1972 Wichita State Shockers football team

1972 Wichita State Shockers football
Conference	Missouri Valley Conference
Record	6–5 (2–4 MVC)
Head coach	Bob Seaman (3rd season)
Home stadium	Cessna Stadium

1972 Missouri Valley Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 18 Louisville +	4	–	1	–	0			9	–	1	–	0
Drake +	4	–	1	–	0			7	–	5	–	0
West Texas State +	4	–	1	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
Memphis State	3	–	2	–	0			5	–	5	–	1
Tulsa	3	–	2	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Wichita State	2	–	4	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
New Mexico State	1	–	4	–	0			2	–	9	–	0
North Texas State	0	–	7	–	0			1	–	10	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions West Texas State's game against Colorado State, Tulsa's game against TCU, and New Mexico State's game against New Mexico counted in the conference standings. Rankings from AP Poll

The 1972 Wichita Shockers football team was an American football team that represented Wichita State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) during the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. In its third season under head coach Bob Seaman, the team compiled a 6–5 record (2–4 against conference opponents), finished in sixth place out of eight teams in the MVC and was outscored by a total of 228 to 156.[1] The team played its home games at Cessna Stadium in Wichita, Kansas.

The 1972 season was the Shockers' first with a winning record since 1963. In the seven prior seasons, the program had compiled an 11–57 record and sustained tragedy in the 1970 Wichita State University football team plane crash.

The team's statistical leaders included Tom Owen with 689 passing yards, Don Gilley with 446 rushing yards, Eddie Plopa with 269 receiving yards, and Don Burford and Don Gilley with 24 points each.[2]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 9	Texas A&M*	Cessna Stadium Wichita, KS	L 13–36	22,659
September 16	at Tulsa	Skelly Stadium Tulsa, OK	L 9–10	21,000
September 23	at Arkansas State*	Kays Stadium Jonesboro, AR	W 6–0	6,500	[3]
September 30	Southern Illinois*	Cessna Stadium Wichita, KS	W 12–0	17,046	[4]
October 7	North Texas State	Cessna Stadium Wichita, KS	W 23–6	18,257	[5]
October 14	Cincinnati*	Cessna Stadium Wichita, KS	W 20–17
October 21	Louisville	Cessna Stadium Wichita, KS	L 3–46
October 28	at West Texas State	Kimbrough Memorial Stadium Canyon, TX	L 16–21	12,400	[6]
November 4	at Memphis State	Memphis Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN	L 14–58
November 11	Trinity (TX)*	Cessna Stadium Wichita, KS	W 17–14
November 18	at New Mexico State	Memorial Stadium Las Cruces, NM	W 23–20
*Non-conference game

References

1. "1972 Wichita State Shockers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
2. "1972 Wichita State Shockers Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
3. "Defense lifts Wichita, 6–0". The Des Moines Register. September 24, 1972. Retrieved October 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Final 1972 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
5. "Shocks win 3 straight". The Wichita Eagle and Beacon. October 8, 1972. Retrieved October 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "WTSU comes from behind". The Odessa American. October 29, 1972. Retrieved March 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.