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. Lettermen from the 1970 FSU Football Handbook, page 41. . Survivor Rick Stephens, a tackle on the 1970 team, has ridden his bicyle from Wichita to Colorado to raise money for the scholarship fund. Classes were cancelled Monday, October 5, and a memorial Sure enough, Arkansas led 14-0 just three minutes in and head coach Frank Broyles quickly got his reserves into the game. Twenty-nine died at the scene. The Shockers went 6-5 in 1972 and didnt post another winning season until going 8-3 in 1983. 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. Utah. 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.". [1] The team played its home games at Cessna Stadium in Wichita, Kansas. Q: How is the Wichita State crash connected to Marshall University in West Virginia? 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. 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. The Shockers played in three bowl games and had an 03 record. The Gold aircraft carried the starting players, head coach and athletic director. [21], Wichita State won fourteen conference titles.[22]. 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. We will take a step back in time and look back at something that happened in Razorbacks history. 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. The future of the 1970 football season was in doubt, with the decision lying in the Pennsylvania had a connection to the Marshall tragedy No. [40], On October 24, 1970, the team played the first game after the crash. 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 Shockers took 46 players to the game, 39 of them freshmen and sophomores. He died two days later. [9], On November 14, Wichita lost to Memphis State by a 516 score. When the clock ticked off the final second, the Razorbacks exploded to midfield, Thompson wrote. The "Gold" plane, a Martin 404, carried 36 passengers and a crew of four. Information and quotes from this compilation gathered from stories published by The Wichita Eagle. A: Other factors budget woes,losing records, low attendance and loss of conference affiliation caused the demise of football. He earned All-MVC honors as a senior and played three seasons in the NFL. 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. 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. at the scene. "[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]. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Survivors of the crash were players Mike Bruce, John Hoheisel, Randy Jackson, Glenn All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Cheers in this stadium have turned to tears and back again to cheers and all are a part of life.. The crash claimed the lives of 31 members of the Wichita State University football team. Could have been on Rusty Featherstone's list. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. Wichita State University 2023. Rev. 9-ranked football team the Arkansas Razorbacks. game was to be played Saturday and placed a black and yellow wreath on the 50-yard He conducted a memorial service and wrote Homecoming Prayer, which was read at the first home game after the crash. All Rights Reserved. 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. They fielded a football team every year from 1895-1942 and 1944-1986. 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. [14], In 1992, a study was done on Cessna Stadium to comply with I-A football standards. Texas A&M Sports Information. Do you have a sports website? View Previous Seasons LSFN All-Time Record 466-287-31 We present them here for purely educational purposes. Without football, the Shockers' basketball program has become a powerhouse. players, athletic staff members and team boosters crashed at approximately 3 p.m. Description: . [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. It gave us a real release and a real outlet and a real focus, safety Bruce Gerleman said. Radio voice Gus Grebe was supposed to ride on the Gold plane, but was late arriving and flew on the Black plane. Naputano was one of four players who led the team onto the field in the spring of 1971 the others were Felix Jordan, Ed Carter and Nate Ruffin. [41], On October 31, the Shockers lost by at 355 score to Cincinnati before a homecoming crowd of 27,210. Holly, NJ: Rancocas Valley Regional: . Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. It was shown that $24 million in improvements were needed. Wichita State did not play Arkansas again until 1980, when the Razorbacks won 27-7 in Fayetteville. John Hoheisel, linebacker and team captain. 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. "I honor their memory every day," Lewis said. The NTSB estimated the plane exceeded its takeoff weight limitation by around 5,165 pounds. Ahlberg traveled to Colorado with the families to visit survivors and identify the dead. Only nine people - including eight players - survived. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. "I look up there and think of them." Lewis could have been on the list. [35], The following month, Southern Airways Flight 932 carrying the Marshall University football team crashed, killing 37 members of that team. 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. But, the DC-6 was damaged so the aviation company opted to use two Martin 4-0-4 aircraft. Or write about sports? Caden Henderson NCAA Stats Splits: Stat Type: Pace Adjusted Season View Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. The Shockers would have likely still been over-matched against No. Its just something you live with all the time. with Utah State University. had no objection of using freshman in the remaining games; neither did the Missouri Two planes carrying Wichita State University football players, coaches, administrators and fans refueled on Oct. 2, 1970, in Denver. line. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Bill Husted, an Arkansas Democrat journalist at the game, observed several scenes in his front-page story. The Shockers were a common opponent for the Razorbacks in those days; they played five times between 1964 and 1980. Were still all so close, and we do so much of that in their memory. No plans have been made for the construction of a new multi-purpose athletic facility to replace the decrepit stadium. This article uses material from the Wikipedia article 1970 Wichita State Shockers football team, and is written by contributors. The game with Utah State was cancelled. Skipper. We present them here for purely educational purposes. (What's happening with the Arkansas Razorbacks? As a former starter, he asked to move to sit with his friends. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. [3] They followed with losses to Arkansas State on September 19 and West Texas State on September 26. For information, please contact us at: Wichita State University Libraries Special Collections and University Archives 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS 67260-0068 Or write about sports? Do you have a blog? [37], After the crash, the team's scheduled games against Utah State and Southern Illinois were cancelled. Bob Seaman took over as head coach after the crash. ABC televised the event with Monty Hall as host. [2][3] They played their home games at Cessna Stadium and were members of the Missouri Valley Conference until the program was discontinued. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Six years later, the Shockers dropped their football program and have not played since. I feel badly that we were even flying the team that day. The university had a contract with Golden Eagle Aviation to provide a Douglas DC-6B to transport the team to away games. 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. 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. [1] The team played its home games at Cessna Stadium in Wichita, Kansas. The plane crashed on Mount Trelease, west of Denver in the Arapaho National Forest. 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.
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