UConn Football

Somewhere deep inside the heart of Morgantown, W.Va., amidst the ribbons and the pins and the armbands and the commemorative signs, there was a football game Saturday afternoon.

And it was a good one, too. The 4-2 Connecticut Huskies visited the 5-1 West Virginia Mountaineers in a Big East game that would have been hyped for all the right reasons only a week ago. Except that come this Saturday, it wasn’t. It grabbed the headlines because of the unfortunate and tragic loss of UConn cornerback Jasper Howard.

Howard was stabbed to death on campus early last Sunday, leaving investigators to piece together the homicide, his teammates to piece together their  battered and trembling hearts, and Huskies head coach Randy Edsall to piece together the remnants of what began as a season with promise.

Police arrested a man and placed him on $100,000 bail after lying to authorities and using a fake name while being questioned about the events that took place the evening Howard died. What we know is that an altercation took place and Howard was stabbed in the stomach. What we don’t know is who did it and what caused it.

Not that it really matters. Justice will be served, but pick any young man wearing a Huskies jersey today and he will tell you the only absolute in any of this is that Howard isn’t coming back.

Nobody would have blamed the university or the UConn football team if they told West Virginia thanks, but no thanks; we don’t need to be playing football this weekend. We would have understood, and we would have prayed and grieved with our boys in UConn blue.

But the Huskies did show up, and the people of Morgantown turned into one collective host family. What transpired is the unequivocal reason why we watch sports.

Hundreds of pins and armbands with Howard’s ‘6’ on them were handed out at the entrances to Mountaineer Field. Must have been a determined UConn mother who put all of those together to remember Howard, right? Wrong. Try Kacy Korczyk, a student at West Virginia.

“It means so much,” Korczyk told the Associated Press. “Just by [Howard] being a college student, I know he relates to a lot of us. This being their first game [since Howard’s death], we needed to do something for it.”

A big banner hung in the UConn tunnel entrance to the field and read, “Today we are all Huskies.” The banner donned the signatures of West Virginia fans.

Everyone in attendance honored Howard with a pre-game moment of silence, and the Mountaineer faithful gave the Huskies a long, warm standing ovation as they took the field. Players and coaches from both teams exchanged handshakes and hugs on the field prior to the game.

The UConn players brought Howard’s jersey and helmet with them on the road, and his locker will be kept intact for the next two years, or the time when Howard would have been expected to graduate from the university.

But Howard would be happy to know that not everything was sentimental. The Huskies battled the Mountaineers for four quarters, gaining almost 120 more yards on offense then West Virginia (who is ranked No. 23 in the BCS and No. 22 in the AP poll).

Down 21-17 late in the fourth quarter, UConn quarterback Cody Endres found Marcus Easley for an 88-yard touchdown pass, giving the Huskies a three-point lead with 3:50 remaining in the game. It had the full look of a storybook ending. It was scripted to perfection, a team rallying around the tears to trump the type of devastation that young lives aren’t supposed to know. It also wasn’t meant to be.

Noel Devine tiptoed down the sideline for a 56-yard touchdown only minutes after Easley’s score to give West Virginia a 28-24 victory. It was the last hurrah of Devine’s 178-yard day, an effort that will keep the Mountaineers atop the Big East and climbing up the BCS poll. But in no way did it diminish what UConn did on a day when their minds were probably focused on Howard’s Monday funeral in Miami.

“I just feel empty,” said Edsall. “The kids played their hearts out and did what we asked them to do. This is a special group of kids.”

There were meatier matchups on Saturday’s slate, games that involved big horses such as Florida, Alabama, Penn State and USC. But good luck finding a game that embodies the true spirit of sportsmanship, competition, unity, brotherhood, compassion, triumph and honor more than this one did. In fact you can’t. It’s impossible.

The SEC Championship, Rose Bowl and that ballyhooed game that awards the winner a sparkling crystal ball are great games for college football fans. They are entertaining contests that are worth watching. But they aren’t the things that drive us to watch sports, to love sports.

That crystal ball that everybody is after shatters the moment it hits the ground. But the blue and white UConn pride that was trampled on last week picked itself up on Saturday and didn’t even suffer a blemish. We forget that trophies and rings and rivalry fodder have a shelf life.

But the innate feeling that would make a Mountaineer wrap his arm around a Husky today and say, “Welcome to Morgantown. Enjoy the game.” is what keeps us coming back for more. The people, the stories, the memories, aren’t those the best?

