Promising Start, Tragic End

The other day I turned on ESPN, and there was a documentary on Bo Rein, who became the youngest head coach in college football when he succeeded Lou Holtz at NC State.  I have to admit that up to then, I hadn't heard of the man.  After watching the show I came away impressed, touched, and sad, as it appears as though the game lost one of its greatest young minds.  

Bo played football at Ohio State under Woody Hayes, and it wasn't long before he was mentored by Lou Holtz - first at William & Mary, and then at NC State.  Rein was then hired as the offensive coordinator under Frank Broyles at Arkansas in 1975, where he helped lead the Razorbacks to the Southwest Conference title.  In 1976, he was hired to replace Holtz at NC State, where he led the Wolfpack to two bowl games, and a conference title.

When LSU's winningest coach, Charlie McClendon, retired they came calling for Bo.  In his introductory press conference he won over the fans, the boosters, and the school.  In just a few days, he was off on a recruiting trip.  Unfortunately his return flight got rerouted because of bad weather, and the plane climbed to an elevation that caused him and his pilot to lose consciousness.  The plane ended up crashing in the Atlantic Ocean.

The game appears to have lost a great mind way too soon...