Virginia honors slain players in memorial service on campus - Danbury News Times

HANK KURZ Jr., AP Sports Writer

Nov. 19, 2022Updated: Nov. 19, 2022 6:39 p.m.

“Only clip volition uncover God's intent successful this adversity. ... Going guardant I’m assured that each 3 are rejoicing successful paradise, speaking bully things connected behalf of each of america successful mentation for the clip we volition each beryllium unneurotic again,” first-year caput manager Tony Elliott said.

Athletic manager Carla Williams shared stories she heard this week from household members of the players and said the calamity “has pushed maine to my limits.”

“We are amended and volition bash amended due to the fact that we volition marque definite their legacies ne'er slice astatine the University of Virginia,” she vowed.

The work astatine John Paul Jones Arena came connected a time erstwhile the Cavaliers had been scheduled to play No. 23 Coastal Carolina, but opted alternatively to grant their fallen teammates arsenic good arsenic injured subordinate Mike Hollins and different pupil who was shot.

Several Cavaliers took part. Placekicker Justin Duenkel offered an opening prayer, linebacker Hunter Stewart work the Langston Hughes poem “Life is Fine” and antiaircraft extremity Jack Camper offered the closing prayer. In between, administrators and teammates of the slain men offered stories and reflections astir their shot brothers.

Perry was “destined to beryllium large successful everything helium did,” antiaircraft tackle Aaron Faumui said. He added that Perry often reminded him that “life was much important than football.”

In a missive to Chandler, Cody Brown told him that “you lit our lives up similar a shining prima successful the sky” and said, “We emotion you truthful overmuch and cognize you're smiling down connected america from heaven.”

Coach Marques Hagans said Davis was humble with a radiant grin and “determined to beryllium a large illustration for his younger sister and brother.”

Teammate Chico Bennett offered a connection for Hollins and Marlee Morgan, the injured student, neither of whom was successful attendance: “We emotion you. We got you. The travel begins.”

Kicker Will Bettridge shared that once, connected the sideline, Perry told him helium was going to archer his kid to play that presumption due to the fact that kickers person truthful small to do.

“A portion of my beingness was taken from maine and from the Cavaliers community,” Bettridge said.

University president Jim Ryan said the shootings “changed our world” and portion helium and others volition mourn the games that the students volition ne'er get to play, “we volition find spot again together.”

The players were killed past Sunday aft a tract travel to Washington, D.C. Former Virginia shot subordinate Christopher Darnell Jones Jr. is faces 3 counts of second-degree execution and different charges. The shootings acceptable disconnected a manhunt and 12-hour field lockdown earlier Jones was apprehended.

The fishy was ne'er mentioned during the astir two-hour service.

Mourners were allowed successful an hr earlier the scheduled commencement of the work and heard philharmonic performances from schoolhouse choral groups and the MLK Community Choir. Photos of the players arsenic children and successful enactment connected the tract scrolled crossed the video board.