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 team played its home games at Cessna Stadium in Wichita, Kansas. Head coach Ben Wilson, 14 players, and 16 others died on October 2 in the Wichita State University football team plane crash. 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. Schedule Pre-season The team included 22 returning lettermen led by junior quarterback Bob Renner, senior fullback Randy Jackson, and middle linebacker John Hoheisel. Hoheisel, who was described by coach Wilson in the preseason as "the heart and soul of our defense", was selected as the team captain. 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." September games On September 12, Wichita State opened its season with a 41–14 loss to Gene Stallings' Texas A&M Aggies before a crowd of 30,006 in College Station, Texas. They followed with losses to Arkansas State on September 19 and on September 26. Plane crash 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. The "Gold" plane carrying the first-team players and staff crashed in Colorado's Loveland Pass. Thirty-one persons were killed in the crash, including the following 14 players: Marvin Brown, sophomore, running back, Solomon, Kansas - age 18 Don Christian, junior, defensive back, Duncan, Oklahoma - age 22 John Dunren, sophomore, quarterback, Oklahoma City - age 19 Ron Johnson, senior, defensive back, Kansas City, Missouri - age 21 Randy Kieusau, junior, running back, Clinton, Oklahoma - age 20 Mal Kimmel, center, Ste. Genevieve, Missouri - age 21 Carl Krueger, sophomore, tackle, Chicago - age 19 Steve Moore, senior, linebacker, Derby, Kansas - age 21 Tom Owen, junior, running back, Temple Terrace, Florida