"The mother and the father went around and hugged those kids crying," Edsall said Tuesday. "It let them know it’s nobodies fault, nothing they could have done. It’s Gods way with what he wanted to do. They spoke about Jazz. Spoke about Jazz’s love for each of them, Jazz’s love for the university, for life, and what Jazz would want them to do and how to carry on. It preceded to where the mom and the dad hugged every kid. Hugged, every kid.”
Edsall watched from the background as his suffering team tried to heal.
“You could see the tears dry up. You could see the faces start to shine a little more and see more color come to the faces of these kids.”
It was another difficult day for UConn Monday and as they began practice Tuesday it was a time to get back to work.West Virginia, the biggest task of the season awaits. Edsall has to be the task master here. When the Huskies hit the practice field it's going to be all business.
"I will be screaming and hollering and getting after their ass," Edsall said. "We are going to practice like we always practice. It’s practice time, when you get in those meeting its business. We =got to go win a game."
"That practice the intensity will be high. We are going to do inside run, do goal line and pop the pads."
"We got to get them back to being normal. That isn’t cruel or anything. They heard it from Jazz’s family, it’s ok to do that.”
In a heartbreaking moment the Howard family spoke to the media. Henry Williams, Jasper's step dad, spoke for the family. His mother Joanglia Howard was there as was an uncle David Donaldson.
Williams spoke about Jazz's love of football and life. He spoke emotionally about how Jazz loved the state and thanked everyone for the support they showed the family. He said Connecticut was good for Jazz.
Joanglia Howard tried to fight back tears the entire time, and the pain on her face and in her heart won't go away anytime soon. Williams tried to rally the troops and told the players to go out and win for Jazz this season. And, when he mentioned it would be great if the Huskies could make the Orange Bowl the tears began to well in Ms. Howard's eyes. She left the defensive meeting room.
Jazz loved playing football. The Orange Bowl in Miami is a homecoming that he dreamed about.
Other notes:
*As far as depth chart, Marcus Easley, who isn't sure he will be ready to play as he mourns Howard's death, is the starter at wide receiver. Blidi Wreh Wilson will start in Jazz's spot at corner while Robert McClain and Nick Williams will be in the mix to replace Howard at punt return.
*The Huskies will have a photo and inscription of Jazz in the Burton Complex that will be visible right when you walk in. West Virginia will have the No. 6 sticker of Howard on their helmets for Saturday's game.
*Howard's closet friends ate taking it hard, while others are still in shock at how he died. Football is a close knit team and getting out to practice is probably the best for the team.
*Edsall also said he would start a foundation the Jasper Fund or the Jazz Fund. Purpose would be to help inner city youth go to college. Howard wouldn't have went to college if it weren't for athletics. Edsall wants to fund to help non-athletes in those situations get to college and improve their lives.
Lots more later, have a lot of other work to do.
As always, got to pay the bills.
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