Am I losing it or did an incoming coach around 1980 die in a plane crash before he could coach a single game? I think around 1980...
It was, I think, the spring of 1980. Bo Rein (Ryan) was the man's name. His plane disappeared leaving Shreveport on a recruiting trip. I don't think it was ever found again. Jerry Stovall was his replacement. That's basically all I remember because I was in 4th grade at the time. But the best quote from the day the news broke in Baton Rouge was from a girl in my class, who said, "My mom thinks that Charlie Mac was on the plane and caused it to crash--then he jumped out at the last minute." I was nine years old and knew how ludicrous that was. I couldn't WAIT to get home and tell my parents.
:dis: Yep, he came from NC State and was thought to be a rising star on the coaching scene. They think the plane lost pressure and all aboard passed out. Best I remember the plane was never found and was thought to have gone down somewhere in the Atlantic.
I still remember eating breakfast in my aunts kitchen when we heard the news. I was around 12 at the time and already a die-hard Tiger fan. I don't think I will ever forget that morning, it was just so unusual and tragic.
I often wonder how different LSU's football fortunes in the post-Cholly Mac era would have been if Bo Rein had lived. Jerry Stoval would have never been head coach, Bob Broadhead might have never been hired to get rid of him, and Arnsparger and Archer migh never have been hired.
I did research on this in Jr. High school for a paper about 5-6 years ago... Had this guy not died, he may STILL be our man... He was that good a coach...
