On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 31 people were killed. The Thomas A. Reeves Memorial Scholarship honors the Wichita State trainer who died in the crash. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 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. The Wichita State Shockers football team was the college football program of Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. it with us, please let us know. Understanding the 1970 Wichita State football plane crash. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Quality local journalism has never been more important. This is an opportunity to put the events in the publics mind, Stephens said in 2014. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Trainer Tom Reeves and athlete John Taylor died later in hospitals after suffering burns. Sports Reference Baseball; Football; Basketball; Hockey; Calcio; Blog; Stathead . "I look up there and think of them." Lewis could have been on the list. Valley Conference. The experiment was considered a failure. 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. 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. The MVC dropped football to NCAA Division I-AA status in 1985, leaving WSU an independent in its final season. [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]. Twenty-nine died at the scene. [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. the "Second Season." We present them here for purely educational purposes. Physical Details: 5 x 7 inches . 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. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? 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? [21], Wichita State won fourteen conference titles.[22]. [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]. 84 defensive end Pete Naputano was a junior from Altoona who was on the injured list and not on the plane. So I went out back and here was this big plane flying up the canyon really low. [40], On October 24, 1970, the team played the first game after the crash. [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]. 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. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). 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. Wichita State was playing its first game since head coach Ben Wilson, athletic director Bert Katzenmeyer, 14 players and 15 other people died in a plane crash on Oct. 2, 1970 en route to a game at Utah State. 9-ranked football team the Arkansas Razorbacks. 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. Head coach Ben Wilson, 14 players, and 16 others died on October 2 in the Wichita State University football team plane crash. By the numbers. 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. He would subsequently drop the plan weeks later. The Gold aircraft carried the starting players, head coach and athletic director. 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. [37], After the crash, the team's scheduled games against Utah State and Southern Illinois were cancelled. players, athletic staff members and team boosters crashed at approximately 3 p.m. WSU players spent the night in Logan A: Nine days after the crash, the players voted 76-1 to start what became known as the Second Season. The players said returning to practice gave them a sense of comfort and allowed them to honor their teammates. Looking back on it, we probably expected the coaches to do way too much, Rhatigan said. Id say Wichita State and they would say, Thats the school that had the plane crash, wasnt it? Id say, Yeah, it sure was. But nothing else, because I didnt want to talk about it. Dave Lewis, In almost every conversation, when people ask you where you went to school, they remember the crash and ask about it. [3] They followed with losses to Arkansas State on September 19 and West Texas State on September 26. You really do. Mike Bruce, I hate like hell to fly. 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. Q: What is the significance of the Gold and Black designations for the planes? But, the DC-6 was damaged so the aviation company opted to use two Martin 4-0-4 aircraft. List of Wichita . View Previous Seasons LSFN All-Time Record 466-287-31 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. The Wichita State Shockers football team was the college football program of Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. However, at that point on the flight path, the crew would have been unable to see that the valley ended at Loveland Pass, and thus they proceeded into an area from which an escape was not possible. NTSB report, I feel I did everything that I could have done in the situation. And when I heard that airplane, I knew there was something different. All Rights Reserved. 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. By the half, the freshmen were veterans. Coach Bob Seaman Wichita States offensive coordinator took over as coach, a job he held until 1973, when athletic director Ted Bredehoft fired him. Loria was a former teammate of Beamer. It landed in Logan. However, the aviation company did not own a DC-6 so it made arrangements to use one. That event is the subject of the 2006 movie "We Are Marshall," starring Matthew McConaughey. The show depicts the Shockers winning a national championship at the NCAA Division II level under the titular character.[23]. Radio voice Gus Grebe was supposed to ride on the Gold plane, but was late arriving and flew on the Black plane. Find out more. