The last time the Virginia football team played an opponent at Scott Stadium, the Hoos’ world was shattered a little more than 30 hours later. On Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, team members Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr., and D’Sean Perry were killed in a tragic shooting after returning to Grounds from a school field trip.
The days, weeks, and months since have been spent grieving and healing, while also trying to prepare to play football again. Each step move forward toward some form of normalcy on the field comes with milestones, though. Return to the weight room. Beginning winter workouts. Spring practice. Spring Game. Summer preparations. ACC Kickoff. Preseason.
Last week, UVA played its first regular season game since last year’s tragedy. That game took place in Nashville, some eight hours from Charlottesville. At noon on Saturday, Virginia returns to Scott Stadium to face James Madison and while the program did hold its annual Spring Game and preseason practices in its home venue, this will feel much different.
Not only is there another team now on the opposing sidelines, but the University of Virginia and the football program will honor the lives of Chandler, Davis, and Perry as respectfully as possible on Friday and Saturday. Ceremonies are planned for both days. The players, coaches, and supporters will need to navigate it all while also preparing for the game.
“You’ve got to compartmentalize and be strategic with the hours in the day and know when you need to focus on football,” Virginia coach Tony Elliott said. “They also have academics that they’ve got to continue to focus on, and then also spending the appropriate amount of time mentally preparing themselves for the emotional, you know, roller coaster that they’re going to have late in the week and also on Game Day. So it’s a delicate balance. You want to make sure that you fill all the buckets properly. Like I said, there is no formula. So when we’re doing football or focusing on football and then we step away from football, we try to be present in the moment so that we can capture the moment and be ready for this weekend.”
The University will honor the three players on Friday with a memorial tree planting and plaque dedication on the Arts Grounds on Culbreth Road between Ruffin Hall and the Drama Education building. That location is near where the shooting took the lives of Chandler, Davis, and Perry. UVA President Jim Ryan will speak along with Athletics Director Carla Williams and Rector Robert Hardie. A live stream of the event is planned.
On Saturday morning, the Cavaliers will participate in their traditional Wahoo Walk. That begins at 9:45 a.m. for the noon game. Family members and friends of Chandler, Davis, and Perry will join the team.
Virginia will also hold a pregame ceremony dedicated to the lost players’ and their families. That is scheduled for approximately 11:30 a.m. Additionally, the field will include the markings in the north end zone that feature the players’ 1, 15, 41 numbers and their names on the boundary.
Given the emotions sure to surround those events in addition to feelings in the locker room away from the public eye as they prepare to take the field, the Hoos know their will be a lot of energy and emotion invested this weekend. Virginia has asked fans to make it an Orange out (the first 35,000 fans to enter the stadium will be given orange “UVA Strong” t-shirts) and to arrive early to be supportive during the pregame ceremony.
Coach Elliott said he would love to see a packed house to honor the lives of Chandler, Davis, and Perry. He said the team will also need – not just want – the support.
“I would like to see a packed house, a sell-out, and everybody showing up in orange and supporting,” Elliott said. “Obviously we’re there for the game in support of our players on the field, but also, when you think about the reality of it, three young men, man, they are no longer here. It’s difficult for me. Some days are harder than others, right, and same for those players and the staff. I can’t imagine what it’s like for their families dealing with it. We have an opportunity as a community, as a football program, fan base to pay respect to the three young men, their families, and then also the other 125 guys that have chosen to stay the course, do what’s difficult, and show up every single day. So my expectation is that everybody shows up and supports these guys and helps these guys have some peace, kind of have some – this is a big day, right? It’s a big day. It’s a big milestone, and I can only imagine because I know for me there’s been anxiety leading up to it. I can only imagine what it’s like for the players and the families. So we’re going to need the fans. I mean, we need the support, and so I would like to see everybody show up in orange and cheer these guys on and be a part of the services that are going to take place before kickoff.”
Virginia and JMU have not played a football game in 40 years so given that time gap as well as the Dukes’ move up to the Football Bowl Subdivision, the Hoos expect a game filled with competitive spirit too. The message to the team will be similar to other milestone steps along the way – go about your business in a way that uplifts their memories. If the Wahoos can play well, play hard, and play to the end, that honors the legacies of Chandler, Davis, and Perry.
“I’m excited to be back in front of our fans just to extend my gratitude to them for all the support that they’ve given us throughout the course of this journey since last November. You know, hoping that that is going to bring some, as you said, some ease to our players because it’s going to be emotional. I mean, there’s no way around it, and it should be, right?” Elliott said. “Obviously, everything that’s going to be done is what needs to be done, what’s supposed to be done in this situation. Then the best way that we can play our part as a team is to go out and play well, and that’s my message to the guys. The administration is doing everything they’re supposed to do and need to do to honor Lavel, Devin, and D’Sean, to honor their families the way they’re supposed to, and then we need to go out and honor them by the way that we play. And, again, outcome will take care of itself, but I’m just more interested in seeing these guys lay it on the line because that’s what those three would want.”