You couldn’t help but raise your arms and cheer when Easley sliced through West Virginia’s secondary en route to that long score that maybe, just maybe, would have given UConn an improbable victory. It gave me chills. This couldn’t be happening.

Mountaineer Field wasn’t doused in pity because you can bet many of those fans were smiling. How could you not? In the end, what really is a Big East Championship quest compared to the life experience that took place on the same field, only on a different sideline?

I have absolutely no ties to UConn or West Virginia. My hometown of Los Angeles is about as far as you can get away from both of them. But as I flipped on ESPNU for the game and followed along, I was sucked in. I had to cheer for UConn on every down. Oddly enough, after the graciousness that West Virginia displayed when they could have easily looked at the Huskies as just another notch on their BCS-resume belt, I felt the need to cheer for the Mountaineers on every down, too.

I felt proud to be not only a football fan or a college sports fan, but simply a sports fan in general. There are many weekends full of games that we get excited for during the fall, games with title implications and all of that.

But occasionally we are lucky enough to be blessed with a weekend and a story so pure that we immediately remember, with such clarity, the reason why we watch and follow sports: Everybody wants to be involved in a moment that tickles down the spine and is much bigger than you are.

On this day, Morgantown, W.Va., was Exhibit A.

You can reach Teddy Mitrosilis at tm4000@yahoo.com.

The Connecticut Huskies are getting ready to take on West Virginia in Morgantown, after the toughest week of many of these players and coaches careers.  The death of CB Jasper Howard will shadow over this team for years to come.

Today, the Huskies are focused on football.  Connecticut has never beaten West Virginia and has had a tough time on the road in Morgantown.  It is not an easy place to play and under these circumstances makes it that much more difficult.

Jazz always wanted to beat West Virginia, and that was all he was concerned with after the game of his career last week at home against Louisville.  Then not even twelve hours later he was tragically gone, and this team had lost a brother.

UConn comes into the game 4-2, and 1-1 in the Big East.  They are going into the toughest part of their schedule, and are looking to stay in the top tier of the Big East.  Cody Endres has had a lot of success since taking over the starting job at quarterback.

His success will be instrumental if Connecticut wins this game.  Running back Andre Dixon will look to continue his hard running on the ground and find those open holes that his offensive line has been opening.

Both receivers Kashif Moore and Michael Smith who tried to save Howard are ready to go and look to make an impact through the air.

The defense will be a key part if the Huskies get the win for Jazz.  Lindsey Witten and Kendall Reyes are going to need to pressure Jarrett Brown on the defensive line.  West Virginia also has a Heisman candidate in Noel Devine who runs the football with the best of them.

Blidi Wreh-Wilson, a freshman, will be the cornerback who takes the spot left vacant by Jasper Howard.  He will look to continue his success on the field and make his presence felt in the secondary.

Reggie McClain will return punts and remain at safety.  His play on the field will need to remain stellar because West Virginia is going to attack downfield.  Jerome Junior will start opposite McClain and defending the passing game will be these two's toughest task.

With Scott Lutrus out again due to a reoccurring stinger injury, the linebacking core is going to have to step their game up.  Edsall said it best in the words of Jazz in his pregame conference,"We are going to play every play like it is our last play we are ever going to play."

The Huskies will be playing with heavy hearts against the Mountaineers.  In tribute to everything that Jasper Howard was: LIVE 365.

Connecticut rises to the challenge in a tough contest, UConn 28 West Virginia 24.

Randy Edsall, who is in his 11th season as head football coach at the University of Connecticut, has dealt with the tragic death of Jasper Howard as best he could.  The amount of courage he has had over the last week is why being a head coach has to do with so much more then just the game of football.

Edsall, who lost his father back in February, now has had to deal with the death of a player, Jazz, who he was close with.  There has been widespread media attention on this event, and Edsall has remained calm, cool, and collective throughout.

Win or lose today down in West Virginia, Randy Edsall has shown time and time again why he remains committed to the football program at UConn.  The death of Jasper Howard touched a wide diversity of people across the Connecticut community.

One of the most touching experiences I can recall was on Wednesday night when Kijuan Dabney called up Coach Edsall to deliver him a letter jacket personally made for him.  It was signed by every player, coach, and various faculty at UConn.

On the back was a picture of Coach Edsall and Jazz together.  This emotional moment brought tears to the eyes of many in the crowd and everybody on stage.  This connection showed the bond that Edsall has created with all of his players.

