UConn to dedicate Jasper Howard memorial on Nov. 1

September 30, 2014 by Leave a Comment
The late Jasper Howard continues to inspire the UConn campus (File photo)

The late Jasper Howard continues to inspire the UConn campus (File photo)

The UConn football player known by the nickname “Jazz” will forever be memorialized by a statue that will be dedicated Sat., Nov. 1. And in a wonderful gesture, the person who pushed the fund raising project over the top was former UConn coach Randy Edsall.

UConn announced Tuesday that fund raising for the memorial in honor of Jasper Howard has been successfully completed. Dedication will come Sat., Nov. 1 at halftime of UConn’s homecoming game against UCF at Rentschler Field in East Hartford.

Howard lost his life on October 18, 2009 – hours after UConn had defeated Louisville at Rentschler Field on homecoming that season. Howard recorded a career-high 11 tackles in the contest and a fumble recovery. He is a beloved figure on the UConn campus and remembered for the quote, “Play each play like it’s the last play you’ll ever play”

According to a release issued by UConn, funds for the statue were raised in a grassroots fashion with the efforts spearheaded by UConn supporters Dan and Lisa Lowry of Prospect, Conn. The lead gift for the memorial came from Edsall, who was Howard’s coach with the Huskies. Edsall left UConn to become coach at Maryland. Donations also came from former Husky student-athletes and fans from around the country.
“Jasper Howard represented everything that is good about college athletics,” said Edsall. “He loved being a student-athlete at UConn. His tragic death had a bonding reaction with the entire UConn community that none of us will ever forget for the rest of our lives.”
The funding of the memorial is a significant statement for the athletic department.

“I want to thank everyone in the UConn family who made this memorial to the life of Jasper a reality,” said UConn athletic director Warde Manuel. “I especially want to recognize our friends Dan and Lisa Lowry, who came up with the concept for the memorial and worked tirelessly to raise the funds that will make it possible. In addition, we are very grateful to Randy Edsall and his family for their generosity towards this project.”

“The support shown by the UConn community has been heartening,” says Joshua Newton, president and CEO of the University of Connecticut Foundation. “People often turn to philanthropy to remember and honor those we lose too early.”

Funds will continued to be raised for the Jasper T. Howard Endowed Scholarship Fund at UConn, which is presented annually to a cornerback on the Husky football team who best embodies the qualities of Howard. For information on how to contribute to that fund, please visit  this site.

Filed Under: Football Tagged With: , , ,

Speak Your Mind

*