In Memory of Jasper Howard

I did not have the pleasure of knowing Jasper "Jazz" Howard the Jr. cornerback at UConn who was fatally stabbed last weekend following a dance on the Storrs campus. The team had just beat Louisville earlier in the day and Jazz was a starter in the win over the Cardinals. Fast forward a week and another game (28-20 loss to West Virginia on Sat.) and the memory of it all is still very strong.
My heart goes out to Jasper's family, his girl friend (he was going to be a Dad) teammates and all who had the pleasure of knowing the student-athlete from Miami, FL. Having personally lost a child I know the pain and sorrow that the Howard's will go through. But through prayer and time, the loss will become less raw and more manageable. Our blessings and prayers go out to you all!
Some of my best memories were as a coach (asst. strength & conditioning coach) and graduate student at UConn back in 2001-02. I know the student body and the UConn athletic family will come together during this difficult time. The team will fly to Miami on Monday for Jasper's funeral service. The Boston Globe had a photo this morning of Japser's teammate, Robbie Vaughan, who had had the following written on his taped wrists: "LIVE 365"