Survivor Rick Stephens, a tackle on the 1970 team, has ridden his bicyle from Wichita to Colorado to raise money for the scholarship fund. [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. The Gold aircraft carried the starting players, head coach and athletic director. [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]. Skipper. really had to, essentially, trust myself. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? 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. Summarize this article for a 10 years old. 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. The good news for the Wildcats is the increasing likelihood their entire offensive line will return, including junior left guard Cooper Beebe. The plane crashed on Mount Trelease, west of Denver in the Arapaho National Forest. College Football at Sports-Reference.com Blog and Articles. 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? Description: . players, athletic staff members and team boosters crashed at approximately 3 p.m. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. We do not have detailed roster information for this As a former starter, he asked to move to sit with his friends. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. High quality and affordable tuition make Wichita State a great value. (AP file photo) This Oct. 2, 1970, file photo shows wreckage of a plane that carried members of the Wichita State University football team, in Silver Plume, Colo. Rusted and ragged pieces of . He earned All-MVC honors as a senior and played three seasons in the NFL. All 75 on board were killed. Withers, according to the story, hooked up with junior defensive end Pete Naputano, who also stayed behind while nursing a biceps injury. The site is accessible after a short hike and friends and family members still visit. 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. 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. Without football, the Shockers' basketball program has become a powerhouse. 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. So I went out back and here was this big plane flying up the canyon really low. Eight players and the co-pilot survived. However, the American has 11 football-playing schools, as Navy is an associate member for football only. [14], In 1992, a study was done on Cessna Stadium to comply with I-A football standards. 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. 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. 84 defensive end Pete Naputano was a junior from Altoona who was on the injured list and not on the plane. Fewer people are familiar with another football tragedy that happened the month before the crash of an airplane carrying Wichita State University football players. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. The Shockers have won five Missouri Valley Conference football championships. at Cessna Stadium. 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? 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. The stories of the people affected by the crash and its aftermath serve as a tribute to all - teammates, friends and family. Classes were cancelled Monday, October 5, and a memorial Or write about sports? The Gold plane was taking a more scenic route, but the pilot encountered difficulty and was unable to pull the overweight aircraft out of a canyon. Hey, theyre cheering for us, commented a Wichita footballer as the red wave of Razorback fans cheered the Wheatshockers onto the field. Many of us are familiar with the Marshall University story from the 2006 movie We Are Marshall.. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. You really do. Mike Bruce, I hate like hell to fly. It is also available at watch.kpts.org. 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. In 1986, president Warren Armstrong said the football program lost $839,000. 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. Steam floated off their sweat-drenched heads, and a holler could be heard for the water boy. Conrad Downing, Sports Information Director, Dale Mullen, Wichita Beacon sports writer, Bob Seaman, Coaching Staff - Offensive Coordinator. Twenty-nine died at the scene. Bob Seaman took over as head coach after the crash. A plane carrying the Wichita State University football team had crashed. Six years later, the Shockers dropped their football program and have not played since. 10/04/1970: Wichita, KS: Southeast: 6'5" 240: 99: Alonzo Spellman: DE: 9/27/1971: Mt. President Clark Ahlberg and dean of students Jim Rhatigan The universitys leaders dealt with the crush of notifications, funerals and memorial services. The NTSB said rain and poor visibility contributed to the crash. Head coach Ben Wilson, 14 players, and 16 others died on October 2 in the Wichita State University football team plane crash. On Nov. 28, 1970, Levitt Arena hosted A Night of Stars benefit for the victims of the Wichita State and Marshall University plane crashes. 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. [37], After the crash, the team's scheduled games against Utah State and Southern Illinois were cancelled. 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 first home game was WSU's homecoming on October 31 against the University of Cincinnati Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. 9 Arkansas on Oct. 24. Texas A&M Sports Information. It was shown that $24 million in improvements were needed. The football players decided to continue the season, which was later designated as 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 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. And when I heard that airplane, I knew there was something different. service was held Monday evening at Cessna Stadium. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Buy 1 Month, Get 2 additional Months FREE. Lettermen from the 1970 FSU Football Handbook, page 41. . 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. Trainer Tom Reeves and player John Taylor died later after receiving As a matter of policy, Sports Reference only reports the results of games as played on the field. Only nine people - including eight players - survived. However, the surviving members of the team voted 76-to-1 to complete the 1970 schedule. This is an opportunity to put the events in the publics mind, Stephens said in 2014. [36] At the end of the season, a nationally televised fundraising program hosted by Monty Hall was aired to raise money for the victims of the two crashes. 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 Wichita State Shockers football team was the college football program of Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. The MVC dropped football to NCAA Division I-AA status in 1985, leaving WSU an independent in its final season. Looking back on it, while we were admiring the strength of the character of the players who carried on, we did not see the pain underneath.. 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.". The Shockers were a common opponent for the Razorbacks in those days; they played five times between 1964 and 1980. Wichita State University football players. Each year, the university holds a ceremony on campus at the Memorial 70 monument. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. [1] The team played its home games at Cessna Stadium in Wichita, Kansas. Its almost like another memorial to them, with all of that still up there, teammate Ed Plopa said. [35], The following month, Southern Airways Flight 932 carrying the Marshall University football team crashed, killing 37 members of that team. 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. Valley Conference.