Pasquale’s death unites sports community

Two hundred blue and gold balloons rose to the heavens during a moment of silence at the UCLA-Nebraska football game to honor UCLA football player Nick Pasquale, who passed away on Sept. 8.

Tribute · UCLA dedicated its victory over Nebraska to Nick Pasquale, who was respected by teammates for his perseverance and dedication. – Courtesy of ASUCLA Photography

This sparked an emotional        41-21 victory for the Bruins over Nebraska, scoring 38 straight points after tailing 21-3 in the second quarter.

“Our goal today was to honor Nick,” UCLA coach Jim Mora said after the game. “Our goal today was to come out here and have our players reflect on everything he meant to us and everything that was great about him so that his family sitting at home … We did it for your son. We did it for your son.”

Nebraska also showed their respect by bearing Pasquale’s No. 36 on their helmets, while the Bruins had patches of his number on their jerseys.

There is a motto that comes from Pasquale’s hometown, San Clemente, Calif., that has brought his family, friends and the entire community together: One team. One town.

Even though USC and UCLA are rivals, they are still part of one football community. The Trojans showed their respect for the Bruins by honoring Pasquale before Saturday’s game against Boston College with a moment of silence.

Boston College quarterback Chase Rettig, who was Pasquale’s teammate at San Clemente, also wore an “NP” sticker in his honor.

USC sand volleyball player Alexa Strange, who was friends with Pasquale in high school, holds cherished memories about the guy they called “Pacman.”

“Nick had a contagious smile,” Strange said. “Ask anyone who knew him, and that’s probably what they would say first. It was the type of smile that made you smile regardless of how you felt or what you were doing. He was the type of guy that was always pretty sure of himself and knew who he was. He had everything going for him, and was one of the kindest and greatest people I’ve ever known, inside and out. So many people loved and cared about Nick.”

The rest of the Pac-12 football community also came together this past weekend to commemorate the great legacy that Pasquale put together as a stand-out all-county high school player and walk-on at UCLA.

Oregon’s entire team signed and sent a giant card to Pasquale’s family to show their respect, and the California coaches also sent condolences the family.

Other college football players, many of whom were Pasquale’s teammates in high school, also honored him in various ways, such as wearing his number on some part of their uniforms, eye black, or a simple point to the sky.

Utah quarterback Travis Wilson, who was one of Pasquale’s best friends in high school, played Saturday’s game against Oregon State in his honor and turned in perhaps the best performance of his career with five touchdowns, two passing and three rushing. Following each touchdown, Wilson pointed skyward in remembrance of his close friend.

“He really wasn’t the biggest kid and wasn’t the strongest kid on the field, but he had the biggest heart I’ve ever known in anybody,” Wilson told the Utah Desert News. “He definitely taught me some great lessons, and I’ll definitely never forget about him. It was a big loss for me and I’m definitely going to miss him a lot.”

More than 1,000 people, including Wilson, UCLA players and coaches, and USC walk-on wide receiver Christian Tober, a high school teammate, memorialized Pasquale in a service on Sunday in San Clemente.

“As a young kid on varsity [at San Clemente High School], he was one of the only older guys that accepted me and was nice to me,” Arizona kicker Bret Miller, a former high school teammate, said of his friend. “He was such a                     kind-hearted guy, always putting smiles on people’s faces. He will forever live in my heart as an amazing friend and teammate.”

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