Wichita State Shockers
Encyclopedia
The Shockers are the athletic teams at Wichita State University
, who compete in the NCAA Division I Missouri Valley Conference
. Wichita State is well known for its fan support and its baseball program, which has the highest winning percentange of any college baseball team over the past 31 years. Wichita State sponsor fifteen sports for men and women.
Men's Sports: basketball, baseball, outdoor track & field, indoor track & field, cross country, golf, tennis.
Women's Sports: basketball, softball, outdoor track & field, indoor track & field, cross country, golf, tennis, volleyball.
Once Elsea's mascot was adopted by the university, which by that time was known as the Municipal University of Wichita, all that was needed was a name. The Oct. 7, 1948, issue of The Sunflower, the student newspaper, ran an advertisement urging students to submit names for the school's new mascot. It was freshman Jack Kersting who suggested the winning name, "WuShock."
In 1998, WuShock, also referred to as "Wu," marked his 50th birthday by undergoing a redesign and getting a pumped-up physique and revved-up attitude. The mascot's costume has changed over the years, as well. With the redesign, a new costume was introduced in fall 1998. In fall 1999, the head of the new costume underwent another redesign after a number of supporters suggested the mascot needed a more intimidating look. In 2006 it was decided to once again update the Wu costume. The general consensus was that many wanted the costume to more accurately reflect the depiction of WU in the school's logo. The new WuShock now has the ability to run, jump, and walk up stairs without help. Many officials feel that a more professional and intimidating mascot on the field will certainly bolster WSU's image.
. This followed the Missouri Valley Conference
ending its sponsorship of football in 1985, which left only Wichita and Tulsa remaining at the Division I-A level, as the rest of the schools either dropped to Division I-AA or Division III. The program saw a great deal of success in its early years, but after moving up to the University division and joining the Missouri Valley Conference
in 1947, the program became known as one of the worst in the nation, with only 3 of the 15 coaches they had over that period posting winning records. Nevertheless, Wichita managed to play in three bowl games. On Jan. 1, 1948, they lost in the Raisin Bowl
to Pacific. In December 1948, Wichita played in the Camellia Bowl
, where they fell to Hardin-Simmons
. They would not participate in another bowl game until 1961, when they lost to Villanova
in the Sun Bowl
. Wichita State also won 4 Missouri Valley Conference football titles, in 1954, 1960, 1961, and 1963.
airport after refueling, bound for Logan, Utah
for a game against Utah State University
. It flew into a mountain valley too narrow to enable it to turn back and smashed into a mountainside, killing 31 of the 40 players, administrators and fans near a ski resort 40 miles (64.4 km) away from Denver
. President Richard Nixon
sent the president of the university a note which read, "Our thoughts and prayers go out to you in this time of sorrow."
coach Bill Parcells
was a linebacker at WSU in 1962 and 1963 before serving as a graduate assistant in 1964. Wichita State University was also the first Division 1-A school to hire a black head coach in College Football
, Willie Jeffries
in 1979. In 1978 place kicker Joe Williams tied University of Arkansas
All-American kicker Steve Little
and University of Texas kicker Russell Erxleben
for the longest kick in NCAA history after kicking a 67 yard field goal. That record still stands today. Defensive End Jumpy Geathers
was the last WSU football player to play in the NFL and also had the longest NFL career. His career spanned from 1984-1996, playing for the New Orleans Saints
, Washington Redskins
, Atlanta Falcons
, and Denver Broncos
. He also won Super Bowl XXVI
with the Redskins.
On December 25, 1905, then Fairmount College played Washburn University
in an experimental game testing a rule forcing the offense to earn a first down in three plays instead of four. The experiment was considered a failure.
and participates in the Missouri Valley Conference
. The men's basketball team
reached the Final Four in 1965, the Elite Eight in 1981 and the Sweet Sixteen in 2006, as well as the 2011 NIT
title, the first non-conference tournament, post-season championship in program history.
's highest winning team for the past 31 years, with numerous conference championships and NCAA tournament appearances. The baseball team won the national championship in 1989, and was runner-up in 1982, 1991, and 1993.
Wichita State University
Wichita State University is a NCAA Division I public university in Wichita, Kansas with selective admissions. WSU is one of six state universities governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. The current president is Dr. Donald Beggs....
, who compete in the NCAA Division I Missouri Valley Conference
Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
. Wichita State is well known for its fan support and its baseball program, which has the highest winning percentange of any college baseball team over the past 31 years. Wichita State sponsor fifteen sports for men and women.
Men's Sports: basketball, baseball, outdoor track & field, indoor track & field, cross country, golf, tennis.
Women's Sports: basketball, softball, outdoor track & field, indoor track & field, cross country, golf, tennis, volleyball.
