Thanks @blguthrie for posting
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This is confusing. Ryan gave an interview to the local CBS affiliate here in Richmond in which she said she saw Jones shove Lavel and heard him say something to the effect of āYou guys are always messing with meā before he shot Lavel several times. The account she gave in the ABC interview differs from that significantly. Iām sure the trauma sheās endured has something to do with that, but the two accounts are difficult to reconcile. In the first, she said she saw Lavel get shot. In the second, she makes no mention of seeing anyone shot and says she only saw Lavel after he had been shot. Maybe her mind is trying to protect her from what she witnessed. But this discrepancy kind of underscores some of the issues with eyewitness accounts of extraordinary events.
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Yeah, itās really tough. Part of me really wants to know the drip-drip of all the info in real time, but itās ultimately going to be really frustrating as details keep shifting a bit on us. For me, Iād be really interested to know what happened, and I think thereās good reason to try to understand a bit more, but I think I need to ignore this and wait for some decent report in a year or two (or maybe never).
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I personally think itās a mistake to cancel the football game. I think the better message would have been to make it a tribute game; to show that the UVA community will grieve their loss but will overcome the sadness and adversity of this loss; that good will overcome evil. It would be an opportunity to be forward looking; after all that is the only way to āhealā in the face of tragedy. Unfortunately, my niece was one of the second graders killed in the Sandy Hook school shooting and I witnessed incredible grief from that tragedy. What helped the most was regaining a sense of ānormalcyā over time (not that normal can ever be achieved again). I think playing the football game would have provided such an opportunity. I respect all opinions and Iām not here to argue this with anyone; itās just my opinion.
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Iām so sorry about your neice. I canāt even imagine.
Ultimately, if you canāt pull yourself together, you canāt play a football game. My question would be: who is it good for? For the broader community, absolutely. For the players, it appears not. In grief, itās best to respect the wishes and needs of people closest to the trauma.
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Honestly couldnāt have explained how I feel better.
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Oh man so sorry about your neice
I agree that we āshouldā play or do something at the stadium. Could probly raise a lot of money for the families as well. The other side, I am thinking, is that there will be no routine all week in terms of workouts and practice. Guys could really be succeptable to injury etc I think
I also agree on normalcyā¦ I just dont know that turnaround for playing a football game
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Yeah, even before the game was canceled, I decided I want to go to Charlottesville on Saturday regardless. It would be great if there were some kind of gathering/remembrance at Scott. But if not, I just want to go up and try to show some love to the fallen and the entire University community.
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Thats awesome. I am sure people will be around Scott for sure.
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Typically I am all for returning to routine and normalcy as soon as possible as part of the healing process. However, knowing what goes into preparing for a football game and the fact that team was so directly impacted, Iām not sure that any sort of routine could be put together that would enable the team to safely put a product on the field. Essentially theyād be on the field with 1 full practice. That would be a disservice to everyone if they did that.
I do agree it would be a good opportunity to host a memorial or an event to celebrate the ones we lost and to maybe raise money to support the families.
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Youāre a good man G. Wish I were a bit closer and Iād join in. Happy early birthday brother.
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Backatcha, old man. We aināt getting any younger, thatās for damn sure. We need to get together soon, either in The Hook or some other fun place. Iāll definitely raise a toast to your latest trip around the sun next Wednesday.
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Thatās true, I didnāt think about that.
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If I lived closer I definitely would go. I grew up there, went all levels of school there. From Venable elementary all the way to the grounds. Spent many summers on the courts at slaughter, nights on the corner. One stupid night in the summer I hitchhiked from the corner all the way to Charlottesville fashion square mall, drunk as hell. I miss that place. The recent events will not define that special place to me. For those that drive down do a shot for me!
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Iād have been surprised if the game went forward as scheduled. Iāve been unable to focus and do my work for the past two days (with occasional and unexpected bouts of weepiness) and Iām just a fan who doesnāt know these young men personally. I imagine itās all these guys can manage just to keep going from moment to moment. And next week, they may decide to commit to family Thanksgivings rather than preparing for the Tech game. Just as long as they stay together to help each other, I support all of that.
I agree that for the sake of the community, an event of some kind would be beneficial. It just maybe wonāt be a football game.
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Didnāt realize you were a local kid as well. I like ya even more now.
I wonāt make it into town in time for Saturday but will be around Mon-Weds for sure. Hoping to spend most of one of those days walking around and catching up with some old friends (anyone who knows of Sons of Bill will appreciate who Iām hanging with).
If anyoneās around Iād always appreciate a chat and hear someone elseās memories of that wonderful place.
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If this was the basketball team, I could see them still paying, but football is a violent game where if your mind is not in it, you can get yourself or others very hurt. I donāt think they should play.
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I canāt imagine being a wide receiver on the team and having to mental wherewithal to run routes on Saturday. Totally understand canceling this game.
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Agreed. In a less violent sport it would be different but football could get another player seriously injured if they arenāt 100% focused and prepared.
Agree with the idea of the community needing something to rally around though. Maybe one of the other fall sports can provide that? Isnāt womenās soccer a high seed in the NCAAT?
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In the Wa Post story, she says someone else on the bus said that, but someone else on said he said something about video games before shooting. The Post story also says there was a fifth football player that wasnāt shot, but heās not up to talking about what he saw.
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