, Colo., on Thursday, August 27, 2010. The first home game was WSU's homecoming on October 31 against the University of Cincinnati The Shockers fielded a team from 1897 to 1986. players, athletic staff members and team boosters crashed at approximately 3 p.m. [5] Fairmount won the game 240.[6]. The crash claimed the lives of 31 members of the Wichita State University football team. Looking back on it, we probably expected the coaches to do way too much, Rhatigan said. 1986 Football Roster; Search for: 1990 Roster. Coach Bob Seaman Wichita States offensive coordinator took over as coach, a job he held until 1973, when athletic director Ted Bredehoft fired him. 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. Some school's results have been altered by retroactive NCAA penalties. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The plane crashed on Mount Trelease, west of Denver in the Arapaho National Forest. 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. 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. 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. [9], On November 14, Wichita lost to Memphis State by a 516 score. KMUW, 89.1-FM, will broadcast The Pieces that Remain: Remembering the WSU Plane Crash, at 5 p.m. Friday. [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. And for the next five minutes, players for both sides embraced, shook hands and talked about the football game.. The stories of the people affected by the crash and its aftermath serve as a tribute to all - teammates, friends and family. [37], After the crash, the team's scheduled games against Utah State and Southern Illinois were cancelled. 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 week, we take a look back at Arkansas' game against Wichita State in 1970. Those that died they wouldnt have wanted us to quit. Radio voice Gus Grebe was supposed to ride on the Gold plane, but was late arriving and flew on the Black plane. Learn more and register, College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com Blog and Articles. When the clock ticked off the final second, the Razorbacks exploded to midfield, Thompson wrote. We acknowledge you as a real and important part of both. Q: How can I learn more about the plane crash? 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. Mike Kennedy remembers when the paper bearing the Associated Press bulletin came over the wire in the KMUW radio newsroom on that October day in 1970. College Football at Sports-Reference.com Blog and Articles. He died two days later. The Shockers have won five Missouri Valley Conference football championships. And it was dedicated to all those guys who didnt make it.. So I went out back and here was this big plane flying up the canyon really low. [38] The remaining portion of the schedule was designated the "second season. This article uses material from the Wikipedia article 1970 Wichita State Shockers football team, and is written by contributors. The Shockers started seven freshmen and 10 sophomores and scored five points on a 37-yard field goal by John Potts and a safety when Cincinnati quarterback Bill Carter was tackled in the end zone. . Sure enough, Arkansas led 14-0 just three minutes in and head coach Frank Broyles quickly got his reserves into the game. Make sure you're in the loop --- take five seconds to Sign up for our FREE Razorbacks newsletter now!). Each year, the university holds a ceremony on campus at the Memorial 70 monument. A: The Gold plane carried the starters, coach Ben Wilson and athletic director Bert Katzenmeyer. Information and quotes from this compilation gathered from stories published by The Wichita Eagle. The pilots of the doomed aircraft were blamed for the accident by the National Transportation Safety Board. [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. Richard Taylor Minister at University United Methodist Church, he knew many of the players, coaches and administrators on the plane. The NTSB also cited the overloaded condition of the plane and a virtual absence of planning by the flight crew. Tragedy struck the Aggies before the 1970 season as all-SWC defensive end Mike DeNiro died in a car crash. 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. medical attention for their injuries. The NTSB said rain and poor visibility contributed to the crash. 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. game was to be played Saturday and placed a black and yellow wreath on the 50-yard Hey, theyre cheering for us, commented a Wichita footballer as the red wave of Razorback fans cheered the Wheatshockers onto the field. hands of the football players, university officials and eligibility rules. 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. Fairmount defeated Wichita High School, now known as Wichita East, by a score of 124 in the only game played that year. Taylor,. 10/04/1970: Wichita, KS: Southeast: 6'5" 240: 99: Alonzo Spellman: DE: 9/27/1971: Mt. President Clark Ahlberg and dean of students Jim Rhatigan The universitys leaders dealt with the crush of notifications, funerals and memorial services. [10], On November 21, the Shockers lost to North Texas State by a 4124 score. According to several newspaper accounts, the. Bill Cosby, Kate Smith, Lou Rawls and Marilyn Maye performed and Ohio State coach Woody Hayes read a statement from president Richard Nixon. Six years later, the Shockers dropped their football program and have not played since. 