ESPN College Football

Despite the death of starting defensive tackle Bryan Pata, Miami coach Larry Coker said his team never considered not playing Saturday's game against No. 23 Maryland in College Park.

The Hurricanes (5-4, 2-3 Coastal) were back on the practice field less than 24 hours after finding out Pata was the victim of an apparent homicide outside his apartment complex.

"The players expressed the opinion they wanted to do what they felt Bryan Pata would want to do," Coker said of the decision to practice this week and play Saturday. "I think it's the right decision. I think it's a situation where the more we move forward, the better. The easy thing is not to play and withdraw, but that's not the right thing to do."

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