Better Equipped For Life

Jeff Boss touched a lot of people in his 24 years at Louisiana State University. Not only was he a trailblazer in his field of endeavor – athletic equipment manager – he was a kind, gentle soul who always took care of everyone – regardless of their standing in the LSU pecking order. Boss graduated from McNeese State in his native Lake Charles, La., but it was his time in Baton Rouge that helped cement his reputation as the best in the business. “The world doesn’t have enough people that are as selfless in caring for other people as Jeff Boss,” LSU football coach Nick Saban said last October. Boss became LSU’s equipment manager in 1980 and didn’t miss a game until Aug. 30, 2003, when the Tigers beat Louisiana-Monroe, 49-7. Doctors found a tumor in Boss’ brain in January 2003 – soon after the Tigers returned from their 35-20 loss to Texas in the Cotton Bowl. Boss