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. KPTS will show its 2009 documentary Black & Gold: Remembering the WSU Plane Crash at 8 p.m. Friday. On Nov. 28, 1970, Levitt Arena hosted A Night of Stars benefit for the victims of the Wichita State and Marshall University plane crashes. Once there, the senior parked his car and . Thirty-one people died as a result of the crash: 14 players, 14 WSU staff and boosters, and three crew members. 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. "[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]. Subject: Wichita (Kan.) -- Pictorial works. Taylor died Oct. 28 in a San Antonio hospital. 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. With permission from the NCAA, the Shockers played seven freshmen in their starting lineup. [8], On November 7, the Shockers showed marked improvement in a 2112 loss to Tulsa. I Do you have a blog? '70 at 9 a.m. each October 2. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Utah. A fictional version of the program is shown in the Apple TV+ show Ted Lasso. Herald-Dispatch photo archive - Marshall University (dark jerseys) beat Morehead State (white jerseys) 17-7 in the season opener Sept. 19, 1970, at Fairfield Stadium. Arkansas' fans refrained from calling the Hogs as they supported the Shockers. Kostal, Dave Lewis, Keith Morrison, Bob Renner, Rick Stephens and co-pilot Ronald A: On Nov. 14, 1970, a plane carrying Marshalls football team back crashed near the airport in Huntington, W.V., killing 75 people. [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. On October 2, 1970, airplane carrying Wichita State University football team crashed in Colorado Rocky Mountains killing 31 team members, supporters, coaches and airline personnel. Make sure you're in the loop --- take five seconds to Sign up for our FREE Razorbacks newsletter now!). 1970-71 Wichita State Roster and Stats Previous Season Next Season Record: 10-16 (0-0, in MVC ) Coach: Gary Thompson PS/G: 80.0 (82nd of 206) PA/G: 80.0 (136th of 206) SRS: 1.65 (81st of 203) SOS: 1.61 (80th of 203) Wichita State School History Roster & Stats Polls, Schedule & Results On this page: Roster Per Game Team and Opponent Stats Per Game 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. Maybe they should leave it just the way it is.. teacher and coach at Robinson Middle School, he died in 2010 from pancreatic cancer. Classes were cancelled Monday, October 5, and a memorial (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. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? However, the score took a backseat in this game. Without football, the Shockers' basketball program has become a powerhouse. of the survivors to Denver. A little more than a month after Wichita State's tragedy, a plane carrying the Marshall football team crashed and killed all 75 people on board, including 37 players and nine members of the coaching staff. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Buy 1 Month, Get 2 additional Months FREE. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. Bill Cosby, Kate Smith, Lou Rawls and Marilyn Maye performed and Ohio State coach Woody Hayes read a statement from president Richard Nixon. We do not have detailed roster information for this Check out the detailed 2000-01 Wichita State Shockers Roster and Stats for College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Or write about sports? They fielded a football team every year from 1895-1942 and 1944-1986. The stadium is still used by the schools track and field, soccer, and lacrosse programs. As a matter of policy, Sports Reference only reports the results of games as played on the field. Outland commented, "It seems to me that the distance required in three downs would almost eliminate touchdowns, except through fakes or flukes. 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. Find out the latest on your favorite NCAAB players on . The Shockers took 46 players to the game, 39 of them freshmen and sophomores. Dubbed the "Second Season," Wichita State took 46 players 39 of them freshmen and sophomores to Little Rock to face No. All 75 on board were killed. A rescue worker probes though the wreckage of a plane crash in Silver Plume, Colo. on Oct. 2, 1970. [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. I think about them all the time. Bruce Gerleman, I have just felt bad about those other kids dying and me living. President Clark Ahlberg and dean of students Jim Rhatigan The universitys leaders dealt with the crush of notifications, funerals and memorial services. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. 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. 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. Q: How can I learn more about the plane crash? Portrait of John Yeros near the site of a plane crash near Loveland Pass, Colo., on Thursday, August 27, 2010. [2], The team included 22 returning lettermen led by junior quarterback Bob Renner, senior fullback Randy Jackson, and middle linebacker John Hoheisel. [1] The team played its home games at Cessna Stadium in . 9 Arkansas on Oct. 24. 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]. He conducted a memorial service and wrote Homecoming Prayer, which was read at the first home game after the crash. In an annual ceremony of remembrance, a wreath is placed at Wichita State's Memorial Preview pages of the 1970 yearbook from West High School from Wichita, Kansas online. But they could not pull the overweight plane, a Martin 404, out of a box canyon. 10/04/1970: Wichita, KS: Southeast: 6'5" 240: 99: Alonzo Spellman: DE: 9/27/1971: Mt. 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.

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