Randy Edsall used emotion to fire up the UConn Huskies for the biggest game in the team's history.
During warm-ups for Saturday's Fiesta Bowl, junior wide receiver Kashif Moore wore his usual number 82, but when he returned from the locker room at game time, Moore was wearing the number 6 jersey of murdered teammate Jasper Howard. Howard was stabbed to death on campus in Oct. 2009. No one has worn the number 6 for the Huskies since Howard's death. The move was apparently a plan devised by Edsall, and known to only him, Moore, and the equipment manager until the game began.
Even with the memory of Howard fresh in the players' minds, it was not enough for UConn to overcome a powerful Oklahoma offense.
The Sooners scored two touchdowns in the first quarter behind a strong performance from quarterback Landry Jones to lead 14-0 early. UConn had a chance in the first quarter, but tailback Robbie Frey was stopped on a 4th and inches situation in Oklahoma territory.
UConn's first score came on a Dwayne Grantz interception returned 46 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. That brought the Huskies within a touchdown at 14-7. UConn held the Sooners to two field goals in the second quarter, and kicker Dave Teggart tacked on his own field goal to go into halftime with Oklahoma leading UConn 20-10.
The second half began much the way the first half did, with the Sooners scoring two touchdowns early. With Oklahoma ahead 34-10, UConn answered on the ensuing kickoff as Frey ran it back 95 yards for a touchdown. Another field goal brought UConn within two touchdowns, but that was as close as the Huskies could get.
Oklahoma's Jones added another touchdown to his impressive performance, and a late interception of UConn quarterback Zach Frazer, returned for touchdown brought the final score to 48-20.
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UConn ended the season without scoring an offensive touchdown in its final two games.