Shockers
The name for WSU's athletic teams is the Shockers and, collectively, students are also referred to as being "Shockers". The name reflects the University's heritage: Early students earned money by shocking, or harvesting, wheat in nearby fields. Early football games were played on a stubbled wheat field. Pep club members were known as Wheaties. Tradition has it that in 1904, football manager and student R.J. Kirk came up with the nickname Wheatshockers. http://www.wichita.edu/my/wushock.asp Although the Wheatshockers name was never officially adopted by the university, it caught on and survived until it was later shortened to Shockers. Until 1948, the university used a nameless shock of wheat as its symbol. WuShock came to life when junior Wilbur Elsea won the Kappa Pi honorary society's competition to design a mascot typifying the spirit of the school. Elsea, who had been a Marine during World War II, decided that "the school needed a mascot who gave a tough impression, with a serious, no-nonsense scowl."Once Elsea's mascot was adopted by the university, which by that time was known as the Municipal University of Wichita, all that was needed was a name. The Oct. 7, 1948, issue of The Sunflower, the student newspaper, ran an advertisement urging students to submit names for the school's new mascot. It was freshman Jack Kersting who suggested the winning name, "WuShock."
In 1998, WuShock, also referred to as "Wu," marked his 50th birthday by undergoing a redesign and getting a pumped-up physique and revved-up attitude. The mascot's costume has changed over the years, as well. With the redesign, a new costume was introduced in fall 1998. In fall 1999, the head of the new costume underwent another redesign after a number of supporters suggested the mascot needed a more intimidating look. In 2006 it was decided to once again update the Wu costume. The general consensus was that many wanted the costume to more accurately reflect the depiction of WU in the school's logo. The new WuShock now has the ability to run, jump, and walk up stairs without help. Many officials feel that a more professional and intimidating mascot on the field will certainly bolster WSU's image.
Football
Wichita State University fielded a football team for 90 years before it was cut in 1986 due to poor attendance, financial red ink, NCAA recruiting violations, and the state of disrepair of Cessna StadiumCessna Stadium
Cessna Stadium, located in Wichita, Kansas, is the home of the Wichita State University Shocker track and field and soccer teams with a 30,000-seat capacity...
. This followed the Missouri Valley Conference
Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
ending its sponsorship of football in 1985, which left only Wichita and Tulsa remaining at the Division I-A level, as the rest of the schools either dropped to Division I-AA or Division III. The program saw a great deal of success in its early years, but after moving up to the University division and joining the Missouri Valley Conference
Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
in 1947, the program became known as one of the worst in the nation, with only 3 of the 15 coaches they had over that period posting winning records. Nevertheless, Wichita managed to play in three bowl games. On Jan. 1, 1948, they lost in the Raisin Bowl
Raisin Bowl
The Raisin Bowl was an annual post-season American college football bowl game played at Ratcliffe Stadium in Fresno, California, from 1946 to 1949. The first four games were played on January 1, the last on December 31. The games pitted a California team against an at-large team...
to Pacific. In December 1948, Wichita played in the Camellia Bowl
Camellia Bowl
- 1948, Lafayette, Louisiana :The Camellia Bowl was a post-season major college football bowl game played at McNaspy Stadium in Lafayette, Louisiana, on December 30, 1948 between Hardin-Simmons University and the University of Wichita ....
, where they fell to Hardin-Simmons
Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin–Simmons University is a private Baptist university located in Abilene, Texas, United States.-History:Hardin–Simmons University was founded as Abilene Baptist College in 1891 by the Sweetwater Baptist Association and a group of cattlemen and pastors who sought to bring Christian higher...
. They would not participate in another bowl game until 1961, when they lost to Villanova
Villanova Wildcats football
The Villanova Wildcats football program represents Villanova University in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision . The Wildcats play at Villanova Stadium with capacity of 12,500.-History:...
in the Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl
The Sun Bowl is an annual U.S. college football bowl game that is usually played at the end of December in El Paso, Texas. The Sun Bowl, along with the Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl are the second-oldest bowl games in the country, behind the Rose Bowl...
. Wichita State also won 4 Missouri Valley Conference football titles, in 1954, 1960, 1961, and 1963.
Football team plane crash
On October 2, 1970, the first, or "gold" plane (the twin plane to the second, or black, plane) carrying players and staff of the WSU football team took off from a ColoradoColorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
airport after refueling, bound for Logan, Utah
Logan, Utah
-Layout of the City:Logan's city grid originates from its Main and Center Street block, with Main Street running north and south, and Center east and west. Each block north, east, south, or west of the origin accumulates in additions of 100 , though some streets have non-numeric names...
for a game against Utah State University
Utah State University
Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities....
. It flew into a mountain valley too narrow to enable it to turn back and smashed into a mountainside, killing 31 of the 40 players, administrators and fans near a ski resort 40 miles (64.4 km) away from Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
. President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
sent the president of the university a note which read, "Our thoughts and prayers go out to you in this time of sorrow."
