Seeing Virginia back on field a ‘success’ for Elliott

• Andrea Adelson, ESPN Elder WriterSep 2, 2023, 05:52 PM ET

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  • ACC press reporter.
  • Joined ESPN.com in 2010.
  • Graduate of the University of Florida.NASHVILLE, Tenn.–

Virginia coach Tony Elliott understands what the final box score says: Tennessee 49, Virginia 13. However he also knows getting to Saturday was

a victory in itself for his team. Virginia played a game Saturday for the first time in 294 days, following the deaths of Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D’Sean Perry, who were shot and eliminated last November on a charter bus after returning house from a class field trip.Vowing to play in their honor, Elliott stated that

just before the game started, he”was at peace understanding that the success had actually already been won. “You have actually got to keep in mind– every day they walk out on that field, they’re advised,”Elliott continued.”Every day they walk off that field, they’re advised. Every day they go to class on Premises, they’re advised. Every day they’re reminded of what occurred, and not everybody is done mourning or recovery. The advantage was we had the ability to get to this point, and although the outcome didn’t go the manner in which we desired it to go, the guys can have confidence knowing that,’ You understand what? I can do it.'”There were physical tips pregame. Kicker

Will Bettridge, who is using Perry’s No. 41 this season, used custom-painted shoes honoring Perry as he strolled from the bus into the stadium. Tennessee positioned decals by itself helmets with the numbers Chandler, Davis and Perry wore: 1, 15 and 41. There was also a minute of silence after both teams cleared the

field following pregame warmups. Cheerleaders from Tennessee and Virginia strolled onto the field and placed flowers on the 1-, 15-and 41-yard lines as the sold-out and Tennessee-heavy crowd enjoyed in silence and an image of the three players was shown on the video board.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated Then, as Virginia emerged from the locker space, running back Mike Hollins came out in front, holding the school flag.Hollins endured the shooting and made his go back to the field on Virginia’s 3rd play of the game. Elliott explained Hollins as a”strolling miracle.”” Back in November, we had no concept what his life was going to appear like, much less that he was going to have the ability to go out with the flag today and be able to play and be a significant part of our strategy, “Elliott stated.” You’re really fortunate in life if you have the ability to witness a wonder. For us, we have actually all been blessed due to the fact that he is a strolling wonder. “The Cavaliers walked in silence down the tunnel, their eyes focused ahead. As they congregated prior to taking the field, they began leaping up and down. The minute had actually come. “I thought the people did a fantastic task every day to get to this point,”Elliott stated.”It’s tough to quantify and put into words simply whatever that they have actually needed to go through, and I thought the people appeared and had an actually great spirit about them, great energy, and I thought they played incredibly tough. They battled and they fought, which’s all you can ask of these people. “Simply to see them get a possibility to play football was the success for me. I understand ultimately we will be judged by what the scoreboard says, but internally as a program, I could not

be more proud. What we needed to withstand is unprecedented, and still it’s tough to take into words and wrap your head around it. For these people to be able to decide to come back to the University of Virginia, that was a hard decision, to come back and combat. “Virginia had its hands complete with a Tennessee group that had the advantage on both the offensive and protective lines. The Cavaliers had a hard time on offense in the first half, with simply two very first downs and 48 overall backyards, however tracked just 14-3 at halftime.”We brought out a great deal of energy. There were a great deal of obstacles, however we came out hard, we showed a great deal of effort today, so in that element I believe we came out properly, “Virginia safety Jonas Sanker said.The Cavaliers’failure to sustain drives in the 3rd quarter wore out their defense and allowed Tennessee to put the game out of reach before Virginia scored its only touchdown of the game late in the 3rd quarter.Early in the fourth quarter, starting quarterback Tony Muskett injured his shoulder on a sack and did not return. Real freshman Anthony Colandrea replaced him. Elliott stated Muskett would undergo more assessment in Charlottesville, Virginia.Virginia reserve defensive tackle Olasunkonmi Agunloye injured both his knees commemorating a fumble healing on the sideline. Though Elliott did not have the complete level of the injuries, he explained them as”substantial. “Having withstood everything they did both on and off the field Saturday, the entire Virginia football group gathered together arm in arm in front of the area filled with moms and dads and pals and sang the alma mater quickly after the game ended.The team hosts James Madison next week in what will be another emotional game, as the athletic department strategies to honor the households of Chandler, Davis and Perry. Elliott specifically mentioned what he saw from the players in the locker space after the loss as something to take with them headed into next week.

“To see their strength and to see them in a locker room after this game, still standing together, still believing in the best for the season, the very best for the future, because they think in each other and that’s what it took,”Elliott said.”I’m simply very pleased with the players, the personnel, the administration and all those that are close to the program that support us through this time.”