KPTSIn one of the worst tragedies in college sports, 31 Wichita State football players, staff members and team boosters died when their plane crashed on the way to a game on Oct. 2, 1970.
Three weeks later, survivors and a handful of inexperienced freshmen played their first game since the crash, against the University of Arkansas.
Then-seniors Bob Hays, John Hoheisel and Don Pankratz met Arkansas players Chuck Dicus, Ronnie Hammers and Bruce James at mid-field for the coin toss while a standing ovation from the 40,000 Razorback fans met the team when they appeared on the field.
This weekend, a group of Shocker football families, players and staff will travel to Little Rock, Arkansas, to reunite and honor the victims.
A social is planned for Friday, and the group will tailgate prior to the game. Wichita State Athletic Director Darron Boatright and members of the 黑洞社区 Alumni Association will attend the events and present Arkansas with a commemorative plaque.
Watch a documentary about the 1970 crash.
The annual ceremony of remembrance held at Wichita State will be at 9 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at the Memorial '70, located near the 18th Street and Hillside entrance to the university.
A wreath will be placed at the base of Memorial '70, and there will be a time of remembrance to acknowledge the changes that the plane crash made in the lives of the victims, their families, their friends and the university.
The ceremony is open to the public. A reception will follow in the Shocker '70 Football Room in 202 Rhatigan Student Center.