Find out the latest on your favorite NCAAB players on . And when I heard that airplane, I knew there was something different. Coach Bob Seaman Wichita States offensive coordinator took over as coach, a job he held until 1973, when athletic director Ted Bredehoft fired him. AP. Make sure you're in the loop --- take five seconds to Sign up for our FREE Razorbacks newsletter now!). Tragedy struck the Aggies before the 1970 season as all-SWC defensive end Mike DeNiro died in a car crash. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses. [1] The team played its home games at Cessna Stadium in Wichita, Kansas. As a former starter, he asked to move to sit with his friends. Learn more. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Of the 40 people on board, 29 died at the scene and two died later. 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. A: On Nov. 14, 1970, a plane carrying Marshalls football team back crashed near the airport in Huntington, W.V., killing 75 people. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Q: How did the Black plane reach Utah safely? Can you list the top facts and stats about 1970 Wichita State Shockers football team? Twenty-nine persons died Record: 0-9 (123rd of 123) (Schedule & Results). had no objection of using freshman in the remaining games; neither did the Missouri it with us, please let us know. The Shockers have won five Missouri Valley Conference football championships. 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. However, the score took a backseat in this game. The two planes traveled to Denver, Colo., to refuel. Tolle made it look like 1993 all over again at Eck Stadium on Saturday, doing his best Darren Dreifort impression. line. The event was organized by former Wichita State player John Potts and former Arkansas player Chuck Dicus, according to The Wichita Eagle. Wichita State's game against Arkansas at War Memorial Stadium on Oct. 24, 1970 was one of those times. The game with Utah State was cancelled. A plane was made available by Governor Docking to take university officials and family Matthew McConaughey stars as new head football coach Jack Lengyel who was brought in to rebuild the team. We do not have detailed roster information for this [2][3] They played their home games at Cessna Stadium and were members of the Missouri Valley Conference until the program was discontinued. Player Randy Kiesau flew from Wichita to Denver on the Black plane, then changed to the Gold plane. [17], In 2006, Wichita Mayor Carlos Mayans proposed to use public funds to restart the football program at Wichita State. 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. For information, please contact us at: Wichita State University Libraries Special Collections and University Archives 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS 67260-0068 The future of the 1970 football season was in doubt, with the decision lying in the Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 6:41AM. Wichita State Shockers football - American Football Database teacher and coach at Robinson Middle School, he died in 2010 from pancreatic cancer. 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. 9-ranked football team the Arkansas Razorbacks. The show depicts the Shockers winning a national championship at the NCAA Division II level under the titular character.[23]. hands of the football players, university officials and eligibility rules. Q: How can I learn more about the plane crash? 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. Valley Conference. [8], On November 7, the Shockers showed marked improvement in a 2112 loss to Tulsa. Head coach Ben Wilson, 14 players, and 16 others died on October 2 in the Wichita State University football team plane crash. Survivors of the crash were players Mike Bruce, John Hoheisel, Randy Jackson, Glenn Hugh McElroy, who that week became the . But, the DC-6 was damaged so the aviation company opted to use two Martin 4-0-4 aircraft. The NTSB said rain and poor visibility contributed to the crash. He conducted a memorial service and wrote Homecoming Prayer, which was read at the first home game after the crash. 2022-23 Men's Basketball Roster - Wichita State Athletics at the scene. [3] They followed with losses to Arkansas State on September 19 and West Texas State on September 26. Richard Taylor Minister at University United Methodist Church, he knew many of the players, coaches and administrators on the plane. 50 years later, Wichita State football team's crash site on a Colorado The visiting Shockers fumbled the football an incredible 17 times, with the Seminoles recovering 10 times. Maybe they should leave it just the way it is.. It is also available at watch.kpts.org. [10], On November 21, the Shockers lost to North Texas State by a 4124 score. 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. Q: Did the crash contribute to Wichita State dropping football after the 1986 season? Find out more. If you have this information and would like to share 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. The Shockers would have likely still been over-matched against No. We need your support. 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. 1969 Football - Year In Review - nole Fan A list of the 31 people killed in the Wichita State football plane crash on Oct. 2, 1970. 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. (What's happening with the Arkansas Razorbacks? 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. [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. 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 Wichita State Shockers football team was the college football program of Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. Do you have a sports website? 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. 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. [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. 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 longtime P.E. 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. Once there, the senior parked his car and . Find . Fifty years ago Friday. (AP Photo)ASSOCIATED PRESS, Virginia Tech head football coach Frank Beamer places a memorial stone in honor of former Va Tech players Frank Loria and Rick Tolley at the Marshall memorial site at Springhill Cemetery in Huntington, W.Va. on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011. 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. 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. Many of us are familiar with the Marshall University story from the 2006 movie We Are Marshall.. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. The good news for the Wildcats is the increasing likelihood their entire offensive line will return, including junior left guard Cooper Beebe. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The NTSB said rain and poor visibility contributed to the . 1970 yearbook from West High School from Wichita, Kansas [9], On November 14, Wichita lost to Memphis State by a 516 score. Wichita State has won fourteen conference titles. The Shockers went 6-5 in 1972 and didnt post another winning season until going 8-3 in 1983. 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. 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. [10] The game was canceled, and the Utah State football team held a memorial service at the stadium where the game was to have been played. and returned to Wichita by commercial plane Saturday. 2022-23 Wichita State Shockers Roster - CBSSports.com List of Wichita . Significant factors were the overloaded condition of the aircraft, the virtual absence of flight planning for the chosen route of flight from Denver to Logan, a lack of understanding on the part of the crew of the performance capabilities and limitations of the aircraft, and the lack of operational management to monitor and appropriately control the actions of the flight crew., Federal investigators take readings from the instrument panel of the DC-9 jet that crashed in Kenova, West Virginia, Nov. 15, 1970, killing all 75 occupants, including the Marshall University football team.