after the Freedom Bowl, Sal went though spring conditioning just like the rest of the team, but his times and ability got worse rather than better.
We were running in the Balch fieldhouse and he struggled though sessions. We started spring ball after spring break. I went home to Orlando for the week and got a call that Sal was sick, and that it was cancer.
started treatment immediately and when he came to practice he already had a gaunt appearance. He fought it all summer, then made it to our first three games, Texas, CSU and Jeff George's Illini.
He passed away during the off week. I think it was a Tues. or a wed. The Memorial service was incredibly emotional, we had one for just the team. Then one for the public.
I can still hear Sal's sister and cousins singing "love like an ocean" when ever I think about it. It is strange what you remember. I also recall Dee Dowis, the quarterback from Air Force, in full dress blues paying respects to a fellow qb.
I don't think we could have played a game that week. The bye week could not have come at a better time.
