UConn sports

UConn and West Virginia tied at 7 after one.

It wasn’t exactly the start the Huskies were hoping for.

Tavon Austin returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown.

It looked like Nick Williams, in his first collegiate play, lost containment. Of course, the Huskies that got absolutely plowed by WVU blockers also could have stopped Austin.

It was the first kickoff return for a TD the Huskies had allowed since Duke’s Jabari Marshall took one back 94 yards Sept. 1, 2007. It was the first on an opening kickoff they’ve given up since Temple’s Makonnen Fenton (he torched UConn a few times) did it Oct. 19, 2002.

UConn responded with a nice drive and Jordan Todman scored on a 5-yard run (after a nice fake pitch/reverse).

The Husky defense also picked off Jarrett Brown (Robert Vaughn doing the honors) but couldn’t turn it into any points.

- Neill

The Huskies ran onto the field with Jasper Howard’s helmet and jersey in tow. Running back Andre Dixon carried the helmet and wide receiver Kashif Moore the No. 6 shirt.

The teams lined up on the hash marks just before the coin toss as everyone in the stadium stood and observed a moment of silence. The teams then shook hands, with coaches Randy Edsall and Bill Stewart exchanging a hug.

- Neill

Getting ready for John Denver here in Morgantown (a post-game tradition of singing that is equally hokey and incredibly impressive). The country roads have taken us to the stadium and we’re itching to see some football.

It’s essentialy Jasper Howard day here, which is as it should be. The UConn corner will be remembered with a moment of silence just before kickoff, and the teams are reminding viewers with stickers on the back of their helmets.

But there is a rather important football game on the docket for the Huskies. A win here would be an incredible feat (and their first over the Mountaineers, of course).

OK, enough chatter. A few pre-game notes:

– West Virginia quarterback Jarrett Brown, despite suffering a minor concussion last week against Marshall, is suited up and ready to play today.

– For the Huskies, cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson is also going to play. Wreh-Wilson, who is starting in place of Howard, was bothered by an ankle injury earlier in the week.

- Neill

STORRS _ An official University of Connecticut-licensed limited edition No. 6 T-shirt is now being produced by Tee’s Plus/Powers Inc. in Groton. The T-shirt is being made to commemorate UConn football player Jasper Howard, who died on Sunday.

The Navy Blue tee will have a No. 6 (Howard’s number) on both the front and the back panels as well as No. 6 on both the left and right sleeves (short sleeve tee). In addition, the word mark UCONN is located on the front panel above the No. 6 in the neck area.

As of Friday afternoon, significant orders had been received at Tee’s Plus from three separate retailers _ the UConn Co-op, 13 Bob’s Stores locations throughout the state and Husky Wear in the Shoppes at Buckland Hills in Manchester.

Product should begin being available at physical store locations by the afternoon of Monday.

In addition, the UConn Co-op website (www.huskydirect.com) and the Husky Wear website (www.huskywear.com) will be taking orders on-line throughout this weekend.

The retail price of the Navy Blue tee will be $20 and 100 percent of all profit realized between the wholesale cost of the tees for the retailers and the $20 retail price will be donated to the two funds established in Jasper Howard’s honor (The Jasper T. Howard Endowed Scholarship and The Jasper Howard Fund).

In addition to the No. 6 tees being available throughout the week at the various locations listed above, the No. 6 Navy Blue tee will also be on sale Saturday, Oct. 31, at Rentschler Field in East Hartford when UConn hosts Rutgers.

- Neill

Funeral and viewing information for University of Connecticut football student-athlete Jasper Howard, who died on Oct. 18, has been finalized. In addition, two funds have been established by the UConn Division of Athletics for those who wish to express their support.

The viewing will take place on Sunday at the Richardson Funeral Home (305-634-4528) on 4500 NW 17th Avenue in Miami, Fla., from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The funeral will take place on Monday at the New Birth Baptist Church (305-685-3700) on 2300 NW 135th Street in Miami, Fla., beginning at 11 a.m.

The service will be streamed live at www.nbbcmiami.org. To view, select view live services and at the next page, select view the live broadcast via Streaming Faith.

The UConn team, coaches and staff will travel to the funeral via charter aircraft back and forth on Monday.

In the wake of the tragic loss of Howard, the UConn Division of Athletics has initiated two funds.

“The Jasper T. Howard Endowed Scholarship” will be annually awarded to a UConn football student-athlete who plays the cornerback position and who best displays the outstanding leadership qualities which Jasper embodied.

Contributions to this scholarship are tax deductible to the extent permitted by the IRS.

Interested donors should make checks payable to “UConn Foundation-UCADF”, indicate “Jasper T. Howard Scholarship” in the memo line, and direct gifts to:

Jasper T. Howard Scholarship
c/o UConn Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 150430
Hartford, CT 06115-0430

“The Jasper Howard Fund” will assist Jasper’s family with expenses such as funeral costs, travel to attend the memorial service and support for Jasper’s soon-to-be-born child, in a manner consistent with NCAA guidelines.

Contributions to this fund are not tax deductible.

Interested donors should make checks payable to “Jasper Howard Fund” and direct gifts to:

Jasper Howard Fund
c/o People’s United Bank
2075 Hillside Rd.
Storrs, CT 06268

The University has been and is working closely with the NCAA to coordinate appropriate ways people can provide financial assistance to honor Jasper’s memory. To be consistent with NCAA guidelines, contributions cannot be sent directly to the Howard family.

Information about a public memorial service will be forthcoming.

