More than 1,100 gather to light candles in memory of crash victims

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) -- Bill Hancock watched as more than 1,100 people huddled near the Oklahoma State Catholic Student Center and lit 10 small candles in memory of those killed in Saturday's plane crash, including his son, Will.

"Miserable weather we're having," Hancock, director of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship, told reporters Sunday. "You guys have a hard day ahead of you. I know a lot of sports writers. It can be a tough job covering things like this."

One reporter replied, "No Mr. Hancock. Your day is much tougher than ours."

Hancock flew in from Indianapolis to offer support to OSU officials, who had to wrestle with scheduling a memorial service and whether the men's basketball would play Texas Tech without its fallen teammates, Daniel Lawson and Nate Fleming.

His son, Will, was coordinator of media relations for OSU, as well as the husband of Karen Hancock, the OSU women's soccer team coach, and the father of 10-week-old Andie.

OSU, Texas Tech and the Big 12 Conference agreed Sunday to indefinitely postpone Tuesday's game. OSU officials also set the memorial service for 3 p.m. Wednesday in Gallagher-Iba Arena, where the OSU basketball games are played.

The service will be a "special time of prayer and a time of thanks, and an uplifting event," Steve Buzzard, OSU sports information director, told reporters Sunday afternoon.

Outside, worshippers sang from the 91st Psalm, "On Eagle's Wings," before the candles were lit. The Rev. Joe C. Townsend said the candles would burn until Wednesday's service.

"In our faith we gather here every week in the same time and same place to contemplate the mystery of God, which is beyond our ability to comprehend," Townsend said.

"And today we are here to contemplate the mystery of life and death without fully comprehending it. But with faith, we know we are being held in the palm of God's hand."

Hancock seemed to take comfort in the recent birth of his granddaughter, Andie.

"It's a tough day for us all. At least we have his little girl," Hancock said as he slipped away from the conversation and drove away.