Ahlberg traveled to Colorado with the families to visit survivors and identify the dead. Utah State placed a memorial wreath at the 50-yard line at its football stadium. "[9] According to Nelson, Washburn completed three passes, and Fairmount completed two. Kostal, Dave Lewis, Keith Morrison, Bob Renner, Rick Stephens and co-pilot Ronald 1969 Roster - By Number From the 1969 FSU Football Handbook, page 42. . A plane carrying the Wichita State University football team had crashed. Find . It crashed around 1 p.m. about 40 miles west of Denver on Mount Trelease. But they could not pull the overweight plane, a Martin 404, out of a box canyon. 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. ABC televised the event with Monty Hall as host. But I dont feel badly about anything I did. co-pilot Ronald Skipper. I feel badly that we were even flying the team that day. [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. Wichita State University 1970 Football Team Airplane Crash Tragedy. However, the Cardinals came back to win the game by a 3424 score.[12]. He conducted a memorial service and wrote Homecoming Prayer, which was read at the first home game after the crash. All rights reserved. Facing an Arkansas team ranked No. However, the score took a backseat in this game. The Thomas A. Reeves Memorial Scholarship honors the Wichita State trainer who died in the crash. With permission from the NCAA, the Shockers played seven freshmen in their starting lineup. 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. Fairmount defeated Wichita High School, now known as Wichita East, by a score of 124 in the only game played that year. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. The highlight of the game for Wichita was a 105-yard kickoff return by tailback Don Gilley in the first quarter. 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. We present them here for purely educational purposes. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. 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. school at this time. 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 This week, we take a look back at Arkansas' game against Wichita State in 1970. And it was dedicated to all those guys who didnt make it.. The plane crashed on Mount Trelease, west of Denver in the Arapaho National Forest. I feel badly that it happened, of course. The first game following the air tragedy was Saturday, October www.kansas.com/sports/college/wichita-state/, 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, 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, Bob Lutz: Bob Seaman kept Shocker football going in the wake of 1970s tragic plane crash, Payton Tolle delivers one of the best two-way games in Wichita State baseball history, About that bloody fetus picture you found on your car . And thats only because I had to. Randy Jackson, You get used to sounds in the valley. It landed in Logan. They met Wichita coming the other way. 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. Head coach Ben Wilson, 14 players, and 16 others died on October 2 in the Wichita State University football team plane crash. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Senior center Hayden Gillum became the first to make the leap, announcing Friday on social media that he will be back for the . Last year, the Tampa Bay Times, published a story about another player, David Withers, who also was not on the plane because of an injury. A fictional version of the program is shown in the Apple TV+ show Ted Lasso. AP. Loria was a former teammate of Beamer. The NCAA allowed WSU to play freshmen, who were ineligible at the time by NCAA rule. 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. The two schools shared in the proceeds from the A Night of Stars benefit at Levitt Arena. [35], The following month, Southern Airways Flight 932 carrying the Marshall University football team crashed, killing 37 members of that team. List of Wichita . No plans have been made for the construction of a new multi-purpose athletic facility to replace the decrepit stadium. Wichita waving white flag on Fourth of July skyrockets | Opinion, Wichita man sentenced for murdering 19-year-old who tried to steal $450 worth of marijuana, Kansas State at West Virginia could have major Big 12 Tournament seed implications, AAC tournament seeding on the line for Wichita State basketball: a look at tiebreakers, The bizarre stats the Wichita State basketball team finished with in loss to Houston, Turnovers spoil valiant road effort for Wichita State basketball in loss to No. The NTSB estimated the plane exceeded its takeoff weight limitation by around 5,165 pounds. Pennsylvania had a connection to the Marshall tragedy No. 10/04/1970: Wichita, KS: Southeast: 6'5" 240: 99: Alonzo Spellman: DE: 9/27/1971: Mt. [2], The team included 22 returning lettermen led by junior quarterback Bob Renner, senior fullback Randy Jackson, and middle linebacker John Hoheisel. Eight players and the co-pilot survived. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. 1 Houston, How Wichita State basketball coach Billy Kennedy hasnt let Parkinsons slow him down, While others shy away, Wichita States Craig Porter sees opportunity in the mid-range, Who I do it for: WSUs Jaron Pierre puts on a show for family in New Orleans homecoming. 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. Bob Seaman took over as head coach after the crash. High quality and affordable tuition make Wichita State a great value. Player Randy Kiesau flew from Wichita to Denver on the Black plane, then changed to the Gold plane. That event is the subject of the 2006 movie "We Are Marshall," starring Matthew McConaughey. We acknowledge you as a real and important part of both. This article uses material from the Wikipedia article 1970 Wichita State Shockers football team, and is written by contributors. [40], On October 24, 1970, the team played the first game after the crash. Looking back on it, we probably expected the coaches to do way too much, Rhatigan said. Find out the latest on your favorite NCAAB players on . Dorothy Harmon She served as interim athletic director after the crash. The MVC dropped football to NCAA Division I-AA status in 1985, leaving WSU an independent in its final season. Make sure you're in the loop --- take five seconds to Sign up for our FREE Razorbacks newsletter now!). Find out more. John Duren, 19, Oklahoma City, Okla., Sophomore TE, Randy Kiesau, 20, Clinton, Okla., Junior CB, Mal Kimmel, 21, St. Genevieve, Mo., Senior C, Carl Krueger, 19, Chicago, Ill., Sophomore DE, Tom Owen, 20, Temple Terrace, Fla., Junior RB, Gene Robinson, 21, Dayton, Ohio, Junior TE, Tom Shedden, 20, Oklahoma City, Okla., Junior OT, Richard Stines, 19, Kansas City, Kan., Sophomore G, Jack Vetter, 21, McPherson, Kan., Senior DT, Bert Katzenmeyer, 52, Elwood City, Penn., Athletic Director, Ray Coleman, 45, Wichita, Kan., Shocker Club Chairman, Minority Owned Businesses & Cultural Opportunities in the AAC, Wichita State Crash Survivor Relives Details, Crash site an important memorial for 'Gold Plane' family, Triumph and tragedy: Scotties grad Barkell starred at Wichita State, recalls plane crash, Forgotten tragedy: Survivors' quest to keep memories of 1970 Wichita State crash from fading, Daughter of WSU plane crash victim never knew her 'Da-da', 1990: Those left behind mourned and built new lives, Three generations later, the secrets of Wichita State's devastating plane crash are still unfolding, Wichita State plane crash killing 31 in 1970 revisited Saturday, Youve got to go on: Children of Wichita State crash victims share a 50-year bond, Wichita State marks anniversary of 1970 football team plane crash - Wichita Eagle, Overshadowed: The Wichita State Football Crash, Black & Gold: Remembering the WSU Plane Crash, Surviving Oct. 2nd: Remembering the Fallen with Rick Stephens, 'Gold Plane' & Silver Plume: the Wichita State Plane Crash Revisited, A Look at the WSU Plane Crash's Aftermath, Crash Site an Important Memorial for 'Gold Plane' Family, Former Utah State player still feels linked to Shockers, Shocker Summer: 1970 healing process began on a Saturday night in Little Rock, Shockers forever: Area graduates were part of Wichita State program when plane crash killed 31 in 1970, Greg Hansen: Remembering the Wichita State plane crash, 50 years later, The Valley of No Return: The Story of the Wichita State University Football Team Plane Crash, Wichita State University Football Team Airplane Crash Collection. and returned to Wichita by commercial plane Saturday. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The Shockers would have likely still been over-matched against No. The stories of the people affected by the crash and its aftermath serve as a tribute to all - teammates, friends and family. [16], In 1998, an advisory committee at Wichita State recommended reinstating the football program at Wichita State after a 15-month study for $70,000. All 75 people aboard were killed. Lettermen from the 1970 FSU Football Handbook, page 41. . [12], On December 2, 1986, Wichita State President Warren Armstrong announced that the university would no longer sponsor football due to the financial strain the program placed on the university. The team was headed to Logan, Utah, for a game the next day against Utah State. 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. (AP Photo/Henry Griffin)AP. [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. [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]. 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. Please consider supporting our work. The Shockers fielded a team from 1897 to 1986. . Cheers in this stadium have turned to tears and back again to cheers and all are a part of life.. Outland commented, "It seems to me that the distance required in three downs would almost eliminate touchdowns, except through fakes or flukes. 