UTSA to wear helmet decal to honor fallen airman

The UTSA football team will wear a commemorative helmet decal in remembrance of the airman who died after falling during a pregame demonstration on Saturday at the Alamodome.

The decal, which bears Air Force Technical Sergeant Ian Patterson's nickname, "Patty," will also be worn by the rest of the teams in the American Conference during this week's games.

Moments of silence will be observed ahead of UTSA's road football game against Tulane at 7 p.m. Saturday in New Orleans, as well as at UTSA's home volleyball match against UAB on Friday and home soccer match against Temple on Sunday.

Patterson fell Saturday during a rappelling demonstration at the annual Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans football game between UTSA and Navy. He later died at an area hospital. The Air Force has not released details about what led to Patterson's fall.

The Spurs also honored the U.S. airman game with a moment of silence just before the playing of the national anthem in the team's home opener at the Frost Bank Center on Tuesday.

A decorated airman from Fort Stewart, Ga., Patterson was a tactical air control instructor in Detachment 2 of the 6th Combat Training Squadron, assigned to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.

Patterson received a number of decorations during his 15 years of service, including the 2022 Air Force Special Warfare Enlisted Instructor of the Year award at the Headquarters Air Force level. He also received the Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Air and Space Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster and the Army Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster.