October 20, 2009 UCONN coach tells team to play as Jasper Howard would want them to play Play video

(NECN/ESPN) - University of Connecticut football coach Randy Edsall talks about how the team is coping with loss of Jasper Howard.

"There will be a moment of silence before the game," said Edsall. Both teams will embrace with a handshake before the game.

"Now, it's time to go practice...channel our energy into beating West Virginia," said Edsall.

Edsall said some players are coping a lot worse than others.

"I told the kids to go out and practice hard and practice the way that Jas would want us to practice," said Edsall.

Police say Howard was stabbed to death, and another player suffered minor injuries, during an altercation following a dance early Sunday morning.

A Hartford attorney says his client, who expects to be arrested, was fighting with several football players before the stabbing.

Edsall says Howard's mother visited with each player yesterday, and his uncle, a former Miami police officer, advised them not to seek revenge.

*Material from The Associated Press used in this report*