If a home field and a home crowd give a team a 12th man, then UConn will probably have a 13th Saturday.
When Rutgers comes to town, for a noon kickoff, it’ll be the Huskies’ first game home since the murder of Jasper Howard. The UConn athletic department announced its plans for honoring the late cornerback and Rutgers wideout Tim Brown – a childhood friend of Howard’s – wasn’t exaggerating when he said, “It’ll be real emotional. It’ll probably be the most emotional game any of us have been a part of.”
So, here it is:
Everybody in attendance will receive a “6″ card in honor of Howard’s jersey number.
The first 15,000 fans through the gates will receive “Jazz Live 365″ wristbands.
UConn students at the game will get the same eye-black that the Huskies will be wearing – one with a “6″ and the other with a “JH”. All UConn students will also get a “6″ button.
Before the game, the UConn Marching Band will play on the field, all wearing No. 6 jerseys, and in the formation of a “6″ in the word “UCONN.”
After both teams come out on the field, there’ll be a “Moment of Respect” in honor of Howard.
In UConn’s release, Coach Edsall asks fans to leave their tailgates and get in their seats by 11:30 – and to fill all those seats – “as a sign of respect for Jazz.”
Like I said, a 13th Man.
Aditi Kinkhabwala has written a regular column for SI.com and been published in Sports Illustrated.
I definitely think the UCONN crowd is going to be amazing this weekend. I wish I was making the trip to this game. I hope Rutgers can handle it.