The LSU offense had a record-setting day at the Peach Bowl in its 63-28 victory over Oklahoma, but it was also underlined by the tragic news that offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger lost his daughter-in-law, 30-year-old sports reporter Carley McCord, in a plane crash on her way to the game.
Quarterback Joe Burrow, the star of Saturday’s show with eight touchdowns, was being interviewed about his historic performance by ESPN when reporter Dari Nowkhah mentioned that Ensminger had lost his daughter-in-law in a plane crash before the game.
Burrow was caught off guard by the news, and told Nowkhah he did not know about that, making for an awkward moment on live TV.
Ensminger and head coach Ed Orgeron had agreed that they would not tell the team of the news before the game in order to keep everyone’s focus on the task at hand.
Nowkhah and the ESPN crew apologized to Burrow and quickly ended the interview realizing it was a lot for the 23-year-old Heisman Trophy winner to process.
Nowkhah also posted a lengthy apology on Twitter and took full accountability for his mistake.
McCord, born and raised in Baton Rogue and a sports reporter who worked as an in-game host for the Saints and Pelicans, was among five confirmed victims who died in a plane crash in Lafayette, La. on their way to the Peach Bowl in Atlanta. She married Ensminger’s son in Jan.
2018.
Following the game, Orgeron awarded the game ball to Ensminger in the locker room.
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