Of the 40 people on board, 29 died at the scene and two died later. All 75 people aboard were killed. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Fewer people are familiar with another football tragedy that happened the month before the crash of an airplane carrying Wichita State University football players. 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. 9 in the country, Wichita lost by a 620 score. 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. Learn more and register, College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com Blog and Articles. Some of the wreckage remains on the side of Mount Trelease and memorial on I-70 marks the area. Tragedy struck the Aggies before the 1970 season as all-SWC defensive end Mike DeNiro died in a car crash. ABC televised the event with Monty Hall as host. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Fairmount defeated Wichita High School, now known as Wichita East, by a score of 124 in the only game played that year. A: Other factors budget woes,losing records, low attendance and loss of conference affiliation caused the demise of football. [14] Prior to the start of the season, second-year head coach Ben Wilson described his squad as a young club with good team speed, room to improve, and "a chance to surprise a lot of people."[13]. We know you hear with us the thrill and excitement of the game. 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 NTSB said rain and poor visibility contributed to the . An Ohio State football fan who wants to better document the history of the program. [1] The team played its home games at Cessna Stadium in Wichita, Kansas. 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. By the half, the freshmen were veterans. Head coach Ben Wilson, 14 players, and 16 others died on October 2 in the Wichita State University football team plane crash. List of Wichita . Find out the latest on your favorite NCAAB players on . All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. This is a weekly feature at Hawgs247. And thats only because I had to. Randy Jackson, You get used to sounds in the valley. Its just something you live with all the time. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 6:41AM. [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. College Football at Sports-Reference.com Blog and Articles. On September 12, Wichita State opened its season with a 4114 loss to Gene Stallings' Texas A&M Aggies before a crowd of 30,006 in College Station, Texas. 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. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Wichita State did not play Arkansas again until 1980, when the Razorbacks won 27-7 in Fayetteville. They met Wichita coming the other way. [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. Could have been on Rusty Featherstone's list. Conrad Downing, Sports Information Director, Dale Mullen, Wichita Beacon sports writer, Bob Seaman, Coaching Staff - Offensive Coordinator. 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. [1] The team played its home games at Cessna Stadium in . The Shockers voted 76-1 to continue the season against Arkansas in Little Rock. Facing an Arkansas team ranked No. Description: . That event is the subject of the 2006 movie "We Are Marshall," starring Matthew McConaughey. [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 it was dedicated to all those guys who didnt make it.. Those that died they wouldnt have wanted us to quit. The good news for the Wildcats is the increasing likelihood their entire offensive line will return, including junior left guard Cooper Beebe. Another 14 were university staff members and football boosters. WSU players spent the night in Logan 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. 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. This week, we take a look back at Arkansas' game against Wichita State in 1970. 1970 Wichita State Shockers Roster | College Football at Sports-Reference.com via Sports Logos.net About logos 1970 Wichita State Shockers Roster Previous Year Next Year Record: 0-9 (123rd of 123) ( Schedule & Results ) Conference: MVC Conference Record: 0-4 Coach: Ben Wilson (0-9) Points For: 99 Points/G: 11.0 (116th of 123) Points Against: 381 He earned All-MVC honors as a senior and played three seasons in the NFL. But, the DC-6 was damaged so the aviation company opted to use two Martin 4-0-4 aircraft. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The "Gold" plane carrying the first-team players and staff crashed in Colorado's Loveland Pass. The "Gold" plane, a Martin 404, carried 36 passengers and a crew of four. 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. Join our linker program. 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. In an annual ceremony of remembrance, a wreath is placed at Wichita State's Memorial "I honor their memory every day," Lewis said. Many of us are familiar with the Marshall University story from the 2006 movie We Are Marshall.. 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. The show depicts the Shockers winning a national championship at the NCAA Division II level under the titular character.[23]. It was shown that $24 million in improvements were needed. 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. 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. Q: Did the crash contribute to Wichita State dropping football after the 1986 season? A: On Nov. 14, 1970, a plane carrying Marshalls football team back crashed near the airport in Huntington, W.V., killing 75 people. The team compiled a 0-9 record , finished last out of five teams in the MVC, and was outscored by a total of 381 to 99. 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? 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. Wichita State wore black jerseys, normally reserved for home games, for all six remaining 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.[2]. Steam floated off their sweat-drenched heads, and a holler could be heard for the water boy. 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. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. "I look up there and think of them." Lewis could have been on the list. Dorothy Harmon She served as interim athletic director after the crash. The crash claimed the lives of 31 members of the Wichita State University football team. Tolle made it look like 1993 all over again at Eck Stadium on Saturday, doing his best Darren Dreifort impression. We present them here for purely educational purposes. With permission from the NCAA, the Shockers played seven freshmen in their starting lineup. [1] The team played its home games at Cessna Stadium in Wichita, Kansas. 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. [4], In the 1905 season, the Coleman Company set up temporary gas-powered lighting for a night game against Cooper College (now called the Sterling Warriors). [10], On November 21, the Shockers lost to North Texas State by a 4124 score. Two planes carrying Wichita State University football players, coaches, administrators and fans refueled on Oct. 2, 1970, in Denver. 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. A list of the 31 people killed in the Wichita State football plane crash on Oct. 2, 1970. 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. [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. All rights reserved. [17], In 2006, Wichita Mayor Carlos Mayans proposed to use public funds to restart the football program at Wichita State. It gave us a real release and a real outlet and a real focus, safety Bruce Gerleman said. To read last week's Throwback Thursday on the previous nine times Arkansas and Texas A&M played when both were ranked, click here. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses. Twenty-nine died at the scene. I think about them all the time. Bruce Gerleman, I have just felt bad about those other kids dying and me living. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. The first year of Wichita State Shockers football was in 1895. [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]. All rights reserved (About Us). 31 people were killed. 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. It was - and still is - the largest shutout victory for Arkansas since 1947. 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. I feel badly that it happened, of course. It landed in Logan. 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. However, the American has 11 football-playing schools, as Navy is an associate member for football only. Head coach Ben Wilson, 14 players, and 16 others died on October 2 in the Wichita State University football team plane crash. 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. Thirty-one people died as a result of the crash: 14 players, 14 WSU staff and boosters, and three crew members. Player Randy Kiesau flew from Wichita to Denver on the Black plane, then changed to the Gold plane. [8], On November 7, the Shockers showed marked improvement in a 2112 loss to Tulsa. Survivors of the crash were players Mike Bruce, John Hoheisel, Randy Jackson, Glenn 84 defensive end Pete Naputano was a junior from Altoona who was on the injured list and not on the plane. Quality local journalism has never been more important. had no objection of using freshman in the remaining games; neither did the Missouri However, the surviving members of the team voted 76-to-1 to complete the 1970 schedule. 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. school at this time. The first game following the air tragedy was Saturday, October The only time I ever have is in the (NFL). 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. Wichita State player Mike Bruce, If the crew had been concerned about the aircrafts ability to clear the terrain ahead less than one minute sooner, when the aircraft was 1 1/2 to 2 miles east of Dry Gulch, a successful turnaround could have been executed.

Pure Zari Kota Sarees In Jaipur, Where Is Derek Sanderson Now, How To Change Notification Sound On Iphone 11, California City Middle School Bell Schedule, Articles OTHER