1970 wichita state football roster

Naputano was one of four players who led the team onto the field in the spring of 1971 the others were Felix Jordan, Ed Carter and Nate Ruffin. Taylor,. The only time I ever have is in the (NFL). 1969 Football - Year In Review - nole Fan 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. Or write about sports? 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. 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. Survivor Rick Stephens, a tackle on the 1970 team, has ridden his bicyle from Wichita to Colorado to raise money for the scholarship fund. Wichita State University Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 6:41AM. 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. 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? Its almost like another memorial to them, with all of that still up there, teammate Ed Plopa said. 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. Could have been on Rusty Featherstone's list. | Opinion, Rare critter eluded Kansas biologists for years. Player Randy Kiesau flew from Wichita to Denver on the Black plane, then changed to the Gold plane. Fairmount defeated Wichita High School, now known as Wichita East, by a score of 124 in the only game played that year. The NCAA allowed WSU to play freshmen, who were ineligible at the time by NCAA rule. at the scene. [9], On November 14, Wichita lost to Memphis State by a 516 score. 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. (AP Photo)AP. President Clark Ahlberg and dean of students Jim Rhatigan The universitys leaders dealt with the crush of notifications, funerals and memorial services. really had to, essentially, trust myself. Some of the wreckage remains on the side of Mount Trelease and memorial on I-70 marks the area. Skipper. How journalists remember 1970 WSU plane crash | Wichita State News WSU lost to. 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. Of the 31 people killed, 14 were Wichita State football players. The Shockers only points were scored in the first quarter on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Tom Owen to Eddie Plopa. The plane crashed on Mount Trelease, west of Denver in the Arapaho National Forest. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Buy 1 Month, Get 2 additional Months FREE. 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. 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 . Conrad Downing, Sports Information Director, Dale Mullen, Wichita Beacon sports writer, Bob Seaman, Coaching Staff - Offensive Coordinator. And thats only because I had to. Randy Jackson, You get used to sounds in the valley. 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. Members of the 1970 Wichita State and Arkansas teams will have a reunion at War Memorial Stadium this weekend for the Alcorn State game. Thirty-one people died as a result of the crash: 14 players, 14 WSU staff and boosters, and three crew members. 1990 Ohio State Football Roster | Buckeye Rosters The event was organized by former Wichita State player John Potts and former Arkansas player Chuck Dicus, according to The Wichita Eagle. Full Wichita State Shockers roster for the 2022-23 season including position, height, weight, birthdate, years of experience, and college. To read last week's Throwback Thursday on the previous nine times Arkansas and Texas A&M played when both were ranked, click here. The Shockers played in three bowl games and had an 03 record. A plane was made available by Governor Docking to take university officials and family Survivors of the crash were players Mike Bruce, John Hoheisel, Randy Jackson, Glenn 24 with the University of Arkansas Razorbacks in Little Rock at the War Memorial Stadium. Ahlberg traveled to Colorado with the families to visit survivors and identify the dead. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. Cheers in this stadium have turned to tears and back again to cheers and all are a part of life.. The unfortunate loss of 31 fine individuals deserves to be remembered.. He died two days later. A sardine dinner proved irresistible, Drunken pyros unite! Bob Seaman took over as head coach after the crash. The team was known as Fairmount from its first season in 1897 to 1925 and Wichita from 1926 through 1963. On May 16, 2009 the Wichita State University alumni association held an all football players reunion at Cessna Stadium. The NCAA Withers, according to the story, hooked up with junior defensive end Pete Naputano, who also stayed behind while nursing a biceps injury. . 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? Tragedy struck the Aggies before the 1970 season as all-SWC defensive end Mike DeNiro died in a car crash. 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. 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. A: The Gold plane carried the starters, coach Ben Wilson and athletic director Bert Katzenmeyer. 84 defensive end Pete Naputano was a junior from Altoona who was on the injured list and not on the plane. On December 25, 1905, Fairmount played a game against the Washburn Ichabods using a set of experimental rules. Senior center Hayden Gillum became the first to make the leap, announcing Friday on social media that he will be back for the . Another 14 were university staff members and football boosters. 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.". Do you have a blog? Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. The game with Utah State was cancelled. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. 