Jasper Howard

b. Jan. 1, 1989

d. Oct. 18, 2009

Rutgers sports information director Jason Baum sent me the text shortly after I left this morning’s press conference with Greg Schiano: “UConn CB Jasper Howard, 20, died on Sunday after an on-campus stabbing.” I wrote back, “Oh My Gosh” and 10 hours later, that still about says what I feel.

The facts as we know them so far: There was a university-sanctioned dance at the UConn Student Union last night. A bit after 12:30 a.m., a pulled fire alarm sent people spilling outside and a fight broke out. Two people were stabbed, one fatally. The fatality was Jasper Howard, a 20-year old starting cornerback who was just a few hours removed from getting the game ball from UConn’s win over Louisville. He’d forced a key fumble and recorded a career-high 11 tackles and called his mom, ecstatic. He was also the first person in his family who’d gone on to college, coming up from Miami’s Edison High School ostensibly to escape the violence of his home neighborhood. And he was going to become a father too.

UConn coach Randy Edsall had to identify Jasper’s body and call his mother, and I cannot even pretend to think about any football part of the Huskies’ visit to Morgantown this Saturday. I think reading the responses and reactions from up in Connecticut honors this now-forever-young man’s memory. I just suggest taking a deep breath first…

Jasper was all about family. He called his single mother twice a day and tattooed dedications to his two little sisters on his chest. (Stamford Advocate)

Jasper only once took a tough stance with columnist Jeff Jacobs. “Make sure,” he told Jeff, “you spell my mom’s name right.” RIP. (Hartford Courant)

The mourning isn’t any easier in Miami. (Miami Herald)

A round-up from the press conference. (Connecticut Post)

Former Rutgers QB and current Rhode Island QB was Jasper’s high school teammate. He refused to believe the news at first. (Connecticut Post)

Jasper Howard almost left UConn to go home. Then someone took him under his wing. Two years later, Jasper took another homesick Floridian under his wing. Randy Edsall says he’s lost a son. (Connecticut Post)

A place to leave your thoughts. (UConnHuskies.com)