UCLA put together a second half for the ages on Saturday in a 41-21 comeback win over Nebraska, and they did it all to honor late teammate Nick Pasquale.
The Bruins had an early start time in Lincoln and fell behind 21-3 in the second quarter. They scored a touchdown late in the second to make it 21-10 at halftime, and they went on a scoring binge in the third, pouring on touchdowns in four consecutive possessions to go up 38-21. They shut out the Huskers 31-0 in the second half.
UCLA coach Jim Mora, who did an excellent job preparing his team for the second half, said after the game that the team intended to honor Pasquale, a walk-on receiver who died last weekend after being hit by a car.
“Our goal today was to honor Nick,” Mora said after the game. “Our goal today was to come out here and have our players reflect everything that he meant to us and everything that was great about him. To his family sitting at home, we did it for your son. We did it for your son.
“We got one for Nick, baby. We got one for Nick,” Mora said.
UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley was equally emotional after the game.
“We played for him. This is the game. This is the game for him,” Hundley said with a shaky voice.
Hundley also pulled out a towel during the game that said “RIP #36” on it in honor of Pasquale. In addition to Hundley’s towel, UCLA had a No. 36 patch on their jerseys, and the coaches had one on their polo shirts:
Here is the "36" patch #UCLA will wear honoring Nick Pasquale vs. Nebraska Saturday pic.twitter.com/VAZFgq2oxt
— Phil Hecken (@PhilHecken) September 14, 2013
Nebraska deserves a lot of credit for being so classy. Not only did they have a 36 decal on their helmets, but their fans showed support for Pasquale as well:
"Bigger than any football game." –@BoPelini. #Huskers will honor @UCLAFootball and Nick Pasquale at tomorrow's game. pic.twitter.com/0PLgIDFCgp
— Nebraska Huskers (@Huskers) September 13, 2013
Classy move by Nebraska fans honoring UCLA player Nick Pasquale, who was killed last Sunday. #UCLAvsNEB pic.twitter.com/3rNTc0bkV4
— Scott McClellan (@alastormspotter) September 14, 2013