50 years later, Wichita State football team's crash site on a Colorado Coach Bob Seaman Wichita States offensive coordinator took over as coach, a job he held until 1973, when athletic director Ted Bredehoft fired him. (What's happening with the Arkansas Razorbacks? 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. Kansas State football's veteran offensive line likely to return intact By the half, the freshmen were veterans. Hey, theyre cheering for us, commented a Wichita footballer as the red wave of Razorback fans cheered the Wheatshockers onto the field. All Rights Reserved. The MVC dropped football to NCAA Division I-AA status in 1985, leaving WSU an independent in its final season. (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. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. of the survivors to Denver. The pilots of the doomed aircraft were blamed for the accident by the National Transportation Safety Board. He would subsequently drop the plan weeks later. Outland commented, "It seems to me that the distance required in three downs would almost eliminate touchdowns, except through fakes or flukes. 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 Tolle made it look like 1993 all over again at Eck Stadium on Saturday, doing his best Darren Dreifort impression. Wichita State Shockers football - Wikipedia A list of the 31 people killed in the Wichita State football plane crash on Oct. 2, 1970. The first game following the air tragedy was Saturday, October (AP Photo/Randy Snyder)AP. Please consider supporting our work. 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. I would be somewhere and someone would ask me where I went to school. Keywords: Wichita, education, people. 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. 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. For information, please contact us at: Wichita State University Libraries Special Collections and University Archives 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS 67260-0068 Dubbed the "Second Season," Wichita State took 46 players 39 of them freshmen and sophomores to Little Rock to face No. The "Gold" plane carrying the first-team players and staff crashed in Colorado's Loveland Pass. "[39] Assistant coach Bob Seaman took over as the team's head coach after the crash. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. We will use old editions of the "Arkansas Recruiting Report" compiled by Otis Kirk during the 1990s, as well as newspaper reports accessed via microfilm, oral stories and other sources. Many of us are familiar with the Marshall University story from the 2006 movie We Are Marshall.. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. And it was dedicated to all those guys who didnt make it.. 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. Two planes carrying Wichita State University football players, coaches, administrators and fans refueled on Oct. 2, 1970, in Denver. [2], 1970 NCAA University Division football season, 1970 Missouri Valley Conference football standings, Wichita State University football team plane crash. game was to be played Saturday and placed a black and yellow wreath on the 50-yard 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. The two planes traveled to Denver, Colo., to refuel. 1970 Wichita State Shockers football team - Wikipedia As a matter of policy, Sports Reference only reports the results of games as played on the field. 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. service was held Monday evening at Cessna Stadium. 9 in the country, Wichita lost by a 620 score. [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. Do you have a sports website? Valley Conference. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The stories of the people affected by the crash and its aftermath serve as a tribute to all - teammates, friends and family. On Nov. 28, 1970, Levitt Arena hosted A Night of Stars benefit for the victims of the Wichita State and Marshall University plane crashes. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. line. 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. 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. The Wichita State Shockers football team was the college football program of Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. 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. By the numbers. Tolley was Marshall's head football coach when the team's plane crashed in 1970 killing all 75 people aboard. The Thomas A. Reeves Memorial Scholarship honors the Wichita State trainer who died in the crash. He conducted a memorial service and wrote Homecoming Prayer, which was read at the first home game after the crash. 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. [11], In the final game of the season, the Shockers took a 170 lead over Lee Corso's bowl-bound Louisville Cardinals. [3] They followed with losses to Arkansas State on September 19 and West Texas State on September 26. The two schools shared in the proceeds from the A Night of Stars benefit at Levitt Arena. 1970 Wichita State Shockers Roster | College Football at Sports-Reference.com via Sports Logos.net About logos 1970 Wichita State Shockers Roster Previous Year Next Year Record: 0-9 (123rd of 123) ( Schedule & Results ) Conference: MVC Conference Record: 0-4 Coach: Ben Wilson (0-9) Points For: 99 Points/G: 11.0 (116th of 123) Points Against: 381 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. [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. 