Bowl Games
| Season | Bowl | Champion | Runner-Up | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | Raisin Bowl Raisin Bowl The Raisin Bowl was an annual post-season American college football bowl game played at Ratcliffe Stadium in Fresno, California, from 1946 to 1949. The first four games were played on January 1, the last on December 31. The games pitted a California team against an at-large team... |
Pacific | 26 | Wichita State | 14 |
| 1948 | Camellia Bowl Camellia Bowl - 1948, Lafayette, Louisiana :The Camellia Bowl was a post-season major college football bowl game played at McNaspy Stadium in Lafayette, Louisiana, on December 30, 1948 between Hardin-Simmons University and the University of Wichita .... |
Hardin-Simmons Hardin-Simmons University Hardin–Simmons University is a private Baptist university located in Abilene, Texas, United States.-History:Hardin–Simmons University was founded as Abilene Baptist College in 1891 by the Sweetwater Baptist Association and a group of cattlemen and pastors who sought to bring Christian higher... |
49 | Wichita State | 12 |
| 1961 | Sun Bowl Sun Bowl The Sun Bowl is an annual U.S. college football bowl game that is usually played at the end of December in El Paso, Texas. The Sun Bowl, along with the Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl are the second-oldest bowl games in the country, behind the Rose Bowl... |
Villanova Villanova Wildcats football The Villanova Wildcats football program represents Villanova University in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision . The Wildcats play at Villanova Stadium with capacity of 12,500.-History:... |
17 | Wichita State | 9 |
Notable players
Legendary NFLNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
coach Bill Parcells
Bill Parcells
Duane Charles "Bill" Parcells is a former American football head coach, most recently with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2006...
was a linebacker at WSU in 1962 and 1963 before serving as a graduate assistant in 1964. Wichita State University was also the first Division 1-A school to hire a black head coach in College Football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
, Willie Jeffries
Willie Jeffries
Willie Jeffries, was a college football coach. In his 29-year career, Jeffries compiled a 179-132-6 record. He coached 19 years at his alma mater South Carolina State University in two stints, five years at Wichita State University, and five years at Howard University...
in 1979. In 1978 place kicker Joe Williams tied University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
All-American kicker Steve Little
Steve Little (American football)
Steven Richard Little was an American football kicker and punter in the National Football League for the St. Louis Cardinals. He is the third-highest drafted kicker in NFL history, with first highest pick being Charlie Gogolak of Princeton University and second being Russell Erxleben...
and University of Texas kicker Russell Erxleben
Russell Erxleben
Russell Erxleben is a former American football player and currency investor. He shares the record for the longest field goal in NCAA history, originally set in 1977 while playing for the University of Texas. Erxleben was a three-time All-America punter...
for the longest kick in NCAA history after kicking a 67 yard field goal. That record still stands today. Defensive End Jumpy Geathers
Jumpy Geathers
James Allen "Jumpy" Geathers is a former American football defensive lineman. He played defensive tackle for Willie Jeffries at Wichita State University, and then for thirteen seasons in the National Football League...
was the last WSU football player to play in the NFL and also had the longest NFL career. His career spanned from 1984-1996, playing for the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
, Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He also won Super Bowl XXVI
Super Bowl XXVI
Super Bowl XXVI was an American football game played on January 26, 1992 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota to decide the National Football League champion following the 1991 regular season...
with the Redskins.
Experimental game
- See 1905 Fairmount vs. Washburn football game1905 Fairmount vs. Washburn football gameThe 1905 Washburn vs. Fairmount football game was a college football game between Fairmount College and the Washburn Ichabods played on December 25, 1905. The game was played in Wichita, Kansas...
On December 25, 1905, then Fairmount College played Washburn University
Washburn Ichabods
Washburn University men's athletic teams are known as the Ichabods and the women's teams are called the Lady Blues...
in an experimental game testing a rule forcing the offense to earn a first down in three plays instead of four. The experiment was considered a failure.
Basketball
The Shockers basketball team is coached by Gregg MarshallGregg Marshall
Gregg Marshall is the current head basketball coach at Wichita State University.-Education:Gregg Marshall graduated from Randolph-Macon College with a B.A. degree in Economics/Business in 1985...
and participates in the Missouri Valley Conference
Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
. The men's basketball team
Wichita State Shockers men's basketball
The Wichita State Shockers basketball team is the NCAA Division I men's basketball program of Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. They currently compete in the Missouri Valley Conference...
reached the Final Four in 1965, the Elite Eight in 1981 and the Sweet Sixteen in 2006, as well as the 2011 NIT
2011 National Invitation Tournament
-Colorado bracket:-Boston College bracket:-Virginia Tech bracket:-NIT Final Four - NIT Semifinals and NIT Championship Game:Played at Madison Square Garden in New York City-See also:* 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament...
title, the first non-conference tournament, post-season championship in program history.
Baseball
The men's baseball team is college baseballCollege baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
's highest winning team for the past 31 years, with numerous conference championships and NCAA tournament appearances. The baseball team won the national championship in 1989, and was runner-up in 1982, 1991, and 1993.