A moment of reality...
Very rarely does reality creep into my make believe world of pretend sports writing. Unfortunately today that reality is sad. It seems that we quickly forget that the guys playing for our favorite college teams, are 18, 19, 20 year old kids. That fact has never been more evident than in the tragedy of Jasper Howard the 20 year old cornerback and special teams start at UConn. So here is what I know.
Jasper Howard was from Miami. He was an extremely talented high school star, and had a few choices of colleges, including some home state schools. He chose the University of Conneticut to escape the rough and tumble neighborhood he grew up in. In two years at the UConn Howard has shined on special teams and defense. Including winning the game ball shortly before that tragic Saturday night. After the game Howard and some of his teammates went to a school sponsored dance. Not some house party in a bad neighborhood. The kid was exactly where he should have been, celebrating the team's win over Louisville with a group of his peers. This is where details start to get shaky. There was a fight, and there are contradicting stories whether or not the football players where involved. In the melee, Howard was stabbed in the abdomen. A few of his Huskie teammates attempted in vain to stop the bleeding, Jasper Howard, soon to be father, passed away.
UConn head coach, Randy Edsall was called to identify the body and contact Howard's parents in Miami. You could see the weight of the tragedy on him as he told reporters, "This is not in my job description." I don't know the specifics of what this football team will have to overcome, but I do know what it is like to lose a member of your team, and the effect that can take on the individuals closest to him and the team as a whole. There will be countless of gestures this weekend honoring Jasper Howard, by all reports a good kid, including Clemson defensive back and Jasper's high school teammate Chris Chancellor wearing the number 6. The Huskies will take the field Saturday with heavy hearts against West Virginia. But as we all know that game will go a long way to mend broken hearts and lift spirits if only for sixty game minutes.
It is unfortunate that I have to write this blog. But as I mentioned I know what it is like to lose a teammate. You will never forget, but his memory is best honored by playing hard and living the right way. Live like no one is watching and remember this too shall pass.
Jasper Howard was from Miami. He was an extremely talented high school star, and had a few choices of colleges, including some home state schools. He chose the University of Conneticut to escape the rough and tumble neighborhood he grew up in. In two years at the UConn Howard has shined on special teams and defense. Including winning the game ball shortly before that tragic Saturday night. After the game Howard and some of his teammates went to a school sponsored dance. Not some house party in a bad neighborhood. The kid was exactly where he should have been, celebrating the team's win over Louisville with a group of his peers. This is where details start to get shaky. There was a fight, and there are contradicting stories whether or not the football players where involved. In the melee, Howard was stabbed in the abdomen. A few of his Huskie teammates attempted in vain to stop the bleeding, Jasper Howard, soon to be father, passed away.
UConn head coach, Randy Edsall was called to identify the body and contact Howard's parents in Miami. You could see the weight of the tragedy on him as he told reporters, "This is not in my job description." I don't know the specifics of what this football team will have to overcome, but I do know what it is like to lose a member of your team, and the effect that can take on the individuals closest to him and the team as a whole. There will be countless of gestures this weekend honoring Jasper Howard, by all reports a good kid, including Clemson defensive back and Jasper's high school teammate Chris Chancellor wearing the number 6. The Huskies will take the field Saturday with heavy hearts against West Virginia. But as we all know that game will go a long way to mend broken hearts and lift spirits if only for sixty game minutes.
It is unfortunate that I have to write this blog. But as I mentioned I know what it is like to lose a teammate. You will never forget, but his memory is best honored by playing hard and living the right way. Live like no one is watching and remember this too shall pass.
Labels: College Football, Jasper Howard
posted by belly up at
8:23 PM
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