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). Bill Cosby, Kate Smith, Lou Rawls and Marilyn Maye performed and Ohio State coach Woody Hayes read a statement from president Richard Nixon. The Shockers took 46 players to the game, 39 of them freshmen and sophomores. had no objection of using freshman in the remaining games; neither did the Missouri Two airplane crashes in 1970 devastated two college football teams This is an opportunity to put the events in the publics mind, Stephens said in 2014. The Wichita State Shockers football team was the college football program of Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. the "Second Season." Those that died they wouldnt have wanted us to quit. The team was headed to Logan, Utah, for a game the next day against Utah State. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Can you list the top facts and stats about 1970 Wichita State Shockers football team? [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. Marshall lost, 17-14. However, the American has 11 football-playing schools, as Navy is an associate member for football only. on a mountain near Silver Plume, Colorado while en route to Logan, Utah for a game Wichita State University 1970 Football Team Airplane Crash Tragedy. Bill Husted, an Arkansas Democrat journalist at the game, observed several scenes in his front-page story. Texas A&M Sports Information. 2022-23 Men's Basketball Roster - Wichita State Athletics The Shockers fielded a team from 1897 to 1986. Q: How did the Black plane reach Utah safely? Wichita State has helped me put marketing strategy in a real-world perspective. Q: Why did Wichita State resume its season? Of the 40 people on board, 29 died at the scene and two died later. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. 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, while we were admiring the strength of the character of the players who carried on, we did not see the pain underneath.. 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. In an annual ceremony of remembrance, a wreath is placed at Wichita State's Memorial A: The Black plane followed the original flight plan, north toward Laramie, Wyo., to gain altitude before crossing the Rockies. 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. Remembering the 1970 Wichita State football plane crash It was bigger than most planes we get down here and flying a lot lower. The Shockers have won five Missouri Valley Conference football championships. KMUW, 89.1-FM, will broadcast The Pieces that Remain: Remembering the WSU Plane Crash, at 5 p.m. Friday. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). They reached the Final Four in 2013 and finished the 2013-14 regular season with a perfect 31-0 record. 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. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. 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. school at this time. 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. [1] The team played its home games at Cessna Stadium in Wichita, Kansas. Dorothy Harmon She served as interim athletic director after the crash. Wichita Photos The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Reeves, inducted in 1986 to the Shocker Sports Hall of Fame, is said to have helped several injured people after the crash. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. 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. Shocker Summer: 1970 healing process began on a - The Wichita Eagle Loria was a former teammate of Beamer. [10], On November 21, the Shockers lost to North Texas State by a 4124 score. This week, we take a look back at Arkansas' game against Wichita State in 1970. They met Wichita coming the other way. However, the surviving members of the team voted 76-to-1 to complete the 1970 schedule. See our list of forfeits and vacated games for more details. Remembering the 31 - Wichita State Athletics 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. 9-ranked football team the Arkansas Razorbacks. Trainer Tom Reeves and athlete John Taylor died later in hospitals after suffering burns. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Trainer Tom Reeves and player John Taylor died later after receiving [2] [3] They played their home games at Cessna Stadium and were members of the Missouri Valley Conference until the program was discontinued. "I honor their memory every day," Lewis said. This years is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday. Arkansas' fans refrained from calling the Hogs as they supported the Shockers. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Forgotten tragedy: Survivors' quest to keep memoires of 1970 Wichita A: The Wichita Eagle archives many stories and pictures from its coverage at www.kansas.com/sports/college/wichita-state/. We do not have detailed roster information for this Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? The elevation of the site is 10,750 feet. Record: 0-9 (123rd of 123) (Schedule & Results). Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. [17], In 2006, Wichita Mayor Carlos Mayans proposed to use public funds to restart the football program at Wichita State. The state of Kansas paid an out-of-court settlement of $1.56 million divided among the heirs of survivors and the eight players who survived, on the condition all lawsuits be dismissed. Looking back on it, we probably expected the coaches to do way too much, Rhatigan said. Wichita State wore black jerseys, normally reserved for home games, for all six remaining games.