Doug Gottlieb Reflected on the Oklahoma State Plane Crash on his ‘All Ball Podcast’

On January 27th, 2001, a flight carrying eight people from the Oklahoma State Cowboys men’s basketball program crashed in Strasburg, Colorado during a snowstorm, killing all eight passengers and the two crew members. The group was one of two OSU planes coming back from a game against the Colorado Buffaloes.

The victims from Oklahoma State were players Dan Lawson and Nate Flemming, trainer Brian Luinstra, director of basketball operations Pat Noyes, student assistant Jared Weiberg, media relations coordinator William Hancock III, sportscaster Bill Teegins, and radio engineer Kendall Durfey. The two crew members were pilot Denver Mills and co-pilot Bjorn Fahlstrom.

Doug Gottlieb, a three-year starter for the Cowboys, was one year removed from the program when the crash took place and playing professionally in Russia. On his podcast, All Ball on The Herd Podcast Network, he reflected on the tragedy for its 20-year anniversary.

“I was immediately crestfallen,” he said. “I didn’t know what to do. Still, when I get on a plane I think of them.”

Gottlieb shares his memories and feelings solo for the first 10 minutes of the show before being joined by former Oklahoma State teammate Brian Montanati. It was an excellent episode about a tragic event too few people are aware of or remember. You can listen to it above via Spotify.

Gottlieb consistently keeps the memories of his OSU basketball family alive. In addition to his new podcast episode, he wrote an excellent piece for ESPN back in 2010 about the tragedy and its effects.