On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. '70 at 9 a.m. each October 2. People can donate to the 70 Football Memorial Scholarship Fund at foundation.wichita.edu/give. Self Proclaimed or Named by Newspaper Champions: 1937: Pittsburg (10-1) / Bishop Ward (7-0-1) / Great Bend (9-0) 1936: Pittsburg (11-1) 1935: Chanute (8-0) 1934: Wichita North (8-0) 1933: Wyandotte (9-0) / Pittsburg (11-0) 1932: Wyandotte (8-0-1) 1931: 1930: Topeka 1929: El Dorado (8-0) / Topeka (7-0) / Independence (9-0) 1928: Lawrence (7-0) / El Dorado (9-0) The pilots of the Gold plane changed their flight plan, deciding to give their passengers a scenic view of the Rocky Mountains. He earned All-MVC honors as a senior and played three seasons in the NFL. Facing an Arkansas team ranked No. on a mountain near Silver Plume, Colorado while en route to Logan, Utah for a game Instead of hanging around campus, the two traveled to Naputano's hometown of Altoona, Pa., with Withers making a detour to visit his maternal grandparents who lived in nearby Johnstown.. We need your support. A sardine dinner proved irresistible, Drunken pyros unite! Wichita State University football players. Classes were cancelled Monday, October 5, and a memorial with Utah State University. Lettermen from the 1970 FSU Football Handbook, page 41. . A: The Wichita Eagle archives many stories and pictures from its coverage at www.kansas.com/sports/college/wichita-state/. The unfortunate loss of 31 fine individuals deserves to be remembered.. The Shockers have won five Missouri Valley Conference football championships. Only nine people - including eight players - survived. The National Transportation Safety Board issued this executive summary, The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the intentional operation of the aircraft over a mountain valley route at an altitude from which the aircraft could neither climb over the obstructing terrain ahead, nor execute a successful course reversal. 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 chartered Southern Airways DC-9 was returning from a game the team played earlier in the day against East Carolina University in North Carolina. But, the DC-6 was damaged so the aviation company opted to use two Martin 4-0-4 aircraft. This is an opportunity to put the events in the publics mind, Stephens said in 2014. The Shockers fielded a team from 1897 to 1986. 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. "I honor their memory every day," Lewis said. Florida State and Wichita State wallowed around in the slop looking for the football. Loria was a former teammate of Beamer. The 1970 Wichita State University plane crash. [2], 1970 NCAA University Division football season, 1970 Missouri Valley Conference football standings, Wichita State University football team plane crash. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. In an annual ceremony of remembrance, a wreath is placed at Wichita State's Memorial Coach Bob Seaman Wichita States offensive coordinator took over as coach, a job he held until 1973, when athletic director Ted Bredehoft fired him. Were still all so close, and we do so much of that in their memory. 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. at the scene. The two planes traveled to Denver, Colo., to refuel. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. 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. Full Wichita State Shockers roster for the 2022-23 season including position, height, weight, birthdate, years of experience, and college. Sure enough, Arkansas led 14-0 just three minutes in and head coach Frank Broyles quickly got his reserves into the game. had no objection of using freshman in the remaining games; neither did the Missouri Current Team: Lurleen B. Wallace CC Birthplace/Hometown: Freeport, Florida Nationality: United States Height: 6-1 (185cm) Weight: 160 (73kg) Current NBA Status: Draft Eligible in 2026 Draft Entry: 2026 NBA Draft Pre-Draft Team: Lurleen B. Wallace CC (Fr) Change player? 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 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. Or write about sports? I think about them all the time. Bruce Gerleman, I have just felt bad about those other kids dying and me living. [35], The following month, Southern Airways Flight 932 carrying the Marshall University football team crashed, killing 37 members of that team. Taylor died Oct. 28 in a San Antonio hospital. [40], On October 24, 1970, the team played the first game after the crash. The first game following the air tragedy was Saturday, October [1] The team played its home games at Cessna Stadium in Wichita, Kansas. Wichita State has helped me put marketing strategy in a real-world perspective. Once there, the senior parked his car and . Reeves died Oct. 5 in a Wheat Ridge, Colo., hospital. Maybe they should leave it just the way it is.. The future of the 1970 football season was in doubt, with the decision lying in the We do not have detailed roster information for this I Do you have a blog? [8], On November 7, the Shockers showed marked improvement in a 2112 loss to Tulsa. 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. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Eight players and the co-pilot survived. The 1970 matchup was the most lopsided of a lopsided series, as Arkansas cruised to a 62-0 win. The stories of the people affected by the crash and its aftermath serve as a tribute to all - teammates, friends and family. The brief ceremony honors WSU football players, administrators . 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. The Thomas A. Reeves Memorial Scholarship honors the Wichita State trainer who died in the crash. It wasnt a great team to begin with. . But I dont feel badly about anything I did. co-pilot Ronald Skipper. Skipper. Withers, according to the story, hooked up with junior defensive end Pete Naputano, who also stayed behind while nursing a biceps injury. Richard Taylor Minister at University United Methodist Church, he knew many of the players, coaches and administrators on the plane. The Black airplane carried the reserve players and assistant coaches. Find . It was - and still is - the largest shutout victory for Arkansas since 1947. Steam floated off their sweat-drenched heads, and a holler could be heard for the water boy. