West Virginia University has begun to plan how it will honor University of Connecticut football player Jasper Howard who was stabbed to death early Sunday morning. The University has talked with the Big East Conference and the Connecticut administration to find a right way to respectfully honor Howard at Saturday’s game at Milan Puskar Stadium, WVU athletic director Ed Pastilong said. While WVU head coach Bill Stewart will officially announce what the team will do to honor Howard at his weekly press conference today, Pastilong said ideas such as wearing an emblem on a helmet with the Huskies’ logo, the Number "6" or Howard’s initials were possibilities. "We realize that this is something that is impacting UConn’s team and we want to show respect," he said. "But whatever we want to do, we want to make sure everybody is in unison and that it would be proper." Anything the WVU athletic department is planning will be approved by both UConn and the Big East. West Virginia will hold a moment of silence in memory of Howard prior to kickoff, Mountaineer Maniacs President Cassie Werner said. In addition, the Maniacs will have a banner in the Mountainlair on Thursday and Friday for students to sign. The Maniacs will give the banner to the team on Saturday before the game. "Interconference rivalry aside, this is a really tragic thing that happened," Werner said. "They are in our thoughts and our prayers and this is just a display of our sympathies." Students will also be given either a ribbon or an armband when entering the stadium to wear during the game. Werner said she would like fans to be respectful throughout the game, specifically during UConn’s entrance. "I can’t imagine what the team is going through," she said. "It will be the first time the team will have to walk onto a field to play a game without him. In that moment, we need to show our support." During the game, though, Werner said WVU fans should be as passionate as in any other game. "Let’s leave the heckling and the booing for another game. It’s just not appropriate for this weekend," she said. A Facebook group "Mountaineers-Please Honor UConn’s #6 Saturday," was also created to show WVU’s support. The group, created by sophomore journalism major Brittany Franklin, was started after she read about the stabbing and particularly after realizing Howard was going to be a father. Franklin is asking fans to wear a white armband or piece of cloth with a blue "6" on it. Cloth and printing for some armbands have been donated. The group grew by nearly 1,000 members throughout Monday and had nearly 2,000 confirmations by press time. Connecticut head coach Randy Edsall said his team will wear a sticker with "JH" on its helmets at the game. To send personal condolences to the UConn football program and Howard’s family, do so at www.uconnhuskies.com/chat/101809aaa.html. Howard was stabbed outside of UConn’s student union after a fire alarm was pulled at a school-sponsored dance. Howard, 20, was the team’s starting cornerback and punt returner. He was the team’s third-leading tackler this season.
WVU plans to honor UConn’s Howard
Published: Monday, October 19, 2009
Updated: Monday, October 19, 2009
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