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 game with Utah State was cancelled. The university had a contract with Golden Eagle Aviation to provide a Douglas DC-6B to transport the team to away games. 9 in the country, Wichita lost by a 620 score. 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. the "Second Season." [3] They followed with losses to Arkansas State on September 19 and West Texas State on September 26. He died two days later. 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). It is also available at watch.kpts.org. You really do. Mike Bruce, I hate like hell to fly. Utah. Reeves died Oct. 5 in a Wheat Ridge, Colo., hospital. The future of the 1970 football season was in doubt, with the decision lying in the See our list of forfeits and vacated games for more details. The game was officiated by then Washburn head coach John H. Outland. Maybe they should leave it just the way it is.. Wichita State's game against Arkansas at War Memorial Stadium on Oct. 24, 1970 was one of those times. Tolle made it look like 1993 all over again at Eck Stadium on Saturday, doing his best Darren Dreifort impression. A: Other factors budget woes,losing records, low attendance and loss of conference affiliation caused the demise of football. Aboard the plane were the Marshall University football team, coaching staff and boosters. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? [34] Classes at Wichita State were canceled for Monday, October 5, and a memorial service was held that evening at the school's Cessna Stadium. (AP Photo)AP. Bert Katzenmeyer, 52, Wichita, athletic director, Marian Katzenmeyer, 52, Wichita, wife of athletic director, Marty Harrison, 19, Argonia, team manager, Carl Fahrbach, 50, Wichita, dean of admissions, Floyd Farmer, 35, Wichita, ticket manager, Ray Coleman, 45, Wichita, chairman of Shocker Club, Maxine Coleman, 43, Wichita, wife of chairman, John Grooms, 42, Wichita, won membership drive, Etta Mae Grooms, 38, Wichita, won membership drive, Yvonne King, 41, Hesston, wife of state representative. Q: What is the significance of the Gold and Black designations for the planes? 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. Holly, NJ: Rancocas Valley Regional: . Keywords: Wichita, education, people. . Two planes carrying Wichita State University football players, coaches, administrators and fans refueled on Oct. 2, 1970, in Denver. (What's happening with the Arkansas Razorbacks? Bob Seaman took over as head coach after the crash. 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]. 9-ranked football team the Arkansas Razorbacks. This is an opportunity to put the events in the publics mind, Stephens said in 2014. . On May 16, 2009 the Wichita State University alumni association held an all football players reunion at Cessna Stadium. The "Gold" plane, a Martin 404, carried 36 passengers and a crew of four. 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. The Shockers fielded a team from 1897 to 1986. 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. Bill Husted, an Arkansas Democrat journalist at the game, observed several scenes in his front-page story. 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. Some of the wreckage remains on the side of Mount Trelease and memorial on I-70 marks the area. (AP Photo)ASSOCIATED PRESS. [15], In 1997, the cost was cited at $11 million to restart the football program and three other women's sports. 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. A: The Gold plane carried the starters, coach Ben Wilson and athletic director Bert Katzenmeyer. 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. service was held Monday evening at Cessna Stadium. [1] The team played its home games at Cessna Stadium in . Check out the detailed 2000-01 Wichita State Shockers Roster and Stats for College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. We know you hear with us the thrill and excitement of the game. Rev. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Buy 1 Month, Get 2 additional Months FREE. Florida State and Wichita State wallowed around in the slop looking for the football. 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. [37], After the crash, the team's scheduled games against Utah State and Southern Illinois were cancelled. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. 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. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. The elevation of the site is 10,750 feet. The Wichita State Shockers football team was the college football program of Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. 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 A plane was made available by Governor Docking to take university officials and family Bill Cosby, Kate Smith, Lou Rawls and Marilyn Maye performed and Ohio State coach Woody Hayes read a statement from president Richard Nixon. [13] On May 16, 2009 the Wichita State University alumni association held an all football players reunion at Cessna Stadium. KPTS will show its 2009 documentary Black & Gold: Remembering the WSU Plane Crash at 8 p.m. Friday. Register for free to see them all, or buy a printed copy of yearbooks from West High School from Wichita, Kansas today. