The last college football bowl game for the Shockers was 60 years ago.
Wichita University, champions of the Missouri Valley Conference, faced Villanova in the 28th annual Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. The Shockers, with a record of 8-2, came into the game favored by a touchdown, but lost to Villanova 17-9.
The game was televised by ABC as part of a special 70-station network.
Wichita's flight to El Paso had engine trouble, giving the Shockers a later arrival than planned for game preparations in Texas.
Wichita was led by second-year head coach Hank Foldberg, who had previously turned down an offer to become the head coach at Nebraska. Foldberg was the Missouri Valley Coach of the Year. After the Sun Bowl, Foldberg left to become the new head coach at Texas A&M.
Future Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells played linebacker for the Shockers in the Sun Bowl; he even had a kickoff return for 13 yards in the game.
Wichita had four turnovers in the loss, all interceptions, against the Villanova defense which was the seventh-best in the nation.