Miami can’t rebound from death of Pata

Miami played Saturday for slain teammate Bryan Pata, but the emotionally drained Hurricanes couldn’t win for him.

“I don’t know how much more we have in the tank,” Coach Larry Coker said after the Hurricanes’ 14-13 loss to No. 23-ranked Maryland.

The popular Pata, a senior defensive lineman and team leader, was shot and killed Tuesday outside his apartment, a few hours after practice ended. The Hurricanes admit they’re still in shock.

“The hardest thing we’ve ever gone through as a team,” defensive lineman Calais Campbell said, “is losing Bryan.”

A moment of silence was held in Pata’s memory shortly before kickoff and Miami’s players genuflected in prayer afterward.

The players wore a decal with Pata’s No. 95 on their helmets and many fans paid tribute with Pata jerseys or by writing his name and number on their bodies or shirts. Maryland’s team voted to donate their meal money from Saturday to a fund for Pata’s family.

Still, it was a difficult game for Miami’s players.

“I’ve cried all I can cry this week,” quarterback Kirby Freeman said. “I’m really dehydrated right now. It’s a situation where your throat clogs up and you want to cry, and I just didn’t have anything left. I really didn’t and that’s the way it is with a lot of our team right now.”

The loss dropped Miami to 5-5, meaning they will still need a victory against Virginia or Boston College to become bowl eligible. The last time Miami did not play in a bowl was 1999.

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-- Peter Yoon