Wanted to share a few more of the sentiments from the Huskies on Tuesday as they tried to move on without cornerback Jasper Howard:
Oh, and here’s the story that’s up on our website now.
– As if there was any doubt, head coach Randy Edsall said he wasn’t planning on taking it easy on the team when practice resumed later that afternoon.
“I’ll be screaming and hollering and getting after their asses,” Edsall said. “That intensity will be high just like it always is on a Tuesday.”
– One of the most eloquent, honest and funny players who spoke about Howard was safety/linebacker Kijuan Dabney. Dabney is injured and won’t play again this season, but probably would have been fired up this weekend if he could go.
“He was a warrior. We’re going to take the same passion and put it on the field,” Dabney said of the West Virginia game.
“A lot of guys have dedicated their careers, not just this season, to Jazz,” Dabney said.
– So what was it like when the players found out Howard was in the hospital and then dead?
“At first it was shock then it was a weird mix of sadness and anger,” quarterback Cody Endres said.
– What kind of man was Howard?
“He was strong. Very strong,” cornerback Robert McClain said. “He wasn’t scared of anything.”
– What did he do for his teammates?
“He made me a better player,” said wide receiver Marcus Easley, who often faced Howard 1-on-1 in practice. “He was a great teammate.”
– UConn captain Desi Cullen (I feel bad when I refer to Cullen simply as UConn’s “punter”) has been something of a pillar of strength over the last few days. It’s been impressive to see from Sunday’s words before the media to Monday’s vigil to everything behind the scenes that I’ve heard Desi did for Howard’s family and his teammates.
“That’s the kind of person Desi is. That’s why he’s a captain. He’s a leader,” Edsall said. “He’s not just a punter, he’s a leader.”
– Edsall said he’s gotten calls, texts, e-mails and letters from all kinds of people from his football past: players from his days as an assistant at BC, players from his time with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, coaches from the NFL, and of course coaches from all over college football. And, of course, dozens of former UConn players from Dan Orlovsky to Alfred Fincher to Darius Butler to Tyvon Branch to …
In addition to his fellow Big East coaches, Edsall mentioned a few coaches by name. Edsall talked to former University of Miami head coach Larry Coker, who went through a similar situation with the Hurricanes, and also spoke to his mentor, Giants head coach Tom Coughlin.
The volume and the tone of all the support Edsall has received from around the country touched him.
“That’s why there’s not a greater game than this game of football. Because of the effort that has to go into to play it, the commitment, the sweat, all that stuff. All those guys know what you’re going through and you get so much support through it all,” Edsall said.
– I’m just emptying the notebook here to try and give you a sense of what went on at the Burton Complex today. In reality, it’s hard to convey the mood of the day.
Sometimes days like these (Tuesdays in football season, not days of mourning) are kind of annoying for guys like me: lots of work to do with coaches and players that sometimes aren’t very open with their feelings or plans for the upcoming game. Today was different.
First of all, I was almost scared to ask a football question of Edsall (not from an intimidation standpoint, that doesn’t happen. But more from a respect standpoint). It was like I’d be insulting Howard’s memory if I asked how to stop Noel Devine or which guy was the best to start at strong safety.
There were dozens of reporters there (a pain for us “regulars” who mistakenly think we own the place) and it probably was tough for the head coach and the six players who spoke to have more “mouths to feed” than on their typical Tuesday meetings with the press.
Despite that, it was an amazing/difficult/painful/awesome day to be a lowly scribe such as myself. I have no idea how the UConn football team will play this weekend against West Virginia (my guess is either the best game in school history or the worst, unlikely in between) . But I must admit I might have a little trouble adhering to the Football Writers Association of America’s (good organization the FWAA, by the way) guidelines on conduct in the press box.
I never root for a team that I cover, even if that team happens to represent my alma mater. But I have to say, if one of the Huskies sneaks behind the West Virginia defense for the go-ahead touchdown in Saturday’s game and the Huskies leave Morgantown a winner, I might have to sneak a mini-fist pump into my post-game repertoire (which usually includes a light beer, a chuckle at Lou Holtz’ “analysis” on ESPN and a nap).
It’ll be just a small celebration (nothing I would get flagged for on the field, even an SEC ref) and only for one day, but the rules might have to be bent.
- Neill