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. The NTSB said rain and poor visibility contributed to the . 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. It was - and still is - the largest shutout victory for Arkansas since 1947. [9], On November 14, Wichita lost to Memphis State by a 516 score. We do not have detailed roster information for this They reached the Final Four in 2013 and finished the 2013-14 regular season with a perfect 31-0 record. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. John Hoheisel, linebacker and team captain. Summarize this article for a 10 years old. The site is accessible after a short hike and friends and family members still visit. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. Valley Conference. A: The Black plane followed the original flight plan, north toward Laramie, Wyo., to gain altitude before crossing the Rockies. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Tolley was Marshall's head football coach when the team's plane crashed in 1970 killing all 75 people aboard. Randy Jackson One of the eight surviving players, Jackson led the Shockers in rushing in 1971 with 820 yards, then the second-highest total in program history, and eight touchdowns. Wichita State University 2023. 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. Without football, the Shockers' basketball program has become a powerhouse. 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. Texas A&M Sports Information. The pilots of the doomed aircraft were blamed for the accident by the National Transportation Safety Board. In his history of the sport of football, David M. Nelson concluded that "the first forward passes were thrown at the end of the 1905 season in a game between Fairmount and Washburn colleges in Kansas. Q: Did the crash contribute to Wichita State dropping football after the 1986 season? Radio voice Gus Grebe was supposed to ride on the Gold plane, but was late arriving and flew on the Black plane. Thanks for visiting PennLive. [11], In the final game of the season, the Shockers took a 170 lead over Lee Corso's bowl-bound Louisville Cardinals. Wichita State has helped me put marketing strategy in a real-world perspective. The crash claimed the lives of 31 members of the Wichita State University football team. Do you have a blog? All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. [41], On October 31, the Shockers lost by at 355 score to Cincinnati before a homecoming crowd of 27,210. "[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]. [2], 1970 NCAA University Division football season, 1970 Missouri Valley Conference football standings, Wichita State University football team plane crash. really had to, essentially, trust myself. When the clock ticked off the final second, the Razorbacks exploded to midfield, Thompson wrote. (AP Photo/File)AP. Reeves, inducted in 1986 to the Shocker Sports Hall of Fame, is said to have helped several injured people after the crash. 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. 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. The visiting Shockers fumbled the football an incredible 17 times, with the Seminoles recovering 10 times. Coach Bob Seaman Wichita States offensive coordinator took over as coach, a job he held until 1973, when athletic director Ted Bredehoft fired him. Hugh McElroy, who that week became the . 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. Trainer Tom Reeves and athlete John Taylor died later in hospitals after suffering burns. Arkansas' fans refrained from calling the Hogs as they supported the Shockers. A longtime P.E. 31 people were killed. of the survivors to Denver. 9 Arkansas on Oct. 24. Wichita State University football players. Few times has a home crowd openly cheered for the visitors. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 6:03AM. In one of the worst tragedies of college sports history, a plane carrying WSU football The Shockers went 6-5 in 1972 and didnt post another winning season until going 8-3 in 1983. [10], On November 21, the Shockers lost to North Texas State by a 4124 score. Marshall lost, 17-14. A list of the 31 people killed in the Wichita State football plane crash on Oct. 2, 1970. For information, please contact us at: Wichita State University Libraries Special Collections and University Archives 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS 67260-0068 All rights reserved (About Us). To read last week's Throwback Thursday on the previous nine times Arkansas and Texas A&M played when both were ranked, click here. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. 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.