UConn’s Lawrence Wilson named Big East Defensive Player of the Week

Junior linebacker Lawrence Wilson was named the league's defensive standout. UConn photo.

A week after senior defensive back Robert Vaughn earned this singular recognition for his two interceptions against Pittsburgh, it was announced Monday [Oct. 19] that junior linebacker Lawrence Wilson was named the league’s defensive standout for this past weekend’s game, based on his 16 tackles and a fumble recovery in a 38-25 win over Louisville.

The 16 tackles (Wilson’s high is 17 against Virginia in 2007) are the most credited to a Big East player this season.

According to the UConn athletics department, “Wilson leads the Big East with 66 tackles this season and is ranked 19th in the nation, averaging 11 tackles a game.”

UConn’s redshirt senior running back Andre Dixon was named to the conference Honor Roll based on his three touchdowns against Louisville.

He carried the ball a career-high 33 times and picked up 153 yards to help the Huskies gain a much-needed advantage in time of possession.

“Andre is just a workhorse,” said UConn head coach Randy Edsall after Saturday’s game. “He’s been there in the tough times for us and we know we can count on guys like Andre and Marcus [senior receiver Marcus Easley] to come through when we need them.”

This Saturday (Oct. 24), the Huskies travel to Morgantown for a noontime kickoff against West Virginia which is scheduled to be televised by ESPNU.

Posted Oct. 20, 2009

Events planned to memorialize slain UConn student

Although University of Connecticut students have been dealing with the murder of football star Jasper Howard their own way, university officials have organized several events this week to help them grieve.

Howard, 20, of Miami, died Sunday morning [Oct. 18] after he was stabbed following an altercation at a school dance outside the Student Union building.

He died of one stab wound to the abdomen, the state’s Chief Medical Examiner said on Monday. His death has been ruled a homicide.

Students, as well as non-students, have been joining countless Facebook groups to memorialize Howard.

Facebook is a popular social networking web site open to anyone and allows for people to communicate online (at www.Facebook.com.)

In addition to giving their condolences and remembering Howard online, impromptu vigils have begun popping up around campus with students coming together to support one another – including two Monday evening, one hosted by UConn football players.

University-sponsored events include:

• Today: A “Day of Silence” hosted by the Black Student Association. Students and others connected to the university are asked to wear dark clothing and unite in mourning the loss of Howard.

• Oct. 21: A candlelight vigil on the Student Union Mall, off Hillside Road, at 6 p.m. The university will provide candles for the event.

• Oct. 22: A “Day of Reflection,” from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Student Union lobby. There, people are asked to write a note or a letter in Howard’s memory. The notes will be given to Howard’s family.

• Oct. 23: A second “Day of Reflection.” In addition to the current events scheduled, a formal all-campus memorial service will be scheduled in the upcoming weeks.

Less than 24 hours before his death, Howard helped lead the Huskies to a win over Louisville at Rentschler Field during UConn’s homecoming weekend.

Celebrating the win, Howard attended a university-sponsored dance at the Student Union.

During the event, a fire alarm was pulled and more than 300 students and non-students were forced to evacuate the building.

Once outside, an altercation between students and non-students resulted in Howard and another university student being stabbed. According to the Connecticut Post, Brian Parker, another football player, was the student stabbed.

Parker was treated and released from Windham Community Memorial Hospital.

News reports also indicate that there is an arrest pending, although it is not clear whether the suspect is accused of the assault or was otherwise involved in the fight.

Posted Oct. 20, 2009

Suspect questioned in UConn student's murder

While University of Connecticut police remain tightlipped regarding the investigation of football star Jasper Howard’s murder, one Hartford lawyer said this morning he is representing a potential suspect.

Deron Freeman, an injury lawyer, said he is representing a Bloomfield man who is not a student at the university. Freeman would not identify his client by name.

According to Freeman, UConn police came to his client’s home at 5:30 a.m. Sunday [Oct. 18] and asked him to come to the university’s police department for questioning. His client went voluntarily, he said.

Freeman said once the man was questioned for nearly six hours in Storrs, the man’s parents became “wary” and called Freeman to assist them and their son.

“Apparently, [UConn police] are looking at him as a suspect in the stabbing,” Freeman said this morning. However, he said, his client denies any involvement in the stabbing.

Freeman said police have indicated they have evidence linking his client to the incident and have an eyewitness.

Freeman said he was “not sure” if – or when – there would be an arrest warrant issued for his client, but he is preparing for court if his client is arrested. “If an arrest warrant came out, I would represent him,” Freeman said.

According to Freeman, a search warrant was also issued by UConn police, but he is not sure if they found evidence or confiscated anything.

