Jack Lengyel: One day, not today, not tomorrow, not this season, probably not next season either but one day, you and I are gonna wake up and suddenly we're gonna be like every other team in every other sport where winning is everything and nothing else matters. And when that day comes, well that's, that's when we'll honor them.
Nate Ruffin: Coach, that... was my team. They left it in my hands.
Jack Lengyel: No... no, they did not. They just left.
Jack Lengyel: Don, are you married?
President Dedmon: Yes sir, 25 years this year.
Jack Lengyel: Now, I am going to bet... that you didn't propose over the phone.
President Dedmon: Ummm, no.
Jack Lengyel: And I'm pretty sure, that she didn't accept with a letter.
President Dedmon: Uhhhh.
Jack Lengyel: Don?
President Dedmon: Jack?
Jack Lengyel: Don?
President Dedmon: Jack?
Jack Lengyel: Don... you can do this.
Jack Lengyel: When I heard about what had happened, your situation, the only thing I could think about was the four of them. I thought about how much they mean to me, about how bad it would hurt if... well if I was to lose them. Then I thought about a team, and a school, and a town that's gotta be hurtin' real bad. And I thought, hell, maybe I could help.
Answer: The did not mention it in the film, but here is a short explanation of what happened. The plane was on final approach, less than 6000 feet from the runway, and the weather was rainy and foggy. The tower communicated to the pilots that landing would be more difficult due to the weather and poor visibilty, but not impossible. The pilots couldn't see very well, and the plane collided with the tops of trees on a hillside located on the west side of the runway. The plane "inverted" and crashed almost upside down into the ground, creating a huge ball of fire and intense heat. The exact cause of the crash was never fully determined by the National Transportation Safety Board, although it was believed that the cause was due to "adverse operating conditions" and descent below "minimum descent altitude." (For more info, you can research "Southern Airways Flight 932")
Jazetopher