Randy Edsall is much more then a football coach.  He is a mentor, teacher, friend, and most importantly a father figure.  These kids come to Connecticut mainly in part because they know what Coach Edsall brings to the table.

He put it best when he said, "One of my sons have been taken away from me," which is exactly how he feels in wake of Jazz's death.  Jasper Howard was arguably the best cover corner on this UConn team, and nothing can replace his spirit and playing ability on the field.

The entire UConn football team has had to mourn and grieve the death of Jazz this past week.  When the Huskies take the field in Morgantown they will be playing with heavy hearts.  Jazz always wanted to beat West Virginia and his team wants to win this game for him.

Coach Edsall has been there for his players every time they need him.  He has dealt with these events the best he possibly could, and has remained strong.  His ability to remain strong and still prepare for West Virginia is a testament to who Randy Edsall is not only as a coach, but as a person.

Now it is time for him to lead his team on the sideline.  To do what he does best, and go out there and win football games.  The death of Jasper Howard has put a new prospective on life for me.  Every day is a blessing and you have to live each day to the fullest.  No matter what happens keep your head high and move forward.

Randy Edsall can be viewed as an inspiration for many.  His actions and words over the past week is the exact reason why he is such a great man.  When you push football to the side, Coach Edsall has done it all with much adversity during these tough times.

Last night, the Connecticut football team came together for a very touching candlelight vigil in honor of their late teammate Jasper Howard.  Howard was a special person who lived every day to the fullest.

Jazz was a devoted friend, teammate, brother, and overall great type of person.  He came to Storrs to get an education and hoped to play professional football one day.  He had a promising future ahead, and to see his life end abruptly before his 21st birthday is heartbreaking.

He escaped the streets of Miami and had talked about how his mother worked tirelessly to support his family.  He also mentioned his strong bond with his two sisters, one who is 13 and went through a serious battle with Meningitis.

The impact of Jazz's death on this campus is simply unimaginable.  Today, all students are wearing black and dark clothes in remembrance of Jasper's life.  It is a tribute to everything he stood for and a celebration of his life.

Last night's vigil was a time for the football team to come together as one with his parents and family.  It gave a special time to grief the loss of Jazz.  Anytime someone dies it's tough to deal with, but, under these circumstances, no words can correctly describe the emotions and thoughts running through this football team.

Jasper Howard was full of life.  He always had something to say.  He was the type of player that gave 110 percent on every down he was on the field.  His forced fumble and a recovery on Saturday changed the whole momentum to UConn's side.

He was a difference-maker in everything he did.  The sky was the limit on his playing potential and it is a shame that we will never see what Jasper Howard could have been in the National Football League.

His spirit will live on in this UConn football program for years to come.  There will be a candlelight vigil for the entire UConn community tomorrow night.  It will be a tribute to Jazz.

This Saturday, UConn plans to honor Jazz by bringing his jersey and helmet to every game the rest of the season.  They will also have JH stickers on their helmets in his honor.  Jasper Howard will certainly be looking down on his teammates and coaches.

West Virginia will also honor Jazz with a moment of silence, and they will wear number six stickers on the backs of their helmets.  Then there will be an honorary handshake before the game begins.

It is certainly a tough time for all.  Nobody deserves to have their life end this way.  His life will weigh heavy on the hearts of this UConn community; his spirit will still be with this team as they move on and compete the rest of this season.

In the cold early Sunday morning hours, on the comfortable campus of the University of Connecticut, a young football player laid dying.

Jasper Howard, a defensive back who had helped his Husky team earn a victory in the school's homecoming game against Louisville hours earlier, lay in the arms of teammate Kashif Moore.

Howard was mortally wounded, stabbed in the abdomen, his promising young life was slipping away as Moore held him.

No doubt Howard fought hard, but he couldn't be saved.

UConn Nation lost their "Jazz." A mother lost her son, two sisters lost the brother they adored, and his unborn child lost its father.

Jazz Howard was a special player. He was a young man of great potential, a young man with a future who was taken from his college, his football teammates, and his family by a cruel act of violence, in the last place you'd expect it to happen.

His coach, Randy Edsall, received the dreaded telephone call around 1:00 a.m. Hours later, he was asked to identify Howard's body.

Grief and shock cannot describe the emotions that have filtered through the UConn campus and beyond.

Disbelief still grips those who played with Jazz, lived with Jazz, and loved the spirit that he brought to the school. He escaped the mean streets of Miami, only to become a victim of violence in a spot close to the Husky Statue, the spot on the Storrs campus that signifies all that is good about UConn.

