On April 15, the University of Virginia football team returned to Scott Stadium for the first time since the murders of three players in November.
Memorials to Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler, and D’Sean Perry were present throughout this year’s Blue-White spring game, from the opening remarks to the field itself. The end zone beneath the hillside was emblazoned with the players’ names, numbers, and “UVA STRONG,” written boldly in the university’s iconic blue and orange.
Fans were ecstatic to see Mike Hollins—who was wounded in the same attack that killed his teammates—on the field. Despite pre-game concerns about Hollins’ health, the running back was a force to be reckoned with in the scrimmage: He was instrumental in several plays, running the ball early, and later scoring a touchdown for the Blue team in the UVA Strong endzone.
In an emotional celebration of the touchdown, Hollins hugged his younger brother Deuce and placed the football on Perry’s name.
Hollins’ heartfelt gesture reflects the team’s broader goal of “moving forward, but not moving on” after November’s shooting. Throughout the Blue-White game, the team honored the lives of Davis Jr., Chandler, and Perry, but still had fun on the field.
“Once the whistle blows, they put the ball down, nothing else matters,” said Coach Tony Elliott in a post-game interview. “It’s where you can … find peace, where you can find solace. It’s when you step off the field … that reality comes back into perspective.”
Coming together off the field has been an important part of the team’s recovery process. “We would have board game nights. … We didn’t [want to] be alone,” said running back Jack Griese.
“No one else is going through this, only us,” added Griese, who teared up when he spoke about the team’s unique bond.
The players’ strong connection was apparent throughout the game as the teams cheered and taunted one another.
But it was the atmosphere that was most important for them during Saturday’s contest. “We have a chance to change the world today,” Elliott explained, “because a lot of people are tuning in to see … how are the Cavaliers [going to] respond.”
Although some fans fled for cover from mid-game rain, the team continued playing and celebrating, to the delight of the orange-clad faithful who remained in the stands.
From snow angels to land-swimming to elaborate handshakes, there was no shortage of happiness from the UVA football team. Beyond good football, this was exactly what Elliott wanted to bring to Scott Stadium.
“I feel like [the team] did a really good job letting everyone see … their spirit, and their joy, and their fun, and their passion for playing the game, and their appreciation,” Elliott said.
