This announcement will make parents of the UConn Huskies football team happy.

ESPN Regional and the Big East Conference announced on Monday afternoon that the game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and UConn Huskies on Saturday, October 31st will kickoff at 12:00 p.m.

The game is the Big East Game of the Week and will be shown locally here in Connecticut on MyTV9.

During the weekly Big East coaches conference call, UConn Huskies head coach Randy Edsall stated that there were two Huskies football players with Jasper Howard.

This from the Hartford Courant during Desmond Conner’s weekly chat:

UConn football coach Randy Edsall said on the weekly conference call with all the Big East coaches on Monday that there were two other football players with Jasper Howard in the moments after he was stabbed. Edsall would not identify the players but said that one cradled Howard in his arms as the other put pressure on the wounds until the EMTs arrived. He said the two players have been given the option of sitting out Saturday’s game at West Virginia.

Edsall also announced that the team will be wearing a JH sticker on their helmets and will be taking Howard’s helmet and jersey to each game this year. Edsall also added that will be picking up Howard’s parents at Bradley Airport.

Chip Malafronte from the New Haven Register has this from the teleconference as well.

Edsall said he will be monitoring at least two players, who he chose not to name, very closely this week. “One had Jasper in his arms,” Edsall said. “The other was pressuring where the wound went in and had blood on his hands. Those two young men I know were pretty deeply affected. I’ve talked to both each day. I’ve got to see where at today and tomorrow. If they don’t feel like mentally they’re ready to play, that’s their decision. I’ll honor whatever decision that they want to make. I know that will be respected by each and every player on our team.”

The medical examiner also reported that Howard died from a single stab wound to the abdomen.

For the second straight week and third time this season, a UConn Huskies football player was honored as the Big East Defensive Player of the Week.

The Big East announced on Monday that Huskies linebacker Lawrence Wilson was chosen as the Big East Defensive Player of the Week.

In UConn’s 38-25 win over Louisville on Saturday, Wilson had sixteen tackles, including one for a loss and a fumble recovery. The sixteen tackles by Wilson were the most by any player in a Big East player this season and his 66 tackles leads the Big East. Wilson ranks 19th nationally averaging eleven tackles per game.

UConn running back Andre Dixon was also honored by the Big East as he was named to the Honor Roll.

Dixon rushed for 153 yards and had a career-high tying three touchdowns.

UConn Football links

Jazz. [Alysa Auriemma]

UConn must somehow move forward [Big East Blog – ESPN.com]

Can’t make sense of violence [John Silver – Journal Inquirer]

What they said about Jasper Howard [Chip Malafronte – New Haven Register]

Rell issues statement over Jasper [Neill Ostrout – Connecticut Post]

A few words about Jasper [Neill Ostrout – Connecticut Post]

Ex-teammate stunned by Howard’s death [Connecticut Post]

UConn football player stabbed to death [Connecticut Post]

For UConn’s Edsall, a ‘son’ taken away [Connecticut Post]

Jasper Howard timeline [Connecticut Post]

UConn Football Player Jasper Howard Stabbed To Death On Campus [Hartford Courant]

Jasper Howard Was On Track For Success [Hartford Courant]

Texts, Internet Alert Students To Howard Tragedy [Hartford Courant]

A Terrible Loss In Storrs [Hartford Courant]

Video: In Miami, Jasper Howard’s Mother Mourns [FOX61.com]

Huskies mourning teammate [Norwich Bulletin]

Police hunt UConn cornerback’s killer [Norwich Bulletin]

UConn football player stabbed to death during fight on campus [New Haven Register]

Cornerback called loyal, loving [New Haven Register]

UConn football player killed on campus [Waterbury Republican-American]

Huskies rally around fallen teammate [Waterbury Republican-American]

Football player’s slaying rocks UConn [New London Day]

A death in the UConn football family [New London Day]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Huskies land a prized recruit [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

Kaleena Lewis will be a Husky [John Altavilla – New Haven Register]

Mosqueda-Lewis Commits To UConn [Rich Elliott – Connecticut Post]

Calif. junior commits to UConn women [Connecticut Post]

Top recruit commits to Huskies [New Haven Register]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

UConn Grizzlies defeats UConn Pistons [UConn Huskies Basketball]

Other UConn related links

Women’s Soccer: Huskies Bounce Back With 2-1 Victory Over DePaul [UConnHuskies.com]

Courtesy of Desmond Conner of the Hartford Courant are the words spoken by UConn Huskies punter Desi Cullen on the passing of his teammate Jasper Howard.