All at UConn are mourning their lost classmate, their teammate, their friend, their son.

And we should mourn with them.

My friend Rob Lunn was there for this homecoming event. He is part of UConn's football family. He played for four years, graduated, and is unwavering in his love for his school, his team, and for Jazz.

Lunn was with Jazz a few weeks ago at a Monday night football game. They sat together, talked about life, about football, about UConn.

Lunn is grieving. This has hit him hard, I know. He is my friend.

He has told us that Jazz was a great teammate, a great young man, soft-spoken, and destined to lead the UConn football team in coming years.

"Jasper Howard was a man of incredible character and work ethic," Lunn wrote in his email. "He would have undoubtedly risen to the rank of team captain in seasons to come. I have no doubt that Jazz, while undersized, would have been an NFL-caliber player. He was soft-spoken but was a vocal leader on the field. He pushed, provoked, and simply brought out the best in his teammates. I am always grateful to have been part of UConn football, but I am without a doubt a better man for having shared the same field with Jazz."

Strong sentiment from the player well-known for his FatWhiteGuy.com blog during his senior year at UConn.

Lunn is a big, imposing fellow, a former defensive lineman. But I know he has a soft heart. He is hurting and he has cried over the loss of Jazz.

I cry with him.

For this was an act that is difficult to reconcile, a senseless crime, a murder that took more than the life of Jasper Howard. It was an act that violated UConn. A college campus is a safe haven for youth. It is a place where young memories are made and stored away and brought forth time and again as we age, as time and circumstance make life more difficult.

These young people at UConn will never forget this. It will remain part of them for the rest of their lives.

Time does not erase such memories.

They will carry Jazz Howard with them.

And Kashif Moore will never forget that night and the teammate who laid dying in his arms. "I held him in my arms as long as I could. I didn't want to let him go," Moore remembered.

Moore had to let him go, but he and his teammates, all at the university will remember.

We should all remember Jasper Howard, who is now in God's arms.

Who is Number One...anywhere?

Not just nationally, but some of the conferences are up in the air too.

The SEC gives us both questions. Florida and Alabama are flip-flopping the one and two spots for now, as it seems Alabama is the best in the nation and the conference.

Ohio State was basically the favorite in the Big 10, but they lost to Purdue.  Iowa and Penn State now hold down the top of the conference.

USC has won the Pac 10 for seven years, but right now Oregon leads the conference.  The game on Halloween night in Eugene appears to be the game of the year for the conference, assuming they both get past next weeks games.

Georgia Tech’s upset over highly-ranked Virginia Tech throws the ACC into a spin.

It’s still pretty safe to bet on Texas in the Big XII South, but the North is all over the place after losses by probably the three favorites.

 

ACC

I still can’t figure it out.  Georgia Tech was one of my early favorites, and they still look good.  To try and pick the conference though is a bigger crap shoot than if I had a gun in an outhouse.  Ok so I’m not great with analogies but you get the idea.

 

Auburn Yo-Yo

The yo-yo starts with the hire of Chizik. The fans wanted nothing to do with him. His record at Iowa State pretty much explains why.

Then they win and keep winning. And the offense looked really good.

Then they lost. Can’t win them all can you? But now they lost again.

Personally I think Auburn had the benefit of an easy schedule to start the season and that Chizik isn’t really that good of a coach.  Anyone else notice that Iowa State only needs one more win to match his entire win total there?

 

Idaho

Going bowling?  It's now possible. 

The Vandals got win number six and are now eligible.  The reason we can’t say it is a sure thing is the bowl deals for the WAC.  There have been a number of six-win teams in the WAC that did not go to a bowl.  If they can manage one more win then they should get somewhere.  I am guessing Hawaii.

Karma?

I am talking to you Washington Huskies. After that amazing yet controversial win over Arizona last week with an interception that may or may not have bounced off ground, Washington lost in dramatic fashion without controversy at Arizona State.

Sun Devils quarterback Danny Sullivan threw a 50 yard touchdown pass with five seconds left.  On the receiving end was Chris McGaha.   McGaha is one of the leading receivers for the Sun Devils but he was mostly quiet all night.  In fact his only reception of the night was this one.

I am sure he will gladly take one reception for a game winning touchdown instead of a mess of yards and catches.

 

Something that Really Matters: RIP Jasper Howard

Forget football for a second and let your hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and teammates of Jasper Howard.

Howard was tragically stabbed and killed on Saturday night.

Howard was a starting corner for the Huskies.

Conventional wisdom would make you think that UConn should easily get by Louisville this Saturday.  But then again, the way UConn has played in the fourth quarter this season makes you wonder what will happen if this game is tight down the stretch.

It has come out this week that Cody Endres is the No. 1 quarterback on the depth chart.  He has successfully won the job that Zach Frazer won in the preseason.  When asked about Endres' performance in his absence, Frazer responded with a "no comment".

Endres has played well, and last week was 17-of-23 for 189 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions.  He did have a costly fumble on third down that took away at least three points.

Endres has performed better, but he is not a lock to remain the starter the remainder of the season.  If he doesn't play well and win some football games, I don't think head coach Randy Edsall would hesitate to put Frazer behind center.

UConn will most likely be playing without its big leader at linebacker in Scott Lutrus after he reinjured his stinger injury at Pittsburgh.  He changes the dimension of this defense in so many ways.  With his game status in doubt, the Huskies will have to step up the pressure up front and put more trust in the secondary.

This is a weaker Louisville team than it has been in years past, but UConn shouldn't take the Cardinals lightly.  With Steve Kragthorpe struggling to ignite a fire under his team's belt, this could be a trap game for the Huskies.

The UConn defense can't continue to miss tackles and blow coverage in the secondary.  This is conference play and every game has that much importance.  This is a game the Huskies should win quite easily, especially since it's the homecoming game.

The Rent will be sold out and 40,000 strong will be there cheering on the Huskies.  But the slip up against Pittsburgh has to be forgotten as UConn prepares to take the field Saturday at Noon.

Louisville will come in ready to play.  They remember the Larry Taylor infamous "fair catch," that led to a game-changing touchdown in October of 2007.  Don't think Louisville is going to come in here as a cupcake and just fall down.

The Huskies better be prepared for a fight, because that's what every game in the Big East is all about.

Cody Endres will enter this Saturday's game at Heinz Field making his third consecutive start for the UConn Huskies.  After faltering the second half against North Carolina, Endres has gotten the job done as quarterback of the UConn Huskies.

Endres, who will be going back in his home state of Pennsylvania, has really taken his opportunity to lead the Huskies and ran with it.  With Frazier still out due to injury as long as Endres remains healthy and keeps winning football games, this could be his job for the remainder of the season.

We already know the Huskies have a solid defense, and with a new offense in place there is a lot of potential for this passing game to rise to the occasion.  The Huskies certainly were getting the ball up and down the field vertically against the Rams of Rhode Island.

Michael Smith was the first UConn receiver to catch eight passes in a game since Keron Henry did it in the Motor City Bowl all the back in 2004.  He and his counterparts Dwayne Dwifton and Michael Lang have tremendous speed on the outside and in the slot.

There is no question Senior Brad Kunuch has become a solid and dependable wide receiver for the Huskies.  He may not make the big play down the field, but his hand skills are unquestioned.

The list of weapons that Endres has goes on and on.  It is pretty nice when you have two extremely talented backs behind you.  Jordan Todman and Andre Dixon are two of the best backs in the Big East.

So much for all the critics that said UConn was going to have a tough time replacing Donald Brown who went to the Colts in the first round of the NFL Draft.  The offensive line of UConn has experience and leadership.  The blocking they provide up front is what fuels the success in the rushing attack.

Dating back to last year when Endres led the Huskies against eventually BCS Bowl bound Cincinnati he has been a reliable quarterback.  He's big and tough and when he doesn't turnover the football the Huskies are always in it at the end of the game.

Much of the success this weekend in front of a nationally televised audience will be put squarely on the shoulders of Cody Endres.  Personally, I think Cody enjoys that feeling and knows what he has to do to get the job done.

He is not afraid to throw the ball up when given the opportunity.  He put it up 42 times last year in a win over Cincinnati and 37 times in a lost to West Virginia.  If the Huskies go out there and establish the run, watch out for the play action pass.

This will be his first hostile crowd against a Big East opponent.  Both games last year were at home and this is a totally different environment.  Endres has gained some confidence in his play over the last few weeks.  It is going to be essential that he uses it early on and establishes himself against Pittsburgh.

There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding both of these teams.  The Big East as a whole is considered to be a pretty open race as far as the BCS Bid is concerned.  His team is going to get a chance to beat each other up.

