Sean Taylor Funeral Service at Pharmed Arena

[Mike]

This is a football board, was started as a football board and more than 90% of the posts are in the football directory so I hope you will leave this here and "sticky" it.

news.fiu.edu/releases/2007/11-28_funeral.htm

Sean Taylor Funeral Service

What: Sean Taylor Funeral Service

Where: Pharmed Arena
Florida International University
University Park Campus
11200 S.W. 8 Street
Miami, Fla. 331299

When: Monday, December 3, 2007, 11:00 A.M. (ET)

Open to the public but with limited seating
There will be designated media seating at the service

I hope as many of us as possible can attend.

[devonsmom]

It is truly an honor for FIU to host this service. However, what made them decide to have it at our house?

[MaXx]

Very cool of the university to do this, if I didn't work, I would go.

[MiRi]

I have a feeling that Pete had something to do with this, and if so, kudos for him. I would go if I didn't have to work as well. I hope that some people here can go and represent the Golden Panther family.

[FIUPantherFan]

Posted on Thu, Nov. 29, 2007
Mourners recall football star; funeral Monday
BY SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN, MANNY NAVARRO AND EVAN S. BENN
A public funeral service for slain Washington Redskins player Sean Taylor, a former All-American safety at the University of Miami, is set for 11 a.m. Monday -- at Florida International University.
The choice of venue immediately elicited questions from fans and mourners about why the service, which is expected to be attended by thousands, won't be at Taylor's alma mater.

A UM representative said the BankUnited Center on the school's Coral Gables campus will be occupied through Tuesday with basketball games and preparation for a Republican presidential debate.

''The building is unavailable,'' UM representative Mark Pray said. ``It's regrettable we couldn't do it.''

FIU officials said Taylor's family then requested the funeral be held at FIU. The service will be at the Pharmed Arena on the school's University Park campus in West Miami-Dade. The school's athletics director, Pete Garcia, spent 16 years at UM before going to FIU and knew Taylor from his days as a Hurricane.

Arizona Cardinals running back Edgerrin James, one of many former UM players planning to travel to Miami for the service, said the funeral site was insignificant.

''They could have said it was in another country and the University of Miami players would make sure we're there,'' said James, who will arrive early Monday morning with NFL teammate and former Cane Antrel Rolle. ``Where it is doesn't matter to me. The main thing is being there. This is someone who was big to us, who was one of us.

``This right here is bigger than where it's at. This is about making sure you have a place to attend.''

James said he expected a large UM contingent.

''Everybody is trying to figure out how to get there,'' he said. ``Reggie [Wayne, of the Indianapolis Colts] has the sweetest deal. The owner is giving him his plane. That owner has a big heart, man.''

The entire Redskins organization is planning to attend the funeral, FIU representative Evan Koch said.

The team and front-office staff will fly down after the Redskins' home game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. The Redskins then must turn around for another home game Dec. 6 -- the Thursday after the funeral -- against the Chicago Bears, making the week even more hectic and emotional.

The Redskins announced the NFL will honor Taylor with a moment of silence at this week's games, and all league players will wear a No. 21 sticker -- Taylor's number -- on their helmets.

Taylor's father, Florida City Police Chief Pedro Taylor, flew to Washington to talk with Redskins players, coaches and trainers Wednesday. He was accompanied by his son's girlfriend, Jackie Garcia, and other family members, according to Richard Sharpstein, the family's attorney and spokesman.

Pedro Taylor talked with the team about his son and the love he had for his teammates, and then he returned to South Florida in the afternoon to finalize funeral arrangements here.

EMOTIONAL VISIT

The family's time at Redskins Park was emotional, according to team chaplain Brett Fuller.

'Many of these guys were wondering, `How in the world am I going to go out and do this on Sunday?' '' Fuller told The Associated Press. ``And when Mr. Taylor stood up and said go out and win these next five and make it to the playoffs, we felt a surge in the room, that he almost gave us permission to play well.''

Fuller said Taylor's 10-minute speech was followed by 10 minutes of ``hugs and thank yous.''

Earlier in the day, Miami Gulliver Prep in Pinecrest held a solemn tribute for Taylor, its former star.

Taylor led Gulliver to a state championship and met Jackie Garcia there. Garcia, a niece of actor Andy Garcia, hid under the covers with the couple's daughter as Taylor confronted his killer or killers.

On Wednesday at Gulliver, Taylor's former prep-school bunkmate delivered an emotional tribute to hundreds of students and teachers.

Gregory Bellamy, now the Gulliver defensive line coach, praised Taylor as a humble leader and a good friend, someone who would return to the school at playoff time and give the team pep talks and tips.

''If it weren't for Sean Taylor and his father, I probably wouldn't even have come to Gulliver,'' said Bellamy, 23. ``He was just a good man.''

The tribute took place before classes in a courtyard filled with students in their school uniforms. One student read a poem and the school chorus sang.

Where Bellamy and others spoke, Taylor's jersey was framed on a pedestal. A photograph showed Taylor in his Redskins uniform.

When he was a student at Gulliver Prep, coaches and faculty said Taylor was always thought to be a humble person and team player, despite his star status.

He set a state record for touchdowns his senior season -- 44. But it was his leadership that a former assistant coach on Gulliver's 2000 state championship team said he remembers most.

Gulliver was trailing 21-0 at halftime of the regional quarterfinals against American Heritage, and everyone expected then-coach Steve Howey to give a rousing motivational talk to his players. But it was Taylor who spoke up first.

MOTIVATING FORCE

''Before [the coach] even talked, Sean spoke up and he motivated them . . . and got them going,'' Gulliver assistant principal John McCloskey said. ``I looked at Steve after Sean talked and there was total silence. And Steve just looked at me and said, `What he said! Let's go!'

``We got back on the field and won 24-21.''

One of Taylor's friends from Gulliver, Ivan Mladenovic, 23, said he saw Taylor sitting outside the Beverly Hills Cafe in South Miami six months ago.

''He came over, sat down at my table,'' Mladenovic said. ``Just like a very normal dude. That's why this is very touching.

''He wasn't best friends with everybody, but he was always polite and respectful,'' Mladenovic said. ``Never intimidating or anything like that that you would expect of someone like this.''

He added: ``The way he plays football is completely different from the way he is in person.''

Miami Herald staff writers Oscar Corral, Patrick Farrell, Patricia Mazzei and David Ovalle contributed to this report.

[mjgpanthers1]

It is great that when the community needs FIU's facilities FIU is there to help out (Jose Somohano memorial and now Sean Taylor funeral) but it is really sad to know all these killings are happening in our own backyard. What is with South Florida now a days that these sort of killings are becoming so common? It is really sad for our community.

[FIUBlue82]

Pete did play a role in this. Taylor's father called UM and they could not accomodate due to a basketball game and the preparation for the presidential debate the school is hosting. Mr. Taylor then called Pete. Pete called Maidique, which approved of the use of Pharmed Arena.

I'm saddened that another person I had met and played against in high school has died prematurely. My prayers are with his family, friends, teammates, the University of Miami and Gulliver Prep.

[MiRi]

Did anyone here get to go?

[kevinkagy]

No, I had class, but there was a lot of activity on campus due to the funeral.

[MiRi]

I could imagine. I was at work. I would've gone if I was off.