STORRS, Conn. (AP)—The football coach at the University of Connecticut said Tuesday he’s heard nothing to indicate members of his team were involved in a fight before player Jasper Howard was killed last weekend.Randy Edsall, speaking at his weekly news conference, said there may have been some “verbal jostling,” but he has not been told that his players were fighting.”When I hear ‘fight,’ I usually think of people throwing fists,” Edsall said. “I haven’t got that information. Now young kids, could it be verbal jostling, yeah.”I don’t know of anybody that has substantiated [the fighting]. Now, I think anytime you probably get 300 people together sometimes there probably is going to be some verbal jostling going on.”Police have said Howard was fatally stabbed, and another player suffered minor injuries during a fight outside a university-sponsored dance early Sunday. Nobody has been charged with the stabbing, and UConn police said Tuesday there were no new developments in the investigation.Hartford attorney Deron Freeman said he represents a man whose home has been searched in connection with the fight. The man, whom Freeman would not identify, and several others got into a fight “with about six” UConn football players early Sunday. Freeman said his client did not stab Howard but was present when Howard was mortally wounded.Freeman said Monday that police told his client that he and others would be arrested, but on Tuesday, Freeman said he didn’t know when or if charges would be filed.Howard’s stepfather, Henry Williams, said Tuesday that the family is confident the killer will be brought to justice. Speaking to reporters, Williams also expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love and support the family has received from the Connecticut community.”We have a lot of pain,” Williams said. “We still have hurt, but we can go on now feeling a little better because a lot of our questions have been answered. The captain of the state police told me, ‘The case will be solved,’ and I believe him.”Funeral services were tentatively set for Monday in Florida and Edsall said the team will attend.Williams said Howard, a cornerback from Miami, loved UConn and considered the team his second family. Williams asked UConn’s football players to take a moment to grieve, and then play the rest of the season for his son.Howard’s mother, Joanglia, did not speak, and had to leave the room during Williams’ remarks when she was overcome with emotion.She visited players Monday, Edsall said, and Howard’s uncle, a former Miami police officer, advised them not to seek revenge.Police were asking for the public’s help Tuesday in gathering evidence in the killing, particularly from people who may have taken photos or videos of the fight. The violence broke out just after a fire alarm went off in a student center, forcing around 300 people to evacuate from a dance.Students held a day of silence Tuesday, and the Black Student Association has asked everyone on campus to wear dark clothing Tuesday to indicate the university is united in mourning.The team will wear a sticker with Howard’s initials on its helmets for the rest of the season and will carry his helmet or jersey to away games, Edsall said. West Virginia players also will be wearing helmet stickers with Howard’s number, 6, on them.—-Contact The Daily Reveille’s sports staff at [email protected]
Football: Family, students mourn loss of slain UConn CB Howard
October 20, 2009