The ’82 campaign was sadly an aberration, as the Shockers limped to four straight 3-8 seasons before closing its doors. He went with fellow survivors Rick Stephens and Randy Jackson, a talented tailback for the Shockers who spent three seasons in the NFL before returning to Wichita to become a longtime coach and teacher. With February's national signing day next Wednesday, we examine the state of college football recruiting in the 2021 class. In between practices, the players attended funerals. Wichita State football is back and it even has a national championship to celebrate. ... Alabama football hires Bill O'Brien as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. “I don’t know when I’ve been up there and I haven’t teared up.”. A plane carrying the Wichita State football team crashed while traveling to a game at Utah State on Oct. 2, 1970. Assistant coach Bob Seaman stepped in for Wilson. At Wichita State, there’s no longer a football team to honor those who died in the crash. My friends died there.”. He’ll never forget the sound of his dad’s voice telling him that John, his younger brother and a defensive back for the Shockers, had been in a plane crash. On Oct. 2, 1970, Wichita State lineman Mal Kimmel boarded a plane with his teammates for their game against Utah State. “I thought everybody survived — until the next day.”, “I could’ve health-wise. Bowl Record: 3 Bowls, 0-3, .000 W-L% (Major Bowls) Ranked in AP Poll: 0 Times (Preseason), 0 Times (Final), 0 Weeks (Total) Location: Wichita, Kansas Many touched by the tragedy will be there. The following is a list of players that attended Wichita State who were drafted in the NFL Draft from 1960-present. He’s been to the crash site more than 20 times since his first visit in 1972, when he took a piece of torn metal from the plane and brought it back to his dorm room. Over the years, he’s taken family members and survivors to the spot. Senior Rookie: Boys ages 19 and under. To remember. Conf. Operated by Golden Eagle Aviation, the twin-engined propliner carried 37 passengers and a crew of three; 29 were killed at the scene and two later died of their injuries while under medical care. Willie Jeffries, former Wichita State football coach, and Jay Hull, former guard for the Shockers, talk about the program's 1982 season. “I heard the explosion,” Bruce recalled. “I owed it to them, to those who didn’t make it, to do the best I can and be the best I can.”. Loved ones, to leave keepsakes. The plane clipped the tops of the trees before crashing into the place where chunks of metal now remain on the charred mountainside. The team, split into two, boarded two Martin 404’s destined for Logan, Utah. With more than 30 renowned centers and institutes and state-of-the-art laboratories and research facilities, Wichita State is a national leader in industry-funded research. 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 team compiled a 0–9 record (0–4 against conference opponents), finished last out of five teams in the MVC, and was outscored by a total of 381 to 99. The pilots flew low through a closed-in canyon with little room on each side and the Continental Divide looming ahead. Inside access. Copyright: © 2020 ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. But could the program be making a … Marshall … 2021 Spring League. Which was news to a certain demographic who was unaware that Wichita State ever played football in the first place. There's no NFL combine this year, which means the Senior Bowl is more important. That decision proved to be deadly when one plane went down, taking the lives of 32 people on board, including members of the Wichita State University football team, coaches and boosters. On the “Gold” plane were the starters, along with head coach Ben Wilson and his wife, Helen. They never arrived. FS1 | FOX | FOX News | Fox Corporation | FOX Supports | FOX Deportes. Join GWJFL. Wichita State Shockers School History. Emblazoned across the front: Wichita State. In late July, Yeros organized an outing that included more than two dozen people. “It was an honor to play in that game.”. “It was like one of my buddies died, because of where the tree came from. Cancer a decade ago at 61, I just couldn ’ t, ” said Bruce, lives... One of my buddies died, because of a coach who wanted be. Of that history is John Yeros, a wide receiver who was unaware that Wichita State football meanwhile... His brother didn ’ t teared up. ” football Hall of Fame,. 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