The college football world and greater sports world awoke Sunday to the surprising news of the death of Jasper Howard, a starting defensive back on the Connecticut football team.  It has been quite heartening to see everyone rally around the UConn team and offer their support.  We sometimes get too wrapped up in a game and it’s outcome (I know I used to), but events like this remind us of the things that really matter in the big picture.

I’m also heartened to see the overall compassion coming from Mountaineer Nation, set to host the Huskies this Saturday.  We have a fan base whose overall impression is, um, less than stellar nationally, but this week has been filled with stories, posts, and thoughts about honoring Howard and the grief stricken team.  There will be a moment of silence, pregame embraces, and helmet decals aplenty.  I’m reading stories of students selling #6 armbands and sending the proceeds to Howard’s family, the Rubber U vendors donating proceeds, individuals making their own armbands, and I’m sure there’s much I’m missing.

Here’s hoping for a good and safe game Saturday, one to help take the Huskies minds off the tragedy of this weekend and escape to a different world for a few hours.

No surprise….Michael Vick found a home.  A little surprisingly, though, he found one in Philadelphia.  Wow.  Of all the fanbases in the world, only the Iggles fans can chew up a guy hardened by jail time.

I do think he’s served his time for what he did.  He does deserve to earn a living and start putting his life back together.  I do reject that he doesn’t deserve any more suspension time from the NFL since playing professional football is a privilege, not a right.  I don’t buy the Leonard Little/Ray Lewis theorem that says others have done worse and played sooner.  Those cases, if nothing else, should have earned more suspension time from the League than they did.

Oh well.  I hope Jeffrey Lurie and Andy Reid are happy with their newest acquisition.  And I hope they have a lot of Tums on hand….they’re gonna need it.

Two sports videos for the day.

Video one comes from a story link called the Critical Fanatic.  I’ve not read any of their material before, but Fark linked a story over the weekend calling attention to the ACC referees and their love affair with Dook.  The story link shows Blue Devil Jon Scheyer doing quite the shuffle at the end of a recent game, but it gets better – the embedded story shows Dookie Eliot Williams dancing even more agregiously in the back court.

Video two is of Rich Eisen, formerly of ESPN and now of the NFL Network, taking a crack at the 40 yard dash during the recent Combine.  For a guy in a suit his time doesn’t seem too bad, until the 2:30 mark of the video.  And of course, it starts with a good guy.

I’m expecting a little less smugness today, but I’m not counting on it.  Pulled one out of their ass last night.

…please hear my prayers and let the Steelers get their asses kicked Sunday.  It’s getting unbearable around here.

–Hammy