84 defensive end Pete Naputano was a junior from Altoona who was on the injured list and not on the plane. Without football, the Shockers' basketball program has become a powerhouse. On May 16, 2009 the Wichita State University alumni association held an all football players reunion at Cessna Stadium. The future of the 1970 football season was in doubt, with the decision lying in the Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. By the half, the freshmen were veterans. 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. WSU lost to. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Find out more. "I look up there and think of them." Lewis could have been on the list. . A plane was made available by Governor Docking to take university officials and family All rights reserved. 1969 Roster - By Number From the 1969 FSU Football Handbook, page 42. . Marshall lost, 17-14. The main thing is that people take a few minutes to remember. It was bigger than most planes we get down here and flying a lot lower. [2], 1970 NCAA University Division football season, 1970 Missouri Valley Conference football standings, Wichita State University football team plane crash. Can you list the top facts and stats about 1970 Wichita State Shockers football team? Quality local journalism has never been more important. service was held Monday evening at Cessna Stadium. Utah State placed a memorial wreath at the 50-yard line at its football 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. 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. [13] On May 16, 2009 the Wichita State University alumni association held an all football players reunion at Cessna Stadium. Arkansas' fans refrained from calling the Hogs as they supported the Shockers. Wichita's freshman quarterback Rick Baher also threw two touchdown passes, and John Potts kicked a 47-yard field goal. 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 SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. 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. A: The Black plane followed the original flight plan, north toward Laramie, Wyo., to gain altitude before crossing the Rockies. The Shockers went 6-5 in 1972 and didnt post another winning season until going 8-3 in 1983. Thirty-one people died as a result of the crash: 14 players, 14 WSU staff and boosters, and three crew members. ABC televised the event with Monty Hall as host. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Fewer people are familiar with another football tragedy that happened the month before the crash of an airplane carrying Wichita State University football players. Join our linker program. Its almost like another memorial to them, with all of that still up there, teammate Ed Plopa said. Hugh McElroy, who that week became the . [14], In 1992, a study was done on Cessna Stadium to comply with I-A football standards. 31 people were killed. Keywords: Wichita, education, people. Wichita State wore black jerseys, normally reserved for home games, for all six remaining games. Be sure to enjoy VIP access to Hawgs247 with our Buy 1 Month, Get 2 additional Months FREE promotional offer. Pennsylvania had a connection to the Marshall tragedy No. 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. 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. This is an opportunity to put the events in the publics mind, Stephens said in 2014. On December 25, 1905, Fairmount played a game against the Washburn Ichabods using a set of experimental rules. [2] [3] They played their home games at Cessna Stadium and were members of the Missouri Valley Conference until the program was discontinued. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses. 9 Arkansas on Oct. 24. The highlight of the game for Wichita was a 105-yard kickoff return by tailback Don Gilley in the first quarter. Wichita State has won fourteen conference titles. The Gold aircraft carried the starting players, head coach and athletic director. But they could not pull the overweight plane, a Martin 404, out of a box canyon. [15] Thirty-one persons were killed in the crash, including the following 14 players:[16][17], The fatalities also included head coach Ben Wilson (and his wife Helen), athletic director Bert Katzenmeyer (and his wife Marian), team manager Marty Harrison (age 19), team trainer Tom Reeves, admissions director Carl Fahrbach, ticket manager Floyd Farmer, Shocker Club chairman Ray Coleman (and his wife Maxine), Kansas state representative Ray King (and his wife Yvonne), the plane's pilot Dan Crocker, and two stewardesses.[17][24]. And when I heard that airplane, I knew there was something different. the "Second Season." This years is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday. 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. As a former starter, he asked to move to sit with his friends. Fifty years ago Friday. "I honor their memory every day," Lewis said. 