Change of direction

I was going to post some football thoughts today and respond to a comment on here, but the day's events make all that seem out of place. Yes I covered a soccer game today because the girls deserve it, but arguing about things like playcalling can wait a day.
I know many of you who read this blog think of UConn as the "evil empire," but I truly hope you're understanding today. Remember that what happened today goes beyond rivalries and sports jealousies. What happened today is about a life that should have had 50-plus years to go ending over something we'll never understand, even if the "reason," as if there can be such a thing, comes out.
Also remember that football teams, particularly college ones, spend as much, if not more, time with each other than they do their own families. They ARE families. What those 104 other kids are going through, and what Jasper Howard's blood family is going through today is unimaginable.
And yet, the games must go on. And so I propose two things:
1) First, hard as it may be, try and remember that these are just games kids play. Life is more important. When they set up some kind of fund for Jasper's unborn child, think about chipping in. If you read about his family, they seem like a great group. His sister overcame menengitis.
2) Remember the 104 kids who will try and play a football game Saturday. I can't ask Blue Devil Nation to root for Huskies. I'm not asking you to root for a uniform. I'm not asking you to root for the scoreboard to say anything in particular come Saturday. But root for those kids. Root for them to find the strength to get through a week no one should, let alone 20-year old kids. Root for them to play with the passion and skill necessary to pay brilliant tribute to their friend.
Root for Jasper Howard's families. Both of them.