MORGANTOWN-Some times no news is good news.
Such is the case surrounding the availability of fifth-year senior quarterback Jarrett Brown for No. 22 West Virginia University as it prepares to re-enter Big East play Saturday when the Huskies from the University of Connecticut invade Milan Puskar Stadium for a noon showdown with the Mountaineers.
"I don't know anything about Jarrett (Brown) except that we met with Dave Kerns this morning, and we all seem to think that he will be day-to-day," WVU head coach Bill Stewart explained during Sunday's teleconference. "I don't know if he will play this weekend or not.
"We will have to see. He won't practice today, and we're just going out in helmets and vests. What's that tell you? That's not good."
The No. 2 rated quarterback in the Big East -throwing for 201.5 yards per game-went down on WVU's fourth play from scrimmage in Saturday's 24-7 win over instate rival Marshall during the fourth annual Friends of Coal Bowl.
Facing a 3rd-and-8 at the WV 49, Brown dropped back to pass.
But, a strong pass rush by the Thundering Herd's front four forced the Mountaineer signal-caller to leave the pocket and run for the first down.
A feat which he accomplished. However, at the end of his 15-yard scramble, he was met head-on by Marshall defensive backs Ashton Hall and DeQuan Bembry. The ensuing collision not only knocked the football out of Brown's control and into the waiting hands of Bembry, but also knocked the Mountaineer quarterback out of the game.
"It was a big time hit," Marshall senior defensive end Albert McClellan explained. "You hate to see anyone get hurt on a hit like that, but it was a big point in the game for us because it forced them (WVU) to go to their backup."
Not only a backup, but a true freshman backup whose only game experience to date was a couple of mop up situations during the team's first five games.
"There wasn't a lot of emotion," offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen explained. "It was, 'what can he execute', and you know that from practice."
The rest will go down in the history of the short-lived Friends of Coal Bowl as Eugene Smith completed 15-of-21 attempts for 147 yards and led the old gold and blue to 24 straight points.
"He (Smith) is pretty good," said McClellan. "They are a pretty good team over there."
Good enough, however, to beat a Connecticut team (4-2, 1-1 Big East) that is coming off a big 38-25 win over Louisville, but also is attempting to deal with a tragedy of its own?
Huskie junior cornerback Jasper Howard died from injuries sustained from a stabbing that occurred on the Storrs campus. UConn police and the Connecticut State Police Major Crime Unit continue to actively investigate the incident.
"I remember Jasper from last year," Stewart said. "I haven't seen a snap from this year, except his playmaking highlights from yesterday prior to our game.
"I remember him leading the Big East in punt returns and him as an absolute terror on special teams. He looked like a leader and emotional, fun-loving guy."
The game is slated to be shown on ESPNU.
