Virginia honors slain football players with pregame ceremony - ESPN

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Virginia honored Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr., D'Sean Perry and their families with a pregame video tribute and permanent memorial inside Scott Stadium on Saturday before kickoff against James Madison.

Chandler, Davis and Perry were shot and killed on a charter bus last November after returning to campus from a school field trip. Two others, including running back Mike Hollins, were shot and survived. The game Saturday marked their first home game since the tragedy, after the final two games of the 2022 season were canceled.

The video, narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, paid tribute to all three players and the legacies they leave behind. Members of all three families stood on the sideline and watched the video board, while the entire Virginia football team stood in the end zone and watched.

Four parachuters then came into the stadium, each one carrying a flag representing the players' numbers: 1, 15 and 41, in addition to a Virginia Strong flag. Representatives from all three families were recognized — including Davis and Perry's parents, and Chandler's uncles. Athletic director Carla Williams stood at midfield with the families.

Virginia then unveiled two permanent memorials: Plaques for each player on the Legends' Walk in the north end of Scott Stadium, and the numbers 1, 15 and 41 inside diamonds on the south end.

Hollins, as he did last week, led the team onto the field — this time carrying a Virginia Strong flag. The entire team knelt in the end zone painted with the phrase Virginia Strong and the numbers 1, 15 and 41. Hollins represented his team for the coin toss, in addition to Davis and Perry's parents, Chandler's uncles and Hollins' parents.

The tributes began on Friday afternoon, when an