Reflecting on Casey Cochran Decision

@MattSchonvisky

It was a sad day at UCONN yesterday, as it was revealed that QB Casey Cochran is retiring from the game he has worked so hard for. Following a fourth concussion, a consensus was made among his family, doctors and UCONN, that this was the best option for his long-term health and quality of life. I’m sure we will hear from Casey during today’s media availability, but let’s look back at what Cochran brought during his football playing career, in Connecticut.

Casey is a record-holder at every level from his time as a two-time state champion at New London (2008) and Masuk (2010), to the single-game passing record (461 yards) at UCONN, which came during a 45-10 win over Memphis to close out 2013.

Casey’s Connecticut High School Records:

Passing Yards – 10,767 yards (3,057 yards more than 2nd place)

Completions – 635 (148 more than 2nd place)

Touchdowns – 112 (27 more than 2nd place)

Attempts – 986 (48 more than 2nd place)

Gatorade State Player of the Year – 2 (only player with multiple recognition’s)

It is clear that Casey will remain in the game, as he wants to pursue a career in coaching, following his father Jack, who went 160-24-2 as a head coach in the state. Talking with Casey, he possesses the leadership and demeanor to be successful in coaching. Following his final collegiate game against BYU, he commented on the positives that could be drawn from the game.

“I was impressed with how we fought back and we kept fighting until the end of the game,” he said. “It’s important that we played as hard as we could until the end and I saw that. I saw us taking the field the same way as we did at the beginning of the game. I saw guys finishing blocks. I saw guys catching the ball the same way throughout and that’s a good thing. Coming off the field it’s frustrating with a loss, but it’s a different feeling from last year’s first game and I can see where this offense and this team can go and it’s good places.”

UCONN is going to honor his scholarship until graduation and Casey will remain on the sidelines with the Huskies.

His decision, while tough, is a smart one and it should come as no surprise for someone who was on the 2013 AAC All-Academic team. 

Casey committed to UCONN on August 7, 2011 and is on track to graduate in two years.

How UCONN moves on from the loss is a conversation for another day. Today, as the media gathers in Storrs, the focus should be solely on him, despite the fact that the leader in him, will not want to divert attention from his teammates.

by