“First of all, I’m speaking on behalf of the team, not myself or any individual, but as a part of this family.

The team, since early this morning, we’ve been grieving quite a bit. I came here thinking that the toughest part was over and it was about being there for each other and moving on but obviously not. That just goes to show you the bond you create and that Jazz created and the impact he made. Not only on me but every individual in this program – the players that left like D-But (Darius Butler) and the players that just came in.

Before this morning, people may have looked at him as a teammate, as a friend but ever since he stepped foot on this campus he was our brother. A lot of guys on this team come from tougher backgrounds, that may not have the family support of other people but when you come here, invest the time and effort for as long as we do, you create a bond that can never be broken – that’s thicker than blood. That’s one of the things Jazz achieved while he was here, building a bond that will never be broken and never be forgotten.

Hearing the news that he’s a father breaks my heart. The idea that he will grow up without his father tears me apart, just to think what it would be like for that young child. But as Jazz looks down on us I can promise him and his family that son or daughter will have 105 uncles for the rest of its life. And we will do what it takes to not get through this but to grow from it because we’re not just going to get through it. We’re going to take something away from it, every single player on this team will take something away from this experience and we will all grow from this experience and become better men because of Jazz .”

During his weekly Sunday press conference, West Virginia head coach Bill Stewart offered his condolences to Jasper Howard’s family and UConn on the passing of Howard. The Mountaineers will host the Huskies next Saturday in Morgantown.

First and foremost, I would like to start with a very sincere, heartfelt condolence statement by the Mountaineer football staff, and most importantly the team and the whole West Virginia nation, to the situation up with the UConn football family.

To Jasper Howards’ family in Florida, to Coach Randy Edsall and his coaching staff and to all of Jaspers’ teammates – we are absolutely heartbroken for you.

We are just stunned, as the nation is, regarding what happened on that campus in the early morning hours today after such a tremendous game he played yesterday (at Louisville).

I remember Jasper from last year. I haven’t seen a snap from this year, except his playmaking highlights from yesterday prior to our game. I remember him leading the BIG EAST in punt returns and him as an absolute terror on special teams. He looked like a leader and emotional, fun-loving guy.

I’m just sick for Randy and Jasper’s family. My god, how short and sweet life is and what we take for granted.

This has been weighing heavily in our hearts. Your West Virginia players are visibly upset at this time. They knew this man. I will certainly address this situation today and the short, but wonderful life of Jasper Howard.

I don’t have much to say on the Marshall game. We have watched the film and met as a staff. We have five wonderful recruits in with their families, and it’s a very hectic weekend.

Anytime you can win a football game against a winning, IA, 4-2 football team is good. That team is on the rise. Mark Snyder has that Marshall football team on the rise. Let me assure you, he and his staff’s diligent patience and planning made yesterday’s game possible. His players are buying in. That was very good to get that tough game behind us, and I’m proud of our players.

We have a tough game coming up this week. I don’t know how this week will go or how this poor tragedy will affect everything. We’ll have to talk about that later because I am not mentally prepared to right now. I can’t imagine what Randy is going through. I’m visibly shaken by this situation, and I don’t have a whole lot to say today.

(on what will happen with the UConn game)
We will do whatever needs to be done. It’s been a rough morning. I balled this morning. I’ve met with one of my superiors. I’ve been in conversation with my two immediate bosses. We’ve discussed some gestures we’re going to do, and we’re going to have a call with the BIG EAST soon.

I’m very good friends with Randy. I can’t imagine what that football family and the Howard family is going through.

We have some measures we’ve discussed, and we want to make sure we clear everything through the proper BIG EAST channels. There have been serious and heartfelt conversations by the Mountaineers already this morning regarding this tragedy.

Let’s wait and see and let the universities talk.

I’m very proud of our football team. I love each and every one of them dearly. This is when it’s a time of family and hanging in there as a group is important. We have to realize how lucky we are to live in this great world.