Virginia honors slain football players on emotional day

The University of Virginia played its first home football game on Saturday since three of its players — Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr., D'Sean Perry — were shot and killed on a chartered bus last year that was returning from a university field trip. 

The final two games of the 2022 Virginia football season were cancelled.

All three players were honored with an emotional pre-game ceremony before their game — a 36-35 loss — against James Madison.

A pre-game video tribute narrated by Samuel L. Jackson was played in the stadium, while two permanent monuments to the three players were unveiled. 

Those monuments include plaques for each player on the Legends' Walk in the north end of the Stadium, as well their numbers (1, 15 and 41) inside diamonds on the south end. 

Two other players, including running back Mike Hollins, were also injured in the shooting.

Hollins not only played on Saturday but also scored two touchdowns.