'That was my brother': Utah football teammates reflect on life of Aaron Lowe

SALT LAKE CITY — As Aaron Lowe's teammates prepared to leave the lawn behind the University of Utah's student union center, they huddled together much like they would before a football game.

But rather than prepping for a game, Lowe's teammates were there to offer encouragement to one another as they continue to try to find meaning out of a senseless act of violence that cut the life of their 21-year-old teammate short. As they went to break the huddle, they raised their hands outward to the sky, surrounded together in unity.

"1-2-3: A Lowe," they yelled, their voices echoing through the campus as they honored their teammate, friend and brother with the nickname he was simply known by.

Lowe's teammates were among the several hundred people who gathered on campus Wednesday for a vigil to reflect on Lowe's life. The University of Utah football player died after he was shot while attending a house party in Sugar House early Sunday morning — hours after the Utes defeated Washington State.

A woman, whose name and age have not been released, was also shot and taken to a hospital, where she was still listed in critical condition Monday. There have still been no major updates in the homicide case, but Salt Lake City police say they are following up on "promising" tips they've received as they continue to investigate the shooting.

It was clear Wednesday evening that Lowe's death still weighed heavily on the hearts and minds of the Utah football team, which suddenly found itself grieving another sudden and tragic loss. Lowe's death came less than a year after Utah football running back Ty Jordan died in an accidental shooting. Lowe had recently received the first-ever Ty Jordan Memorial Scholarship and switched his number to 22 to honor his late friend.

"It's been a weird couple of days without seeing Aaron in the locker room, in the hallway, smiling, teasing. ... Aaron was more than a teammate, a best friend — that was my brother," said Ja'Quinden Jackson, a backup quarterback for the Utes, as he stared out into a crowd of people holding candles in Lowe's memory.

One by one, Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham and a handful of Lowe's teammates came to a podium where they remembered him for his impeccable work ethic and his kind, charismatic spirit and loving personality. He was the guy who came in and warmed a room with his smile and energy.

"That dude was the hardest worker, the most compassionate, loving person I ever knew — lift you up when you're down. When you're sad, (he'd say), 'Hey, man what's wrong, what's going on?' That was him," said defensive back Clark Phillips III. "I'm grateful for the time that I spent with Aaron, like all of y'all are."

Running back Micah Bernard said Lowe would often come to visit him and Phillips at the place they shared just to hang out and talk about life. It's those types of encounters that he said he'll miss the most. Cornerback LaCarea Pleasant-Johnson said Lowe was also selfless; he sacrificed an extra workout for being late to a team lift because he decided to pick up a teammate who needed a ride.

As he spoke, Pleasant-Johnson turned his head over to Whittingham and thanked him for recruiting Lowe to Utah.

"If you didn't recruit A Lowe, I would have never been able to know the person he was and just to know Aaron, so I appreciate that," he said.

Lowe didn't have an easy path to Utah and overcame a lot of adversity in his life to wind up in college, Whittingham said. What impressed him, though, is that Lowe didn't let that slow him down in any way.

"He could have very easily gone in a wayward direction, but he stayed focused," Whittingham said. "He had his mind made up on what his goals were and worked his tail off to get here. And if you knew some of the trials that he had and what he went through, you'd be very proud of the young man."

Devin Lloyd, Utah's star linebacker, said that despite all the hardships in his life, Lowe always lived life with a positive mindset. Jackson agreed and challenged everyone in attendance to give a similar mindset to honor Lowe.

"I want everybody here to get 22% better at everything you do, no matter what it is — school, work, sports, family," he said.

In addition to challenging one another to be "22% better" for Lowe and Jordan, their teammates asked one another to live as they did.

"If you see somebody hurting, go tell them that you love them. Give them a hug. All of that stuff cause that's what Aaron would do," Phillips said, pausing as he collected his thoughts. "Just love on everybody because it's tough ... nobody ever (saw) this coming, and 22 forever."

The event concluded with the team lighting the "U" on the hill overlooking Salt Lake CIty, much like it is lit after every Utah football win. University of Utah President Taylor Randall said it was a light, much like Lowe was to those around him.

Lowe's parents weren't in attendance since they flew back to Texas to prepare for his funeral; however, University of Utah Athletics Director Mark Harlan said he was able to speak with them over the past few days about their son.

"(Lowe's mother) told me that God had a plan and that she was at peace about that," Harlan said, reflecting on the conversations this week. "She told me how much Aaron loved the University of Utah. ... We also spoke in great detail about his last day on earth, (which was spent) playing a football game in the place that he loved with his teammates who he loved greatly, on national TV. That was his dream."

The university awarded Lowe's family a certificate of academic achievement in his honor this week, Harlan said.

Since Lowe's death, the team has received an outpouring of support from the collegiate sports community. All of the other athletic programs at the university tweeted the same message at 2:22 p.m. Tuesday, either representing the two numbers Lowe wore for the Utes or the two athletes who wore No. 22 taken from the world so suddenly.

The tweets read: "Family on three #22forever."

Other Pac-12 institutions have offered their support to the Lowe family and to the University of Utah, as well.

Earlier Wednesday, the Utah football team tweeted an image of a sign they received from the UCLA football team that featured a photo of Lowe holding a flag honoring Jordan taken just a few weeks ago. It read: "To the Utah football and Lowe families, with prayers and deepest condolences." It was signed by all the players on the UCLA football team.

That's on top of the condolences the team has received from the other athletic departments from the various universities in the state.

"Aaron, I know you can hear us, and I want to say, collectively, that we love you," Whittingham said. "I'm truly grateful to have had the privilege to coach you. I'll always keep you in my mind, in my heart forever; and I'm very confident, Aaron, that we will meet again and we will see you again."

Contributing: Jacob Klopfenstein, KSL.com

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