Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said this week that he plans to reach out to current University of Miami football players in the wake of the shooting death of defensive tackle Bryan Pata.
Lewis, who played for the Hurricanes in 1993-95, called on other ex-players to take a bigger role in shaping the school?s football program.
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Pata?s death Tuesday was just one in a series of negative, high-profile stories surrounding the national power. Three weeks ago, the team was involved in a bench-clearing brawl with Florida International that furthered perpetuated an outlaw image at the school.
Miami is currently enduring one of its most disappointing seasons and enters this weekend?s game at Maryland with a 5-4 record. Miami coach Larry Coker has been under intense scrutiny lately, and many observers do not believe he will return next season.
“It was so funny ? I was just talking to Kevin Williams, a former Hurricane, and I was just telling him how it is time for more older players to go back to show them what got us to that point and show them why we carried a certain swagger up on the football field,” Lewis said. “Now, you get this type of tragedy that comes up, and you know there is a great place for us to really go back and do some things.”
In a story published in this week?s Sports Illustrated, Lewis talked about the murder of his college teammate and friend, Marlin Barnes. He once again referenced Barnes this week when talking about Pata?s death.
“A lot of times, people are faced with it, and the first thing they say is, ?Why me, why me??” Lewis said. “But when you walk back and you have to face someone who went through the same exact thing ? someone who lost a roommate, like myself ? it?s not easy; it?s not easy. You are definitely going to need someone to talk to, so I will definitely be reaching out to them sooner than later.”
Lewis seemed conflicted about the Maryland-Miami game going on as planned. His brother, Keon Lattimore, plays for Maryland.
“Tragic as it is, this is a business,” Lewis said. “There?s something that has to get done, and they are going to keep doing what they?re doing, regardless of how the family mourns and everybody is affected by it. They?re going to keep rolling. Do I particularly believe in it? No, but that?s just the way it is.”
Lewis said there should be a mourning process for Pata.
“Whether you lose someone close to you or not, you get a brief time off and you?ve got to come right back,” Lewis said. “I don?t believe in that because I believe life is the most precious gift that we have on this earth. I?m kind of lopsided with that.”
