The Cavaliers canceled their scheduled game last Saturday against Coastal Carolina at Scott Stadium to allow team members, coaches and staff as well as their families and those of slain players to attend the service.
Perry’s funeral is Saturday in Miami, which means the cancellation of the game against Virginia Tech will allow his teammates to attend. Chandler’s funeral is scheduled for Sunday in Virginia Beach, and Davis’s is scheduled for Nov. 30 in South Carolina.
Virginia ends its season 3-7. Virginia Tech’s year ends with a 3-8 mark.
“My job is to lead in times like this,” Cavaliers first-year coach Tony Elliott said last week during a press conference with athletic director Carla Williams. “I had moments where I broke down and showed my emotions, and I even had those moments in front of the team. I think it’s important that we all grieve.
The team has been trying to come to terms with their unimaginable loss since the tragedy sparked a manhunt for Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., who was apprehended the next morning in Henrico County. He faces second degree murder and other charges.
Jones, 23, was a football player for one semester in 2018, and his time on the team under then-coach Bronco Mendenhall did not coincide with those of the players killed or that of Mike Hollins Jr., the junior running back recently. discharged from hospital after several surgeries.
The shooting has left many questions unanswered about the motive as the investigation continues into the past of Jones, who was convicted of a concealed weapons violation in 2021, school officials said.
The Charlottesville community took a step towards healing last weekend in a tribute that drew more than 9,000 people and included remarks from Elliott, Williams, school president Jim Ryan and players .
“For me, the best coping mechanism is young men,” Elliott said. “Having the chance to be around them and see them, and see their pain, see their hurt just inspires me to keep moving forward every day.”
Davis, an occasional starter at wide receiver, hasn’t played in the Cavaliers’ last two games while in concussion protocol. He was on the field for an overtime loss to Miami on October 29, when he finished with a reception for 47 yards. During the season, the 6-foot-7 junior had 16 catches for 371 yards and two touchdowns after missing all of last year with a torn ACL suffered in spring training.
Perry, a junior linebacker, played in the Cavaliers’ last game on Nov. 12, recording two tackles in a 37-7 loss to Pittsburgh at Scott Stadium. He has appeared in six games this season. In all, he played 15 games over three seasons and had nine tackles.
Chandler, a junior, hasn’t played in any games this season after being traded from Wisconsin.
“The rules are permissive,” Williams said of the NCAA allowing players to attend memorial services. “We will do whatever it takes to help our players heal and support the families of our three players.”
Comments are closed.