- Neill

Had a chance to talk a little football with UConn coach Randy Edsall Thursday on a conference call. Yes, plenty of questions on the first game without Jasper Howard, but it felt kind of good to talk about X’s and O’s a bit.

– On Tuesday Edsall said he feared two of his players might be too distraught to play this weekend against West Virginia. But the coach said Thursday that there now are no such issues.

“No, not at all. The couple guys that I was concerned about…Kashif (Moore) came to me and told me on Tuesday ‘Coach, I’m ready to go,’ ” Edsall said. “The other guy that I was concerned about was Mike Smith. But you could see by the way those guys practiced they’re ready to go, they’re ready to play.

“There’s nobody from an emotional standpoint who is not ready to play.”

Moore, we learned earlier this week, was the one who held Howard in his arms while waiting for paramedics. Now we know that Smith was the other man who Edsall described as “putting pressure on the wound” soon after the stabbing.

– LB Scott Lutrus (shoulder) remains out with an injury. Reserve LB Sio Moore is also out.

CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson (ankle), Howard’s replacement at cornerback, has been upgraded to probable.

“He’s practiced the last two days and he’s done more in practice each of the days,” Edsall said.

– Still no official word on which punt returner will take Howard’s spot. CB Robert McClain is the likely choice but true freshman Nick Williams might also get a call.

“We’re going to look at him (Reggie) and Nick Williams,” Edsall said. “Either one of those guys could or they both could be back there.”

– Aaron Bagsby and Jerome Junior may split time at strong safety again this week. But Edsall would like to feature one player eventually.

“I’d like to just play one guy in all situations,” Edsall said.

Junior started last week against Louisville and Bagsby was on the field with the nickel defense.

– There was a typo on the depth chart this week. Linebacker Greg Robinson has not moved down behind Jerome Williams.

Williams is the backup at will behind Lawrence Wilson, taking the place of the injured Moore. Greg Lloyd is still No. 1 in the middle and Robinson is just behind (and on goalline, short yardage and other stuff).

– Edsall’s not sure exactly how the Huskies will play but has cautioned his players not to be too emotional when the game starts.

“I can’t tell you how everybody’s emotions are going to be,” Edsall said. “I want our guys to go out and approach the game just like they did every other game.”

- Neill

You might have to put Kijuan Dabney up there with Lou Gehrig and Jim Valvano for the most moving speeches in the history of sports.

The UConn linebacker was a good friend of Jasper Howard’s. He’s been great in trying to remember Howard the right way this week, and in urging his teammates (Dabney won’t play the rest of this season because of an injury) to finish the season as Jazz would have wanted.

But that’s not why Dabney deserves a spot alongside the Iron Horse and the former N.C. State head coach. Wednesday night at the UConn Student Union, during a candlelight vigil for Howard, Dabney and some of the Huskies took the stage to thank the 1,500 or so people who came out for their support and to pay tribute to Howard one more time.

But Dabney, Kashif Moore and company had other plans, too. They wanted to thank UConn coach Randy Edsall.

“We all know he’s been under a lot of pressure. He lost a son,” said Dabney, beginning to cry. “And we want to thank him for being strong.”

Dabney then revealed a UConn letterman’s jacket. It had a photo of Edsall with his arm around Howard across the back, and there were hundreds of signatures along the sleeves. Every UConn player had signed it, and then the players went around campus on Wednesday asking students, faculty and everyone else to sign it in honor of Howard.

“I want to thank our father,” Dabney said as he gave the jacket to Edsall, both men’s eyes welling up. “I promise we’re going to do whatever it takes to make this man proud.”

At this point Edsall is a basket case (who wouldn’t be?) and everyone in the crowd (maybe even a hard-headed, cold-hearted sportswriter) had a tear in his or her eye.

“Guys, you don’t know what this means to me,” Edsall said.

Dabney also talked about getting tough, trying to put the mourning aside and go on with life. Maybe the Huskies will.

If Edsall’s pregame speeches are anything like the ones Dabney can deliver, I wouldn’t bet against the Huskies on Saturday (not that I ever condone betting, of course.)

- Neill

From the folks at BC:

Boston College junior cornerback DeLeon Gause was one of the many people shocked and saddened at the tragic death of Connecticut cornerback Jasper Howard last weekend. While Howard’s family is urging Connecticut to play for Howard when the team meets West Virginia this weekend, Gause is planning his own special way of remembering his old friend.

Rather than suiting up in his usual No. 9 jersey, Gause will wear Howard’s No. 6 when the Eagles take the field against Notre Dame in South Bend this Saturday.

Gause, a Miami native who played against Howard in high school and later became friends with him, recalled what a great competitor Howard was when the two matched up against one another a few years ago.

“We played against each other in high school and at the Kickoff Classic,” Gause said. “All I remember is that he was talking about me before the game. He kept saying, ‘Tell (Gause) that it’s going to be a big game.’ And he came out there to play. We kept going back and forth.”

Believing that he needed to show his support for Howard, Gause searched for some way to keep his spirit close by when the Eagles play on Saturday.

“I talked with another guy who played with (Jasper), a cornerback at Clemson, Chris Chancellor. It was on his heart to (wear Jasper’s No. 6) and I thought of anything that I could do. I felt like I had to do something.” Gause mentioned that Chancellor would also be wearing No. 6 rather than his usual No. 38 when the Tigers travel to Miami to face the Hurricanes on Saturday.

Gause asked for and received permission to wear No. 6 from the BC coaching staff. Running back Jeff Smith will continue to wear No. 6 as well in Saturday’s game (the two play on opposite sides of the ball).

- Neill