December 14, 20178 yr University of Evansville Aces plane crash, the 4th anniversary - SBNation.com Really good read if you have the time about the 1977 plane crash on this date that wiped out the entire University of Evansville men's basketball team. Big memorial on wall in Ford Center in Evansville, which is where they play their home games.
December 14, 20178 yr This crash and the Marshall football plane crash are the two I remember the most...both just incredibly tragic...
December 14, 20178 yr University of Evansville Aces plane crash, the 4th anniversary - SBNation.com Really good read if you have the time about the 1977 plane crash on this date that wiped out the entire University of Evansville men's basketball team. Great read Schue...thanks for posting this..
December 15, 20178 yr After having tremendous success at the DII level, the crash occurred after just 4 games into their inaugural season in DI. Perhaps they would have never found much success at that level but despite a good season here and there, it feels like in some ways they never recovered from this tragedy. I walked past the weeping basketball to and from class for four years. My freshman year was only 16 years after the event, so there were still several members of the university faculty and staff that had been affected by the crash. Aces basketball was still heavily supported by the city while I was there. However, I attended very few games. Seems like they often conflicted with UK games (back before things such as DVR) and I would skip the games in favor of watching the Wildcats. In hindsite, I wish I would have attended a few more Aces games. It was pretty cool that the Pittsburg Steelers came to town to play a charity basketball game for the player's families. I had never heard about that prior to reading this article.
December 15, 20178 yr Author I hate that I never made the trip to Roberts Stadium back in the day. I still remember Marty Simmons, the player. If I remember right, he played in goggles a lot back then.
December 15, 20178 yr I hate that I never made the trip to Roberts Stadium back in the day. I still remember Marty Simmons, the player. If I remember right, he played in goggles a lot back then. Its still weird driving by there and it being nothing but a grass field.
December 15, 20178 yr Does anyone have a list of the coaching staff that year. Looking at the picture in the story, the one 4th from the left looks a lot like former Ashland Coach Ernie Simpson.
December 15, 20178 yr What's crazy is that the lone member of the team, David Furr, who wasn't on the plane, was killed in a car wreck after being hit by a drunk driver only 2 weeks later.
December 15, 20178 yr Does anyone have a list of the coaching staff that year. Looking at the picture in the story, the one 4th from the left looks a lot like former Ashland Coach Ernie Simpson. Not according to this. Air Indiana Flight 216 - Wikipedia
December 15, 20178 yr Not according to this. Air Indiana Flight 216 - Wikipedia Thanks. I didn't figure it was him, but it looks a lot like him. How eerie is this? Sounds like a Final Destination movie. David Furr was the remaining member of the team who did not make the trip; he and his brother were killed two weeks later in an auto accident.[3]
December 15, 20178 yr Thanks. I didn't figure it was him, but it looks a lot like him. How eerie is this? Sounds like a Final Destination movie. David Furr was the remaining member of the team who did not make the trip; he and his brother were killed two weeks later in an auto accident.[3] Yeah that is extremely creepy.
December 15, 20178 yr Thanks. I didn't figure it was him, but it looks a lot like him. How eerie is this? Sounds like a Final Destination movie. David Furr was the remaining member of the team who did not make the trip; he and his brother were killed two weeks later in an auto accident.[3] It's like my post was never even made.... :lol2:
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