COLLEGE FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT / UCLA : Boise State Still Struggles With Tragedy

Boise State players and coaches are still dealing with the sudden death of freshman defensive lineman Paul Reyna as they prepare for the season opener against UCLA on Saturday at the Rose Bowl.

“It’s been extremely difficult,” Dan Hawkins, the Broncos’ assistant head coach, said Monday. “We took last week to kind of take care of business up here and obviously it’s still lingering a little bit. We’ve got coaches going down to the funeral this week. It’s been a tough thing.”

Reyna, a 19-year-old from Bishop Amat High in La Puente, died Aug. 23, five days after apparently hitting his head on the artificial turf during a scrimmage.

“The family has been kind enough to speak with the team and Paul’s mom was extremely strong at the memorial that we had here last week,” Hawkins said. “She spoke to our team about how sometimes fate deals some things out and we don’t know why, but not to be afraid and go ahead and play and it’s still a great game and an accident happened and an accident shouldn’t prevent you from doing well and playing a sport that you love.

“So I think that we’re trying to put some things in perspective and come to grips with our own mortality and the fact that when you’re born you die and that that’s part of the equation. It’s just tough when it comes at that young of an age.”

Boise State players will wear a sticker with Reyna’s No. 95 on their helmets.

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Danny Farmer was off crutches and might begin jogging today as hope grew at UCLA that the star flanker, once considered doubtful for the opener, could play against Boise State after all.

Meanwhile, starting tight end Gabe Crecion returned to practice after missing eight days, several more than expected, because of fractured ribs. Coach Bob Toledo was beginning to get concerned about his availability for Saturday, but Crecion said there was no pain or discomfort during Monday’s workout.

If Crecion plays, the Bruins plan to start him with Bryan Fletcher in a two-tight-end set and open without a fullback. If Crecion doesn’t play, Fletcher will go as the lone tight end and Matt Stanley will be in the starting lineup at fullback.