Bain’s return from crash inspires Owls
Red from broken hip, tackle emerges as leader and opens holes for ground game.
BOCA RATON — Florida Atlantic running back Buddy Howell still remembers the phone call Aug. 26, 2016, about teammate and starting tackle Reggie Bain.
Minutes after Bain left the apartment he and Howell shared, the then-junior lineman was involved in a scooter accident just off campus, a little more than a week before the Owls began their season.
“I just saw him, he left, and somebody called me like, ‘I think Bain got hit (by a car),’” Howell said. “I was like, ‘Damn, that’s crazy.’ I was in shock, but once I tried to leave my apartment, all the cars were backed up.’”
Bain, a 2015 second-team All-Conference USA offensive lineman, sustained a broken hip in the crash and missed the entire season. Instead of building NFL draft stock as a junior with a deep running game to create holes for, Bain spent his Saturdays following the team through radio and TV broadcasts.
Less than 16 months since the accident, Bain has regained his form and become a key leader on FAU’s offensive line, helping the Owls (9-3, 8-0) to their first winning season since 2008 and their first Conference USA title game.
“I think about (the accident) all the time,” Bain said, acknowledging it helps him “fight through the tough times.”
After missing the 2016 season, Bain — along with the other four offensive line starters — started all 12 regular-season games for the nation’s 10th-best scoring offense (39.8 points per game) and sixthbest rushing offense. Sophomore Devin
Singletary leads the nation with 26 rushing touchdowns entering Saturday’s championship game against North Texas in part because of holes Bain has helped create.
Center Antonyo Woods had trouble holding back a smile when asked about Bain’s success.
“It’s good to have him back,” said Woods, a teammate of Bain’s since 2014. “I’m seeing a leadership role come out from him, which is good because when I leave, he’s going to be that guy.”
Initially worried about his long-term future with the Owls when Lane Kiffin replaced Charlie Partridge as coach in December, Bain said he was relieved when offensive line coach Garin Justice was retained. Despite lacking Bain and having a different offensive line combination for most games, Justice’s group paved the way for nearly 2,000 combined rushing yards by Singletary and Howell last season.
“( Justice) just wanted to see if I could keep going from where I left off,” Bain said. “In rehab, I was just making sure I didn’t take a step back. I came back better.”
Had Kiffin elected to bring in a different offensive line coach, Bain admitted he’d have been worried because the new coach “wouldn’t know what I did.” All five of FAU’s starting offensive linemen returned from last season.
Whenever Bain is fatigued as he blocks for the Owls’ high-tempo offense, he uses the memories of the accident to fuel his play.
“Thinking about it, I’m like, ‘Hey, I’m better than I am last year, so let’s just keep pushing it,’” Bain said.
Howell, averaging a careerhigh 6.7 yards per carry, believes Bain’s return from such a devastating injury helps motivate his teammates.
“He’s the type of guy (who doesn’t) even talk about it,” Howell said. “To see how strong he stands and not complain about his hip ever . ... For somebody to go through something like that and don’t even complain at all about the hip, he’s attacking like a soldier and now he’s playing like a warrior.”