Connecticut Huskies vs Syaracuse Orange Recap

In the October darkness that followed Jasper Howard's tragic death, the least of the Connecticut Huskies' concerns was to make a bowl game. But now, over a month after a band of brothers was plunged into a maximum of misery and mourning, a postseason prize awaits.

No, a late-December or early-January plane trip won't make life complete again. No, a number of gifts and other freebies from a bowl committee won't chase away all of the Huskies' pain. No, a neutral-site showcase against a non-conference opponent won't adequately compensate for the loss of a cherished and respected teammate. Yet, the earning of a bowl bid - clinched with a 25-point win over Syracuse on Saturday at Rentschler Field - stands as a powerful sign of UConn's resilience and togetherness in a season filled with sadness and struggle.

The visiting Orangemen were no match for Randy Edsall's recruits on a chilly but sunny afternoon in East Hartford, Conn. The Huskies established a 28-17 halftime advantage and never trailed by fewer than 11 points throughout the second half. With running backs Jordan Todman and Andre Dixon combining for 196 yards and four touchdowns on 40 carries, Syracuse had no answer for an ascendant UConn offense that has found its footing in November.

After scoring 45 points at Cincinnati and then 33 versus Notre Dame on Nov. 21, the Huskies - once thought of as just a good defensive team - have now become a potent point-scoring machine. Connecticut's offense was so ruthlessly efficient that Syracuse scored 31 points for the second straight week... and got blown out in the fourth quarter. Syracuse won its only Big East game of the year last weekend against Rutgers, running wild in a 31-13 conquest of Greg Schiano's group. But on this day in New England, another 31-point performance - normally good enough to win for most teams - merely allowed the Cuse to minimize its damages against the blue-shirted juggernaut on the other sideline.

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Because of this supremacy against Syracuse, the kids who comprise the UConn roster can now say that they didn't allow a death in their family to derail their season. These young men can now know that they can persevere in any difficult life situation. These students can now cement their bonds and friendships on their upcoming journey to a bowl destination. A bowl bid shows the world that Jasper Howard provided inspiration, not desolation, for a coaching staff and a remarkable group of players. A bowl bid tells the University of Connecticut that its football team is made of sterner stuff.

This victory over Syracuse - and the attainment of a sixth win in 2009 - doesn't solve all of UConn's problems. With that said, this special accomplishment says so much about a coaching staff, a collection of first-class kids, and a football family that has lived to extend its season for at least another month.

By Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer