Wichita State Shockers football

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Wichita State Shockers
First season1897
Last season1986
StadiumCessna Stadium
(capacity: 31,500)
Field surfaceGrass
LocationWichita, Kansas
Past conferencesIndependent (1895–1923)
Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (1924–1926)
Independent (1927, 1940–1945, 1986)
Central Intercollegiate (1928–1939)
Missouri Valley (1945–1986)
All-time record375–402–47 (.484)
Bowl record0–3 (.000)
Conference titles14
ColorsBlack and Gold
   
Websitegoshockers.com

The Wichita State Shockers football team was the NCAA Division I football program of Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. The Shockers fielded a team from 1897 to 1986.[1][2]

History

See also: Timeline of college football in Kansas

First game

The first official football game played by the school was in 1897 under the coaching of T. H. Morrison. The school defeated Wichita High School, now known as Wichita East, by a score of 12–4 in the only game played that year.[3]

1905 night game

Further information: 1905 Cooper vs. Fairmount football game

In the 1905 season, the Coleman Company set up temporary gas-powered lighting for a night game against Cooper College (now called the Sterling Warriors). It was the first night football game played west of the Mississippi River.[4] Fairmount won the game 24–0.[5]

1905 "experimental" game

Further information: 1905 Washburn vs. Fairmount football game

On December 25, 1905, Wichita State (called "Fairmount College" at the time) played a game against the Washburn Ichabods using a set of experimental rules. The game was officiated by then Washburn head coach John H. Outland.

The experiment was considered a failure. Outland commented, "It seems to me that the distance required in three downs would almost eliminate touchdowns, except through fakes or flukes."[6] 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."[7]

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."[8] According to Nelson, Washburn completed three passes, and Fairmount completed two.

Plane crash

Main article: Wichita State University football team plane crash

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. 31 people were killed.[9] The game was canceled, and the Utah State football team held a memorial service at the stadium where the game was to have been played.[10]

Program discontinued

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 places on the university.[11] On May 16, 2009 the Wichita State University alumni association held an all football players reunion at Cessna Stadium.[12]

Potential program revivals

In 1992, a study was done on Cessna Stadium to comply with I-A football standards. It was shown that $24 million in improvements were needed.[13]

In 1997, the cost was cited at $11 million to restart the football program and three other women's sports.[14]

In 1998, an advisory committee at Wichita State recommended reinstating the football program at Wichita State after a 15-month study for $70,000.[15]

In 2006, Wichita Mayor Carlos Mayans proposed to use public funds to restart the football program at Wichita State. He would subsequently drop the plan weeks later.[16][17]

In 2012, an attempt was made to begin a club-level football team at Wichita State with hopes of eventually reviving the football program, though no official endorsement was given by the university.[18]

Conference championships

Wichita State won fourteen conference titles.[19]

Conference Years
Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference 1908, 1911
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference 1931, 1932, 1933, 1935, 1937, 1938, 1939
Missouri Valley Conference 1954, 1955, 1960, 1961, 1963
Total 14 Conference Championships

Record versus Missouri Valley Conference

Only includes games while a member of the conference and does not include games against teams listed below considered nonconference games

Opponent Home Away Overall
Tulsa 7–10–1 4–18 11–28–1
Drake 9–4 3–2 12–6
North Texas 4–3–1 1–8 5–11–1
West Texas A&M 4–4 3–3 7–7
Cincinnati 2–3–1 1–5–1 3–8–2
New Mexico State 1–3–1 2–5 3–8–1
Louisville 1–4 1–5 2–9
Oklahoma State 2–3 1–3 3–6
Detroit 2–3 1–2 3–5
Houston 2–3 1–1 3–4
Southern Illinois 4–0 0–1 5–1
Indiana State 1–1 0–2–1 1–3–1
Illinois State 2–0 1–1 3–1
Saint Louis 1–0 2–0–1 3–0–1
Memphis 0–0 0–3 0–3
Bradley 3–0 0–0 3–0
Total 45–42–4 21–59–3 66–101–7

Bowl games

The Shockers played in three bowl games and had an 0–3 record.

Date Bowl W/L Opponent Score
January 1, 1948 Raisin Bowl L Pacific 14–26
December 30, 1948 Camellia Bowl L Hardin–Simmons 12–49
December 30, 1961 Sun Bowl L Villanova 9–17

Notable players

See also

References

  1. ^ Associated Press (December 3, 1986). "Wichita State drops football". Wichita, Kansas: The Rock Hill Herald. pp. Page 10A. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  2. ^ "Wichita State suspends football program". The Evening News. December 3, 1986. pp. Page 2B. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  3. ^ DeLassus, David (March 31, 2013). "Wichita State records by year (1897)".
  4. ^ "FIRST LIGHT (1900 – 1929)". Coleman Company. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
  5. ^ DeLassus, David. "Wichita State Yearly Results (1905)". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
  6. ^ "Ten Yard Rule a Failure". New York Times. December 26, 1905.
  7. ^ "New Football Rules Tested". Los Angeles Times. December 26, 1905.
  8. ^ Nelson, David M. (1994). The Anatomy of a Game: Football, the Rules, and the Men Who Made the Game. University of Delaware Press. ISBN 0-87413-455-2., p. 128
  9. ^ Zier, Patrick (November 20, 1974). "Four Years Ago . . ". Lakeland Ledger. pp. Page 1B & 4B. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  10. ^ Memorial '70 at Wichita State
  11. ^ Bates, Michael (December 3, 1986). "Wichita State gives up football, too expensive". Wichita, Kansas: Kentucky New Era. pp. Page 2C. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  12. ^ "Shocker football players return to Cessna Stadium". Wichita State University. May 5, 2009. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  13. ^ "Stadium Fix-up Costs Throw WSU Football Hopes For Loss". Wichita Eagle. November 17, 1992. pp. Page 1A. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  14. ^ "PRICE FOR WSU TO START FOOTBALL AGAIN: $11 MILLION * REPORT CALCULATES COST OF ADDING 1-AA FOOTBALL AND THREE WOMEN'S SPORTS". Wichita Eagle. October 10, 1997. pp. Page 1A. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  15. ^ "WSU NEEDS TO DROP THE FOOTBALL ISSUE". Wichita Eagle. April 7, 1998. pp. Page 1C Living. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  16. ^ Associated Press (July 13, 2006). "Mayor drops WSU football plan". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  17. ^ Caywood, Kurt (July 2, 2006). "Shocker football: A taxing question?". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  18. ^ http://www.thesunflower.com/news/campus_life/article_30d12fa4-af83-11e1-bbe7-0019bb30f31a.html
  19. ^ "Wichita State Shockers Championships". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  20. ^ Historic photos of Ackerman Island; wichitaphotos.org

External links

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