He conducted a memorial service and wrote Homecoming Prayer, which was read at the first home game after the crash. In addition to the 14 players killed, eight other players survived the crash with varying degrees of injury: On the scheduled game day, the team held a memorial service at Romney Stadium in Logan and placed a wreath on the 50-yard line. Tragedy struck the Aggies before the 1970 season as all-SWC defensive end Mike DeNiro died in a car crash. 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. 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. (AP Photo)ASSOCIATED PRESS. Texas A&M Sports Information. With permission from the NCAA, the Shockers played seven freshmen in their starting lineup. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. Utah State placed a memorial wreath at the 50-yard line at its football stadium. The Arkansas players were clearly affected by the events that transpired, evidenced by a story written by James Thompson, another Arkansas Gazette journalist. Reeves died Oct. 5 in a Wheat Ridge, Colo., hospital. 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. 10/04/1970: Wichita, KS: Southeast: 6'5" 240: 99: Alonzo Spellman: DE: 9/27/1971: Mt. The first year of Wichita State Shockers football was in 1895. It was the first night football game played west of the Mississippi River. 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. A: The Gold plane carried the starters, coach Ben Wilson and athletic director Bert Katzenmeyer. Thirty-one people died as a result of the crash: 14 players, 14 WSU staff and boosters, and three crew members. 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. [14], In 1992, a study was done on Cessna Stadium to comply with I-A football standards. Can you list the top facts and stats about 1970 Wichita State Shockers football team? Twenty-nine died at the scene. Wichita's freshman quarterback Rick Baher also threw two touchdown passes, and John Potts kicked a 47-yard field goal. The Wichita State Shockers football team was the college football program of Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. Once there, the senior parked his car and . Wichita State has helped me put marketing strategy in a real-world perspective. 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. It landed in Logan. 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. (AP Photo/Randy Snyder)AP. Out of that great loss came a strength that was given to each survivor, to each member of the athletic administration, she said. Classes were cancelled Monday, October 5, and a memorial A plane was made available by Governor Docking to take university officials and family 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. 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. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. 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. 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. Senior center Hayden Gillum became the first to make the leap, announcing Friday on social media that he will be back for the . 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 SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 6:41AM. [1] The team played its home games at Cessna Stadium in Wichita, Kansas. Subject: Wichita (Kan.) -- Pictorial works. (AP Photo/File)AP. 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. The Shockers fielded a team from 1897 to 1986. In the afterglow of Kansas State's remarkable 2022 football season, some pieces are starting to fall into place for next year. 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. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. 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. Marvin Brown, 19, Solomon, sophomore tailback, Don Christian, 20, Duncan, Okla., junior defensive back, John Duren, 19, Oklahoma City, sophomore end, Ron Johnson, 21, Kansas City, Mo., senior safety, Randy Kiesau, 20, Clinton, Okla., junior defensive back, Mal Kimmel, 21, St. Genevieve, Mo., senior center, Carl Krueger, 19, Chicago, sophomore tackle, Steve Moore, 21, Derby, senior linebacker, Tom Owen, 20, Temple Terrace, Fla., junior running back, Gene Robinson, 21, Dayton, Ohio, junior end, Tom Shedden, 20, Oklahoma City, junior tackle, Richard Stines, 19, Kansas City, Kan., sophomore guard, John Taylor, 21, Sherman, Texas, senior cornerback, Jack Vetter, 21, McPherson, senior tackle. (AP Photo)ASSOCIATED PRESS. Joyce Series No: FBC613 Holdings: Box 1 (FBC613-1) Abilene Christian (Abilene Christian University - Abilene TX) 17 Sep 1960 vs East Texas State - 15 Oct 1960 vs Howard Payne - 29 Oct 1960 vs Mississippi Southern 30 Sep 1961 vs Lamar Tech 3 Nov 1962 vs Arlington State 26 Oct 1963 vs Trinity "I honor their memory every day," Lewis said. High quality and affordable tuition make Wichita State a great value. 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. on a mountain near Silver Plume, Colorado while en route to Logan, Utah for a game Tolley was Marshall's head football coach when the team's plane crashed in 1970 killing all 75 people aboard. [1] The team played its home games at Cessna Stadium in Wichita, Kansas. 2022-23 Men's Basketball Roster - Wichita State Athletics Skip To Main Content Pause All Rotators Skip To Main Content Wichita State Athletics Main Navigation Menu Menu Sports Baseball Basketball (M) Basketball (W) Cross Country Golf (M) Golf (W) Softball Tennis (M) Tennis (W) Track & Field Volleyball Tickets SHOCKER TICKET OFFICE Preview pages of the 1970 yearbook from West High School from Wichita, Kansas online. [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. Find out more. All 75 on board were killed. (AP Photo/Chris Schneider) In one of the worst tragedies of college sports history, a plane carrying WSU football But, the DC-6 was damaged so the aviation company opted to use two Martin 4-0-4 aircraft. It was bigger than most planes we get down here and flying a lot lower. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. President Clark Ahlberg and dean of students Jim Rhatigan The universitys leaders dealt with the crush of notifications, funerals and memorial services. Matthew McConaughey stars as new head football coach Jack Lengyel who was brought in to rebuild the team. Valley Conference. Wichita State University 2023. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The pilots of the Gold plane changed their flight plan, deciding to give their passengers a scenic view of the Rocky Mountains. Full Wichita State Shockers roster for the 2022-23 season including position, height, weight, birthdate, years of experience, and college. The "Gold" plane carrying the first-team players and staff crashed in Colorado's Loveland Pass. 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. The starters played only 18 snaps, long enough to build a 20-0 lead. Register for free to see them all, or buy a printed copy of yearbooks from West High School from Wichita, Kansas today. 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.[2]. The event was organized by former Wichita State player John Potts and former Arkansas player Chuck Dicus, according to The Wichita Eagle. Maybe they should leave it just the way it is.. 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. Join our linker program. The elevation of the site is 10,750 feet. Bob Seaman took over as head coach after the crash. The football players decided to continue the season, which was later designated as Bill Husted, an Arkansas Democrat journalist at the game, observed several scenes in his front-page story. They reached the Final Four in 2013 and finished the 2013-14 regular season with a perfect 31-0 record. 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. All rights reserved. The 2006 movie, We Are Marshall, depicted the aftermath of the crash. [35], The following month, Southern Airways Flight 932 carrying the Marshall University football team crashed, killing 37 members of that team. The Wichita State Shockers football team was the college football program of Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. We do not have detailed roster information for this 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. [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]. Head coach Ben Wilson, 14 players, and 16 others died on October 2 in the Wichita State University football team plane crash. Do you have a blog? 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. It crashed around 1 p.m. about 40 miles west of Denver on Mount Trelease.