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by Liv Davalos
OPA-LOCKA (CBS4) ― Hundreds attended the funeral of Miami defensive lineman Bryan Pata Tuesday, a week after he was shot and killed outside his Kendall apartment complex.

Pata, a 22-year-old senior, was fatally shot Nov. 7 outside the off-campus apartment complex where he lived. His death rocked a team already facing adversity, including an embarrassing on-field brawl, a string of disappointing losses and rumors that coach Larry Coker's job is in jeopardy.

"This has been a tough time and I'm very proud of how the players and coaches are responding," Coker said Tuesday before arriving at the funeral. "That's been very encouraging."

Three buses were parked outside the Miami athletic complex Tuesday morning, waiting to carry Pata's teammates to the service, which took place at the New Birth Baptist Church in Opa-Locka located at 2300 NW 135th Street. Pata was buried at Dade Memorial Park.

Many at the funeral wore the school colors of orange, white and green. Others filed into church wearing T-shirts with Pata's name and the words "In loving memory."

"I never got to tell him but as a teammate, a brother and a role model, I love you man. I'll miss you, dog," said Miami defensive lineman Dwayne Hendricks, who was also Pata's roommate.

Two lines of more than 100 players walked past photo montages of Pata and a dozen floral arrangements. Some wore buttons with Pata's picture. One carried a jersey with his name. A woman sang "Amazing Grace," the words echoing against the church walls, as football
players hugged one another.

Edwin Pierre Pata honored his brother, the youngest of nine, during the funeral.

"He didn't deserve to die that way. He worked so hard to get to where he was at. It just doesn't seem fair for it to end that way," he said.

The Hurricanes canceled their regularly scheduled Tuesday afternoon practice. The team will attend Wednesday's on-campus memorial, then resume practice that afternoon. Miami's next game is Saturday at Virginia.

"The players have done a good job trying to separate everything. Hopefully we can somehow try to separate as best we can and press on," Coker said.

Monday night, friends and family also gathered to remember the defensive lineman during a viewing at the New Birth Baptist Church.

Pata had practiced with the Hurricanes the afternoon of Nov. 7 and stayed for a quick, informal team dinner before leaving campus, officials said. Police were called to the Colony Apartment complex about two hours after practice ended. The 6-foot-4, 280-pound defensive lineman died at the scene.

Police have released very few details about the investigation into Pata's killing but said late in the week that he might have been involved in some type of dispute with another man before being shot that night outside his apartment.

Detectives interviewed several Miami players in the hours after Pata's death, and have urged citizens who may have seen or heard something that evening to come forward with any information.

Pata played in 41 games over his four-year career at Miami, making 23 starts, and was expected to be chosen in next year's NFL draft.

Teammates wore decals with his No. 95 on their helmets last weekend when they played Maryland and will continue to wear them for the remainder of the season.

Other schools around the Atlantic Coast Conference have also offered tributes; Maryland's players donated their meal money from last weekend's game to a fund set up for Pata's family, and Florida State also wore Pata's number on their helmets for its game last weekend against Wake Forest.

The on-campus memorial is set to take place Wednesday, November 15th at the Guzman Concert Hall at UM in Coral Gables. It starts at noon and is open to the public.

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