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. The first official football game played by Wichita State was in 1897, when they were known as Fairmount, under the coaching of T. H. Morrison. The Utah State football team held a brief memorial service at the stadium where the [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. A marker on I-70 near the Eisenhower Tunnel is close to the crash site in Colorado. [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). Or write about sports? All Rights Reserved. As a matter of policy, Sports Reference only reports the results of games as played on the field. John Hoheisel, linebacker and team captain. But they could not pull the overweight plane, a Martin 404, out of a box canyon. The game with Utah State was cancelled. We will take a step back in time and look back at something that happened in Razorbacks history. 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. Reeves, inducted in 1986 to the Shocker Sports Hall of Fame, is said to have helped several injured people after the crash. It gave us a real release and a real outlet and a real focus, safety Bruce Gerleman said. 9-ranked football team the Arkansas Razorbacks. On December 25, 1905, Fairmount played a game against the Washburn Ichabods using a set of experimental rules. Those that died they wouldnt have wanted us to quit. [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. Wichita's freshman quarterback Rick Baher also threw two touchdown passes, and John Potts kicked a 47-yard field goal. All 75 on board were killed. Q: What is the significance of the Gold and Black designations for the planes? And when I heard that airplane, I knew there was something different. Understanding the 1970 Wichita State football plane crash. 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. In one of the worst tragedies of college sports history, a plane carrying WSU football [13] On May 16, 2009 the Wichita State University alumni association held an all football players reunion at Cessna Stadium. 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. Keywords: Wichita, education, people. 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 NCAA [11], In the final game of the season, the Shockers took a 170 lead over Lee Corso's bowl-bound Louisville Cardinals. The first year of Wichita State Shockers football was in 1895. A: The Gold plane carried the starters, coach Ben Wilson and athletic director Bert Katzenmeyer. The NTSB also cited the overloaded condition of the plane and a virtual absence of planning by the flight crew. 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. In the afterglow of Kansas State's remarkable 2022 football season, some pieces are starting to fall into place for next year. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 6:41AM. (What's happening with the Arkansas Razorbacks? Subject: Wichita (Kan.) -- Pictorial works. Join our linker program. A: On Nov. 14, 1970, a plane carrying Marshall's football team back crashed near the airport in Huntington, W.V., killing 75 people. Members of the 1970 Wichita State and Arkansas teams will have a reunion at War Memorial Stadium this weekend for the Alcorn State game. players, athletic staff members and team boosters crashed at approximately 3 p.m. Q: Did the crash contribute to Wichita State dropping football after the 1986 season? Some of the wreckage remains on the side of Mount Trelease and memorial on I-70 marks the area. After starting all 14 games for Michigan in 2021 and injuring his knee three games into 2022, Cade McNamara looks at his move to Iowa as a fresh start. Looking back on it, we probably expected the coaches to do way too much, Rhatigan said. 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 "Gold" plane, a Martin 404, carried 36 passengers and a crew of four. WSU players spent the night in Logan The show depicts the Shockers winning a national championship at the NCAA Division II level under the titular character.[23]. 10/04/1970: Wichita, KS: Southeast: 6'5" 240: 99: Alonzo Spellman: DE: 9/27/1971: Mt. 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. Kostal, Dave Lewis, Keith Morrison, Bob Renner, Rick Stephens and co-pilot Ronald (AP Photo/Randy Snyder)AP. Make sure you're in the loop --- take five seconds to Sign up for our FREE Razorbacks newsletter now!). President Clark Ahlberg and dean of students Jim Rhatigan The universitys leaders dealt with the crush of notifications, funerals and memorial services. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Buy 1 Month, Get 2 additional Months FREE. A list of the 31 people killed in the Wichita State football plane crash on Oct. 2, 1970. Two planes carrying Wichita State University football players, coaches, administrators and fans refueled on Oct. 2, 1970, in Denver. 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 material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. An Ohio State football fan who wants to better document the history of the program. However, the score took a backseat in this game. A fireman looks over the wreckage of a DC-9 jet that was carrying the Marshall University football team in Kenova, W.Va., on Nov. 15, 1970. 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.". Marshall lost, 17-14. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Radio voice Gus Grebe was supposed to ride on the Gold plane, but was late arriving and flew on the Black plane. Out of that great loss came a strength that was given to each survivor, to each member of the athletic administration, she said. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. 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. 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 However, the Cardinals came back to win the game by a 3424 score.[12]. The elevation of the site is 10,750 feet. Of the 40 people on board, 29 died at the scene and two died later. Judy Dunn, 39, Oklahoma City, flight attendant, Judy Lane, 28, Oklahoma City, flight attendant, Oct. 31: Cincinnati 35, WSU 5 (moved from Oct. 17), Leading passer: Rick Baehr, 43 of 121, 514 yards, Leading receiver: Bill Moore, 12 for 175 yards, Honorable mention All-Missouri Valley Conference: C Kelly Cook, RB Don Gilley, DT Don Pankratz, LB George Whitfield, LB Bruce Gerleman.