I don't have an answer either. But I'll furhter cloud the issue:

What if it weren't Miami? What if were a more upstanding program? What if it were a Penn player? Or an Oregon player?

Part of me has no apathy for the situation because it's Miami, and they've had problem children on the team in the past, that and the brawl from a couple of weeks ago.

In a word: No.

In several words: Nobody is forcing Miami (Fl.) to play the game. If they really feel that they simply cannot play this Saturday--or honestly, if any team ever feels for whatever reason they cannot play on a given day--they have a very simple option: DON'T play. Forfeit the game. See, easy... they can take their time and deal with their loss in whatever way they see fit. It's completely reasonable.

I would make it a more basic question: When is the memorial or funeral? if it is this weekend, then no, they shouldn't play the game. They should go to the funeral. If it is next week, then yes, they should play.

The loss of a teammate or family member is traumatic on the remaining team members. They should be allowed to deal with their grief as they see fit.

But in this day and age when the almighty dollar rules and universities are beholden to apparel companies and ad revenues, the realistic answer is no, the game must go on.

Well, we want the Bog to stay in the good graces of the editorial staff.

I agree with the loud talk show host--it's relative. If someone in a leadership position is killed, the ripple effect (on the team dynamic, on game preparation, even on the audience's perception of the team) is so large it fundamentally alters the nature of the even. A reserve player's death, while still tragic, not so much.

To respond to poster Kim's question, it seems there will be less widespread sympathy for Miami, regardless of the circumstances around Mata's death just given the history of the program (and its fall from national prominence in recent years).

How can it be postponed, unless the ACC Championship Game is moved? Neither team has a bye week before the Championship Game. I agree with the previous post-if a team doesn't feel that it can play the game, then they should forfeit. This is very different from something like a natural disaster or act of terrorism that affects an entire community; in that case, playing a game is not a priority. When something affects a team, as tragic as it is, the team has to deal with it. It's not fair to other schools in the conference to have games rescheduled. And it's a good point on where do you draw the line; a postponement in this case may set an unwanted precedent.

Hey Kim - he was a PERSON who happened to play for Miami.

My cold-hearted answer, since I just acquired UMD/Miami tickets, is no.

But putting thought into it, I still think the game should go on. Consider:
* Like stated above, this isn't the coach or starting QB. While a front-line player, not esential to the game plan
* Previous in-season deaths often result in a game cancellation the day of/day after, this will be four days later
* There's also the "he would've wanted it" mentality. Playing this game might be the best therapy for some of his friends and teammates.
* Joe's point above is spot-on, as well, from a logical and scheduling point-of-view. We've got a schedule keep here people.

I do hope that Maryland students and fans in attendance will treat the situation with respect.

Michelle,

Sorry to offend, but Miami has a history of not recruiting players with the best moral fiber. And that raises doubts and apathy (I mistated earlier).

While it saddens me on some level, I'm also not surprised on many others.

When a USC football player was hit by a stray bullet, while at practice, a decade ago I wasn't surprised because the area that USC is in is not exactly the best.

And I don't mean to cast any kind of judgement on the issue. I keep telling myself that he could have been a good kid and just a victim. But then I get images of their brawl, or the various shooting that the U's players have been involved in.

As sjf proposes, I hope folks put the game in the proper light, have respect for him and a nice moment of silence.

I just got tickets yesterday as well, but I think the right answer is up to Miami. You can't blame them if they want to sit it out and your can't blame them if they want to play.

They can play through the pain--they're professionals.

Um, I would argue that they are not professionals (professionals get paid) but rather just kids...

i'll ignore the fact that many miami players are in fact paid...

They shouldn't play and I really think they should postpone it to the end of the regular season. It's an unfair advantage no matter how you look at it. Either Miami will be on an incredible high or they will be on an incredible low against Maryland. And the NCAA should respect the kid who got shot and let his teammates and coaches worry about the funeral and how to pay their respects. This is one of those times where really, it's only a football game. This was a kid's life.

Kim, nice guilt by association. If you were to read the Miami newspapers on-line, you would see The young man who was shot was a teetotal observant Christian who was on track to graduate and was known for being a generally positive presence in the program and on the field. In other words, not consistent with the Miami reputation at all.

