Bo Rein

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Robert Edward "Bo" Rein (July 20, 1945 - January 10, 1980) was a noted two-sport college athlete in the United States, and a rising college football head coach, before his tragic death in an aircraft accident in 1980. Rein is the namesake of post-season player awards at two universities.

Contents 1 Baseball career 2 Football Playing Career 3 Football Coaching Career 4 Death

[edit] Baseball career

Rein played baseball for the Ohio State University Buckeyes from 1965 through 1967, helping that school win its only NCAA title in 1966. Rein variously played either shortstop or left field. He led his team in stolen bases in 1965 and 1966, and in doubles and scoring in 1966. Rein had 49 career stolen bases, which stood as a team record until he was surpassed by Roy Marsh in the early 1990s.

In 1965 and 1966 Ohio State participated in the College World Series, and Rein was selected both years to the All Tournament team. In 1965 the Buckeyes lost the championship game to Arizona State University. In 1966 Ohio State won the championship, defeating Oklahoma State University. In the championship game, Rein contributed with a double.

After he finished his college career, Rein was drafted by the Cleveland Indians. He was playing for the Portland Beavers, the Indians' Triple-A farm team, when Achilles tendon and hamstring problems ended his baseball career.

[edit] Football Playing Career

Rein was a three-year starter at left halfback for the Ohio State University football team, from 1964 to 1966. He led his team in receptions in 1964 and 1965, and in rushing in 1966. Rein finished at Ohio State the team career receptions leader. Following his Ohio State career, Rein was drafted by the Baltimore Colts.

Former teammate, and later Mayor of Columbus, Ohio, Greg Lashutka said of Rein, "He wasn't the biggest guy, but pound for pound he was tough as they come. He had that inner drive and did everything to the fullest. He could play." A continuing tradition at Ohio State is that at the end of every season, the team votes to award one teammate the "Bo Rein Most Inspirational Player Award."

[edit] Football Coaching Career

Lou Holtz, a former assistant coach at Ohio State, had taken the head coaching position at William and Mary in 1969, and Holtz offered a job to Rein. When Holtz accepted an offer from North Carolina State University in 1972, Rein went with him. Holtz moved on to the NFL and the New York Jets in 1976, and Rein stayed at North Carolina State as the new head coach.

Rein became the youngest college football head coach upon his 1976 hiring by North Carolina State University. Guiding the Wolfpack, Rein was an advocate of the coaching philosophy of Ohio State head coach Woody Hayes. During Rein's four years with the school, he led the team to two bowl games, defeating Iowa State in the 1977 Peach Bowl and defeating the University of Pittsburgh in the 1978 Tangerine Bowl. In Rein's final year at North Carolina State, the team won the Atlantic Coast Conference championship.

Following every season, North Carolina State awards the "Bo Rein Award" to a player that makes a vital contribution in an unsung role.

[edit] Death

Following the 1979 season, Rein was hired away from North Carolina State by Louisiana State University. In January 1980, Rein took a recruiting trip to Shreveport, Louisiana. On his return trip back to Baton Rouge, his private aircraft crashed leaving no survivors.

Rein and experienced pilot Louis Benscotter left Shreveport in a Cessna Conquest aircraft. The flight was supposed to be a 40-minute trip, but after going east to avoid a storm, air traffic control lost contact with Benscotter. The plane suddenly climbed to 40,000 feet, much higher than it was designed to go, and kept heading due east. After being tracked on radar, the plane was eventually intercepted by U.S. National Guard aircraft over North Carolina, a thousand miles off course. The military pilots could not see anyone in the cockpit. The plane continued on over the Atlantic Ocean, where it crashed after running out of fuel. The military pilots spotted some debris, but no wreckage was ever recovered. The bodies of Rein and Benscotter were never found.

The most likely reason given was that the two men apparently lost consciousness due to slow depressurization of the cabin. However, no one knows why the two were not seen in their seats. It has been theorised that they undid their restraints before passing out.

Rein, one of the most promising young coaches in football history, was dead at 34, before he ever coached a game for LSU. Cessna later settled out of court with his widow for an undisclosed amount. Out of respect, LSU paid for his children's college educations at the universities of their choice.

Preceded by Lou Holtz	NCSU Wolfpack Head Football Coach 1976-1979	Succeeded by Monte Kiffin
Preceded by Charles McClendon	LSU Tigers Head Football Coach 1980 off-season	Succeeded by Jerry Stovall