Last January, the Cal family lost a member when Bryce Turner passed away at the age of 20. Bryce had just completed his second season as a defensive back with the Cal football team. A Southern California native, Cal will honor Bryce and welcome his family to California Memorial Stadium for Saturday's game against USC. Traveon Beck, a senior defensive back and Bryce's friend since the seventh grade, wrote this tribute to his longtime friend.
 
Finding the words to describe Bryce Turner isn't easy, but I know he was and always will be my best friend.
  Since I met BT in seventh grade, it has been nothing but great vibes and nonstop laughter. I didn't know that we would eventually follow each other to St. John Bosco High School, but I knew we had an instant connection that lasted from middle school to high school to college.

Day in and day out, Bryce always had a smile on his face. He loved to joke around. He was always able to make himself laugh throughout the day.
 
Whether it was messing up certain coverages or us getting in trouble for doing who knows what, he would always just laugh himself out of the situation. He was always messing with me about being late,  but that's how you knew he cared. He was always making everyone else around him laugh.
 
However, Bryce also was the type to stand up for others. He would always be ready to have anybody's back if he felt like they were being disrespected. Bryce always stood his ground. He had the heart of a warrior. This is why I loved every second that I was around him and one of the reasons we were able to stay friends for so long.
 
On Bryce's first day at Cal, after transferring from Long Beach City College, I gave him the biggest hug because I knew I had my boy back with me. I knew things were going to be great with him by my side. We would talk for hours about so many different things while we did homework or played video games. I knew I could talk about anything with him.  We'd go to various events around campus, just to explore and meet new people.
 
Bryce was a true brother to me. He was one of the best people that has ever come into my life. I'll never forget my dawg, BT. We had so many similarities; I felt like we were literally the same person.
 
Every game, I write #29 on my wrist tape. I'll always rock that number for Bryce. I love and I miss Bryce so much, but I know he is in a better place now watching over all of us.
 
Long Live Bryce Turner!