Report: Virginia expects more than 50,000 to attend home opener, honor 2022 shooting victims

Virginia is expecting a packed house at Scott Stadium on Saturday when the Cavaliers host James Madison for a home opener and ceremonies to honor the late Lavel Davis, Devin Chandler and D’Sean Perry, the three players killed in a shooting in November 2022. The Cavaliers are anticipating more than 50,000 fans for the opener, according to Mike Barber of the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Scott Stadium, the home venue for Virginia, has capacity for more than 60,000 fans. Exceeding 50,000 people in attendance would make it the largest crowd for a Virginia home game since 2019.

It will be the first game for Virginia in its home stadium since Davis, Chandler and Perry were killed.

“We promised the family members that we would not forget their loved ones,” Virginia athletic director Carla Williams said Tuesday, according to the Times-Dispatch. “And we will keep that promise.”

The first 35,000 fans in attendance will receive orange UVA Strong T-shirts as they enter Scott Stadium and all fans are encouraged to wear orange. The field will also have specific paint for the field for the “Virginia Strong” game, as it’s being called. Davis, Chandler and Perry’s names will be painted along the boundary of the field. A tree and commemorative plaque will be planted on campus on Friday prior to a pep rally that the football team is planning to attend.

Head coach Tony Elliott is also hopeful for a large crowd to buoy his team through an emotional afternoon.

“I would like to see a packed house, a sell-out, and everybody showing up in orange and supporting,” Elliott said, according to the Times-Dispatch. “We’re going to need the fans. I mean, we need the support, and so I would like to see everybody show up in orange and cheer these guys on and be a part of the services that are going to take place before kickoff.”

Virginia and JMU are scheduled to kick off at noon on Saturday, Sept. 9.

Davis, Chandler and Perry were honored by Virginia’s 2023 Week 1 opponent

Tennessee honored victims of last year’s tragic shooting that left three University of Virginia football players dead during Saturday’s opener between the Vols and Cavaliers.

Tennessee wore a helmet decal with No. 1, No. 15 and No. 41 to honor Davis, Chandler and Perry during the game. The decal also features the initials of each player.

🧡💙 1.15.41🕊️#UVAStrong pic.twitter.com/FMocL8Ot5O

— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) September 2, 2023

Davis, Perry and Chandler were tragically shot and killed on a charter bus that was on the way back to Virginia’s campus following a school trip on November 14, sending shockwaves across the college sports landscape. And while they may be gone, their legacy will live on through the Cavaliers’ Week 1 matchup versus Tennessee and beyond.

Head coach Josh Heupel spoke about how important it was to him to honor the Virginia victims earlier this week.

“Obviously a horrific tragedy that took place there on their campus,” Heupel said. “They’ve had a long time to try to grow through that and you also recognize what happened, and so there will be a moment of silence before kickoff and then we’ll wear a decal of the three individuals that lost their lives on the back of the helmet.”