Still kind of can’t believe what I saw here.
For one, it’s kind of hard to believe UConn played this well given the week the team has had.
And then it’s kind of hard to believe the Huskies wilted when they nearly had the game in the bag.
Let’s take a quick look at some reactions, stats and notes:
– Jasper Howard was on the minds of nearly everyone, chiefly UConn coach Randy Edsall.
“I think he’s proud of us. And he’s disappointed we didn’t come out on the right side of the column today,” Edsall said after the game. “But I know this: he’s going to give us more strength.”
West Virginia coach Bill Stewart almost apologized for beating the Huskies in such dramatic fashion (Almost, of course, because their isn’t a coach in this world who would give away a victory).
“I would like to say that this is what epitomizes what these young men strive for and strain for each and every game,” Stewart said. “I am glad we were the winner, but it is a sad shame for what has happened to our opponent.”
The fans in the stands were seemingly gracious to the Huskies all day. They cheered when they took the field and clapped when they exited, too.
“I thought the fans from West Virginia were very gracious,” Edsall said. “It’s very humbling. I’ve come down to West Virginia when I was at Syracuse and Boston College and even here in Connecticut. I know what type of fans they have and how they root so hard for their team. But the sportsmanship and the love and the concern that they showed for our team, I don’t know if you’ve ever seen that in sport.”
– Kashif Moore was glad he got a chance to honor Jazz with a touchdown. It was the sophomore’s first TD of the season and the second of his career.
“It felt real good,” Moore said. “I told myself if I found a way to get into the end zone I’d throw up a Little Haiti sign like Jazz always did.”
– The moment of silence was different for everyone. What was Marcus Easley thinking?
“It still doesn’t seem so real,” Easley said. “It’s hard to believe we’re actually suiting up and getting ready to play a game without Jazz. That moment of silence meant a lot for me and I guess for the rest of the team.”
– West Virginia RB Noel Devine had 10 carries for seven yards in the first half. SEVEN!
How many yards did he have after halftime? ONE-SEVENTY-ONE!
“That type of offense, you can stop it and stop it but if one person misses a gap, doesn’t do his assignments, it can break just as easy as you could stop it in the backfield,” UConn safety Robert Vaughn said.
– UConn’s 501 yards of total offense represented its best output since gaining 506 against Virginia Sept. 13, 2008.
– Cody Endres is the first UConn quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards since Dan Orlovsky threw for 445 against Syracuse Oct. 30, 2004. (Been waiting to use that stat for three weeks now)
– Marcus Easley is the first UConn player to gain more than 150 yards receiving since Carl Bond racked up 175 against New Hampshire Nov. 22, 1997.
Easley on his timely, 88-yard touchdown catch and run.
“Cody gave me an opportunity to make the play,” Easley said. “I caught the ball and then I just saw the end zone.”
On his strip of West Virginia’s Sidney Glover, which followed Glover’s interception:
“It was on an interception so if somebody doesn’t make a play that pretty much seals the game for them,” Easley said. “I was fortunate enough to strip the ball and give my team another chance to make another run for it.”
- Neill