I don't care if they play the game or not, and ordinarily I wouldn't care about someone's dismissive comments, but to imply that someone probably had it coming because of the team they play for is unjust.

Miami players do not take care of one another the way they should. Real leaders don't allow shootings and fights to occur every few weeks. If they cannot keep each other out of trouble, then so be it. Its not Maryland's problem. Live by the sword, die by the sword. Unfortunately in this case someone actually did die. Cancelling the game enables this type of behavior. Play the game.

A kid gets murdered at his own home and it's his teammates' fault? SMM, you are making as little sense as Kim. Actually, less.

How would you all feel if this was a Va. Tech player? Because, believe it or not, before that brawl a couple of weeks ago, Va. Tech had a far worse record of on and off the field behavioral problems by its players over the last decade than Miami did. Miami has actually been clean for the last decade, and then the brawl happened and a decade of good behavior was quickly forgotten.

You are F'ng kidding right,Lets look at the world as a hole as individuals we are but a spec in the spectstrum of life,it's not bad enough that we are so self centered that we put remembrences on roadways to mark people killed in car accidents(ridiculously self centered)at accident scenes now we want to cancel events based upon criminal acts.Pleeeeeeeeese our society is competitive and viscous,it doesn't matter who was murdered(yes murdered not a homicide)the unfortunate individual is part of a what?150 player team,do we cancel games because a player was in a car accident,No.with all do respect to the deceased,if my coworker were to be murdered tonoght I do not think my employer would expect me to take the day off,in fact if MY MOTHER WERE MURDERED TONIGHT I would not expect much different.This is undoubtably a horrific and terrible event but ask yourself do you reeeaaaly think THE U (miami)really gives a rats ass unless they are being sued.Not likely you know why he's not an All American.If this does not open your eyes to the hipocrasy of college sports,well Rest in peace you F'ng Moron

I'm not saying one way or the other.

I freely admit that I know nothing of the player.

I'm just saying that perception of the Miami program colors things a little.

You want to come to the kid's defense, fine. You think they should soldier on, fine.

Norske if you look at my original post I brought up the fact that if he had gone to another school with a cleaner reputation, folks would be saying different things.

The team should vote on it because it should be their decision and their decision only. I would guess that they'd vote to play to honor their teammate and friend. Sure people die everyday but it doesn't change the fact that it hurts. These kids, and yes they're kids even if they've gotten in a few fights or been paid to play football, are really hurting right now and the last thing the University of Miami should be concerned about is their budget.

If your mother was murdered, mickfowl, then I would expect your boss would give you a couple days off. Especially if you were 20 years old and your boss was a college professor or coach.

Mike Wise has an excellent column on this very topic in Thurs. TWP Sports-check-it-out if you can break away from this beautiful BOG!!!

Too much at stake. Let's say Miami were to scrap the game and the forfeit were awarded to the Terps. How would Boston College and Wake Forest feel as they are battling Maryland for a spot in the ACC title game?

You can't schedule the game on Monday or Tuesday as this would affect Maryland's prep for the BC game 11/18.

Sorry this happened, but the show's got to go on. I've read there will be a moment of silence before the game for Pata.

Wow. People are cold. Sure there are ramifications for the ACC or for bowl games or for financial considerations. And sure, so much of what we hear today from the news, the government, big business, small business, etc tells us that these are the sorts of things that are "important". But can't we see through that a little bit? This was a young man of 22, with teammates that age or younger and many many fans even younger still. What sort of message are we sending to these kids if we say that playing football, generating revenue and preserving the "sanctity" of the ACC schedule are more important than taking a moment to reflect, pay respect to a lost loved one -- a teammate and friend -- and taking a week to consider how this sort of tragedy might affect teammates, etc as people. Can't we put the people aspect first? The ACC won't go down the toilet if they postpone or (heaven forfend) cancel one game, but there are a lot of people whose attitudes toward the importance of people and respect for the dignity of human life might be affected (I think in a bad way) for a very long time. You can't put a dollar value on that, so all the big messages tell us it's not important, but maybe we can wake up and say that yes, it is.