'Canes from past, present grieving for fallen brother Taylor

CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- Dozens of former and current University of Miami players will sit together at Sean Taylor's funeral Monday, only a few feet from the family section.

A few will be Taylor's closest friends and confidants. Others barely knew him. Yet each shares a palpable closeness to Taylor, a bond forged from being part of Miami's tradition-rich and proud football program.

For decades, the Miami Hurricanes have lived the same mantra: Once a 'Cane, always a 'Cane. It's a close-knit family that grows together and celebrates together and -- too often -- grieves together.

"We're like brothers," said Frank Gore, a former Miami teammate of Taylor's and now a running back for the NFL's San Francisco 49ers. "It's tough, you know. It's like losing my brother."

Taylor, the 24-year-old Washington Redskins safety, died Tuesday, one day after being shot in what police believe was a botched burglary at his South Florida home. Four people have been arrested and charged in connection with the killing, which sent shock waves through the football core of "The U."

"Everybody knows it's a family-type situation at the University of Miami," Hurricanes coach Randy Shannon said. "Once you're a 'Cane, you're always going to be a 'Cane. It's been that way since I was a player. It's always going to be that way. Guys who played with Sean, guys who didn't play with Sean, they'll be here to support the family."

When news broke that Taylor was shot, that football family reacted quickly.

Santana Moss, Taylor's teammate with the Hurricanes and Redskins, furiously began text-messaging every Miami player whose number he had. He wasn't alone. Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Bryant McKinnie got 26 texts from former Hurricane teammates. Current 'Canes quickly began calling one another, some juggling two phones.

"We're all so close, from the University of Miami to here," Moss said. "Sean had a lot of friends who have been devastated by his leaving us."

Many Hurricanes currently in the NFL will play Sunday with Taylor's No. 21 on their helmets, then fly south to say goodbye. Indianapolis wide receiver Reggie Wayne never played with Taylor at Miami, but he commandeered Colts owner Jim Irsay's private jet to make the trip.

To Wayne, it's absolutely that important to get to Miami.

"It's still kind of hard for me to actually grasp onto this, that this is actually happening," said Seattle Seahawks defensive back Kelly Jennings, who graduated from Miami two years ago. "But it's just something ... in daily life, things happen you have to deal with."

At Miami, the 'Canes family has to deal with it more often than any family should.