UConn football coach Randy Edsall speaks to students at a vigil for Jasper Howard. Photo by WTIC's Matt Dwyer.

Posted: Wednesday, 21 October 2009 9:24PM

Storrs Vigil Honors Slain UConn Football Player

Matt Dwyer Reporting

Several teamates of slain UConn football player Jasper Howard appeared on stage at a vigil in his honor at dusk outside the student union.

The players and the students in the crowd at the Storrs ceremony gave a hand signal representing Howard's home town of the Little Haiti neighborhood in Miami.

Referring to his slain teamate's unform number, player Kijuan Dabney said a prayer.

"Six, you know we love you," Dabney said. "Play every play like it's your last,and live every day like it's your last, and we are going to hold it down for you, Six. We love you little bro. Amen."

Dabney gave a UConn jacket with a picture of Howard and signatures from the players to coach Randey Edsall, saying Edsall had lost a son.

Edsall said Howard left no regrets on the field, and had grown in his years at UConn.

Howard was stabbed to death outside of a dance that was held at the student union, just hours after he played in Saturday's football game.

The tears of some students in the crowd could be seen in the light of candles they carried. A row of white candles wrapped in black fabric stood on the stage.

After dark, about a thousand students carried candles to a nearby pond. They ringed the water, then blew out the flames.