Memorial Sunday for UCLA Receiver Nick Pasquale

Written by City News Service

A memorial service will be held today at San Clemente Presbyterian Church for UCLA receiver Nick Pasquale, who was struck by a car and killed last weekend.

The 20-year-old Pasquale was a walk-on redshirt freshman whose UCLA playing career consisted of one play in the season-opening 58-20 victory over Nevada Aug. 31 at the Rose Bowl.

“He had such an impact on our team,” Bruins coach Jim Mora said. “Those guys loved him and respected the heck out of him.”

In lieu of meals, flowers and gifts, donations can be made to the foundation created in Pasquale's memory.

Donations to the Nick Pasquale Foundation will support athletes who demonstrate extreme effort and leadership on their teams, charitable groups influencing sports and athletes and athletes needing grants or scholarships to pursue their dreams.

The foundation's website is nickpasqualefoundation.com and its email address is nickpasqualefoundation@gmail.com.

In UCLA's first game since Pasquale's death, players and coaches had a patch on their jerseys and attire with Pasquale's number, 36. The Bruins' opponent Saturday, Nebraska, put stickers with Pasquale's number on its players helmets.

A moment of silence was held before the game at Lincoln, Neb. During which fans released 200 balloons in UCLA's colors, blue and gold.

“I thought it was an incredible gesture they made here and I think it kind of shows the class here at Nebraska,” Mora said after UCLA's 41-21 victory.

“The fact that they would put a No. 36 decal on their helmets and they would have a moment of silence and their student section cheered us when we took the field and encouraged us on, you just don't find that at many places.

“It is just a true testament to the people here at Nebraska and how much they care about football. We are very, very appreciative about that.”

Pasquale, a football standout at San Clemente High School, was struck by the car about 1:30 a.m. last Sunday on Camino de Dos Mares, west of Calle Nuevo in San Clemente, Orange County sheriff's Lt. Jeff Hallock said.

The motorist, who had been driving a Mercedes-Benz sedan, stayed at the scene and was not charged with any crime or infraction, Hallock said, adding that there were no signs on the part of the driver that drugs or alcohol played a part in the collision.

The Bruins “didn't win one for Nick,” Mora said, but tried “to go out and play with the type of effort and enthusiasm, energy and passion of the game that would reflect what he meant to us and so his parents could see it on TV and recognize that we were playing the game like their son played the game.”