The warrant was specifically for his client’s residence. He said his client willingly allowed them to search the property. “He is offering full cooperation and assisting police in [finding] whoever did this,” he said.

Multiple media reports surfaced Monday that a Hartford man was arrested by university police but is not considered a suspect in the case.

UConn Police Lt. Andrew Fournier said there are no “new updates” available from police this morning. He said any new information will be disseminated through press releases.

In regards to Freeman or his client, Fournier said he could not comment on the ongoing investigation.

UConn Police Maj. Ronald Blicher did issue an e-mailed statement late this morning on the status of the murder probe.

“The police investigation task force is making positive progress to solve this crime due to the efforts of many people from the community coming forward with information; including photos and video that are pertinent to the investigation,” Blicher wrote. “The investigation task force believes that more information may still be available and is requesting those that have not come forward already to please do so now.

“To this end, we are requesting that all images, photos and video taken both inside and outside of the Student Union on the night of the stabbing incident be submitted to investigators for review. This can include images that you took or that someone else has given to you.  Remember that no image is insignificant.”

Howard, 20, a starting cornerback for the Huskies, was stabbed outside UConn’s Student Union at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday.

He was attending a party sponsored by the West Indian Student Organization when a fire alarm was pulled at 12:26 a.m. The alarm forced more than 300 people to evacuate the building, said university police.

Once outside, there was a fight between two groups of people that police say involved students and non-students. Howard was stabbed and later found by a UConn police officer, along with another victim.

Howard was transported to Windham Community Memorial Hospital via ambulance and then transferred to St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford via Life Star helicopter. He was pronounced dead at St. Francis.

The other UConn student was treated and released from Windham Community Memorial Hospital without serious injury, said police.

The Connecticut Post has identified that student as 19-year-old Brian Parker, a wide receiver for UConn’s football team.

In an incident apparently related to the fight that night, the state judicial web site cites Johnny Fitzgerald Hood, born in 1988, was arrested by UConn police Sunday for interfering with a police officer and second-degree breach of peace. He is next scheduled to appear Nov. 10 and is awaiting plea. Hood was released on $10,000 bond.

Anyone with information on the killing is asked to call UConn police at 486-4800 or the UConn Police Tip Line at 486-4444, or e-mail the investigation’s task force at CrimeAlerts@uconn.edu.

Posed Oct. 20, 2009

More MMS students staying home sick this week

The number of Mansfield Middle School students staying home with the flu or other illnesses has been gradually increasing over the last several days, according to a notice emailed to parents today.

MMS Principal Jeff Cryan writes: “During the past two days, we have seen an increase in the number of ill and absent students.  Until Monday, Oct. 19, we had seen attendance in the 94% to 98% range every day. On Monday, we had 95 students absent (17% of the school population).  Nine students were sent home during the day because they were sick at school. On Tuesday, 10/20, we have 90 students absent (15% of the school population), and we have sent home five students, as of noontime.”

Cryan states that the predominant symptoms are a fever over 100 degrees F. and a cough.

Students are being told what they can do to try to avoid becoming sick.

“Here at school, we continue to promote personal hygiene and respiratory etiquette.  We are in daily contact with our regional health district coordinator.  We are following the regional health district plan, which has been developed following state and national guidelines.”

He adds that school nurses are working with the Eastern Highlands Health District to monitor the absentee numbers, identify trends and determine the course of action. And he reminds parents that if their child is sick, please keep him or her home out of consideration to others.

“October and November typically mark the start of cold and flu season. The most effective way to protect people from the flu and other illnesses is to keep sick people away from healthy people.  If your child is sick, you must keep your child home.  Staying home when sick stops the spread of the flu and other illnesses and helps the sick person get well,” he says.

He also reminds parents of these guidelines:

Check your child every morning before sending him or her to school:

If your child has both: Fever* (100º F or 37. 8ºC) AND sore throat or cough. Then you must keep your child home from school and child care until at least 24 hours after he or she is free of fever, or signs of fever, without the use of fever-reducing medications. Your child might have the flu.  Other symptoms can include runny nose, body aches, vomiting, and diarrhea.

But if your child only has

fever* alone, OR

vomiting or diarrhea, OR

sore throat or new cough with no fever

Then you must keep your child home from school and child care until symptoms are gone for 24 hours.

[*If you don't have a thermometer, feel your child's forehead with your hand. If it is much warmer than usual, your child probably has a fever.]

“If your child comes to school with the symptoms of flu… or if your child develops these symptoms when they get to school, your child will be sent home until they are fever free for 24 hours,” Cryan says. “If we all do our part, most of us will stay well.”

Posted Oct. 20, 2009