Saturday it all starts with Connecticut going into Pittsburgh, led by redshirt Sophomore Cody Endres.  Cody is young and talented, and Coach Edsall knows he has the potential to lead this team to big victories.

Cody, it's your time to go out there and get the job done.  Prove to the nation what UConn Huskies football is all about.

The heart and soul of the UConn defense, Scott Lutrus, was back at practice today and has been upgraded to probable for Saturday's tilt against Pittsburgh.  This would be a huge emotional lift for the Huskies who've been without one of their leading playmakers since he went down with a nerve injury in week one at Ohio.

The Huskies can do attitude will remain led by sophomore quarterback Cody Endres.  Edsall announced him as the starter on Sunday, and Endres looks to continue the success he has had on the field this year.

As far as quarterback Zach Frazer is concerned, he has made strides on his undisclosed knee injury, but has not been cleared to practice yet.  Edsall's logic is he doesn't even know if Frazer will be the the back-up come Saturday.

As long as Frazer is out and is not medically cleared to play, there is no quarterback controversy.  When looking at the numbers between the two quarterbacks, many people believe Endres has won the job on the field.

This Saturday there will be a heavy workload for running backs Andre Dixon and Jordan Todman.  These two are in the top thirty when it comes to rushing yards per game with Dixon averaging just over 90 yards and Todman averaging 99 yards.

No other team has two backs in the top fifty.  That goes to show the hard work and effort the UConn running backs have put in and the production out of one of the best offensive lines in the Big East.

The return of Lutrus this Saturday at Heinz field would be huge for an already proven defense.  The big three in the middle, Wilson, Lloyd, and Lutrus, will be back looking to wreak havoc on a Pittsburgh offense that did some damage to a weaker Louisville Cardinal team last Friday night.

The Huskies believe they have what it takes to win Saturday's game and that is very important.  The game will be aired on ABC at 3:30 and will be another opportunity for people all along the east coast to see what Connecticut has as far as its football team is concerned.

The time is now for UConn to continue the momentum it has generated after a devastating loss at home to North Carolina.  This is the Huskies first conference game and there would be nothing better than going into the Panthers house and pulling out a win.

That can do attitude will play a tremendous role in whether or not the Huskies can perform against a solid big east opponent on the road.  A win and UConn will be building the confidence it needs to continue the success it has had so far this season.

The UConn Huskies have made it through the first four games of their schedule in a solid position.  With a record of three wins and one loss, this team is poised to compete for a Big East title if they can get healthy.

One area that has been hit particularly hard is the middle linebacker position.  The heart of the defense and ultimately the field general on defense has gone down not once, but twice, for this young and talented Husky squad.

It all starts with the Captain Scott Lutrus.  He is an absolute animal on defense and is always found wherever the ball is moving on the field.  Lutrus, who is from Brookfield, Connecticut, occurred a neck stinger in the opener at Ohio.

He has not played since and there is cause for concern whenever you are dealing with a nerve injury.  Lutrus of course wants to be out there for every down in every game, but the doctors have not cleared him medically just yet.

Lutrus has been one of the Huskies top tacklers over his first team two seasons.  He is a leader both on and off the field, and sitting on the sidelines dealing with this injury has been tough.  It is unclear whether he will be able to go next week in Pittsburgh, but knowing him and the hype around this game, I expect him to be ready to go.

Then key UConn reserve Kijuan Dabney had stepped in nicely to fill Lutrus place as the strong-side linebacker.  Dabney, who converted this offseason from safety, was making plays and helping the Huskies defense.

Unfortunately, Dabney re-aggravated a shoulder injury in pregame during Rhode Island.  This is just another injury that the Huskies are going to have to deal with and have someone step up.

It is too bad that Dabney's season is over and this injury will require shoulder surgery.  Dabney, a junior from Texas, was really coming into his own role on the team.  He is a team player and who always does what was in the best interest of the team.

His presence on the field will be missed.  Hopefully the Huskies can get Lutrus back in time for next weeks showdown with Pittsburgh.  UConn is looking to revenge a 34-10 loss at home from last year.

UConn will need to be strong on defense if they plan on starting conference play with a win.  If Lutrus is cleared and ready to go next weekend, it will be a big lift for the Huskies as a whole.

Injuries are certainly part of the game, but it is also an opportunity for someone else to step up.  Linebackers often times can make or break the performance of a teams defense.  Look for Scott Lutrus to come back hungrier than ever on the football field.