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Bryan Pata Receives Posthumous Degree From UM

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May 11, 2007 9:46 pm US/Eastern

Bryan Pata Receives Posthumous Degree From UM

DL
CORAL GABLES (CBS4) ― The family of slain Miami Hurricanes football player Bryan Pata will received his posthumous degree Friday during commencement exercises.

Pata, a 22-year-old criminology major, was shot multiple times in the back of the head outside his Miami apartment November seventh. Police have not identified a motive or any suspects.

In a bittersweet ceremony, his family received the degree from school president Donna Shalala during commencement exercises on campus Friday, but the pain was too much for his own mother to attend. Pata was also mentioned during the opening prayer for the ceremony.

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

Twelve of Pata's former teammates also received degrees.

"It's pretty much a hard day for everyone," said his brother Edwin. "We're just trying to keep to ourselves."

Edwin said he and Pata's mother, Jeanette, decided against attending the ceremony.

"Obviously, no one knows a mother's pain when she loses a child," Edwin said. "I can't even describe her pain and what's she going through. From just looking at her and talking with her every day, it's just hard to watch and hard to see."

(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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