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. and supporters who died in a plane crash Friday, October 2, 1970. Only nine people - including eight players - survived. The following players from the 1970 team were not on the plane that crashed: 1970 Wichita State Shockers football team, 1970 NCAA University Division football season, 1970 Missouri Valley Conference football standings, Wichita State University football team plane crash, "1970 Wichita State Shockers Schedule and Results", "Arkansas State too much for Wichita State, 53-14", "Shockers' 1970 Grid Future Still in Doubt", "McCoy, Shelly Unite for 6 TDs as Memphis State Routs Wichita", "Long run for the Shockers But Wichita falls, 41-24", "U of L Battles Back From 17-0 Deficit To Whip Inspired Wichita State 34-24", "Coach Claims Wichita A Possible Shocker", "Garden Plain Gridder Wichita State Captain", "Wichita Grid Plane Crashes, Kills 29 En Route to Logan", "Remembering the 1970 Wichita State football plane carsh", "Former M.A.F.C. 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. Check out the detailed 2000-01 Wichita State Shockers Roster and Stats for College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. 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. 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) Classes were cancelled Monday, October 5, and a memorial Tolley was Marshall's head football coach when the team's plane crashed in 1970 killing all 75 people aboard. "[9] According to Nelson, Washburn completed three passes, and Fairmount completed two. (AP Photo/File)AP. It was shown that $24 million in improvements were needed. The NTSB said rain and poor visibility contributed to the . Twenty-nine died at the scene. [1] The team played its home games at Cessna Stadium in Wichita, Kansas. The Shockers played in three bowl games and had an 03 record. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. 1970 Wichita State Shockers football team, 1970 NCAA University Division football season, 1970 Missouri Valley Conference football standings, Wichita State University football team plane crash. The "Gold" plane, a Martin 404, carried 36 passengers and a crew of four. Join our linker program. There was talk over the summer about reviving the football program. Steam floated off their sweat-drenched heads, and a holler could be heard for the water boy. (AP Photo/Chris Schneider) Description: . 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. A list of the 31 people killed in the Wichita State football plane crash on Oct. 2, 1970. 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. 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. Holly, NJ: Rancocas Valley Regional: . Tolle made it look like 1993 all over again at Eck Stadium on Saturday, doing his best Darren Dreifort impression. Florida State and Wichita State wallowed around in the slop looking for the football. A: The Wichita Eagle archives many stories and pictures from its coverage at www.kansas.com/sports/college/wichita-state/. line. Members of the 1970 Wichita State and Arkansas teams will have a reunion at War Memorial Stadium this weekend for the Alcorn State game. 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. The NTSB estimated the plane exceeded its takeoff weight limitation by around 5,165 pounds. But I dont feel badly about anything I did. co-pilot Ronald Skipper. Few times has a home crowd openly cheered for the visitors. The pilots of the Gold plane changed their flight plan, deciding to give their passengers a scenic view of the Rocky Mountains. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Two planes carrying Wichita State University football players, coaches, administrators and fans refueled on Oct. 2, 1970, in Denver. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. The Wichita State Shockers football team was the college football program of Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. The Thomas A. Reeves Memorial Scholarship honors the Wichita State trainer who died in the crash. [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. Find . It crashed around 1 p.m. about 40 miles west of Denver on Mount Trelease. The show depicts the Shockers winning a national championship at the NCAA Division II level under the titular character.[23]. Bob Seaman took over as head coach after the crash. All rights reserved (About Us). And thats only because I had to. Randy Jackson, You get used to sounds in the valley. The event was organized by former Wichita State player John Potts and former Arkansas player Chuck Dicus, according to The Wichita Eagle. The unfortunate loss of 31 fine individuals deserves to be remembered.. The Arkansas players were clearly affected by the events that transpired, evidenced by a story written by James Thompson, another Arkansas Gazette journalist. We need your support. had no objection of using freshman in the remaining games; neither did the Missouri Player Randy Kiesau flew from Wichita to Denver on the Black plane, then changed to the Gold plane. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Trainer Tom Reeves and athlete John Taylor died later in hospitals after suffering burns. List of Wichita . Sports Reference Baseball; Football; Basketball; Hockey; Calcio; Blog; Stathead . 9-ranked football team the Arkansas Razorbacks. 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. [2], The team included 22 returning lettermen led by junior quarterback Bob Renner, senior fullback Randy Jackson, and middle linebacker John Hoheisel.