Liberty head coach Jamey Chadwell met with the media on Friday morning, his second press conference of the first half of training camp, to provide an update on his team. You can also watch the press conference on our YouTube channel, the video is also below. We will plan on live streaming each of Coach Chadwell’s press conferences this season.
In his press conference, he discussed the tragic loss of Tajh Boyd. Here is everything Coach Chadwell had to say, beginning with his opening statement.
“Thank ya’ll for being here. Obviously, since Saturday, I don’t even know what the day is, it has been a challenging time not only for our staff, our players, our whole community, trying to comprehend all the different things that have been going on and still, from a purely football perspective, to try to get the team ready for a season that’s upcoming.”
“I’ll give our team and our staff credit. There’s no playbook, no map to figure out how to deal with a situation like this. They’ve done a great job of loving on each other, trusting in their faith. Our players, all of us handle emotions differently, the challenge that we’re all facing now is in the time of the year we are, we don’t have a lot of time to grieve. A lot of that has been kept in. We have tried to really figure out how we can grieve through this process and still try to get the guys ready for a season.”
“It’s been challenging but I’m proud of our team. They come out every day and have stuck together, tried to use this opportunity we have to help the people that are hurting. They’ve done a great job of reaching out, the people that are hurting. There are a lot of people that are hurting in the community and where Tajh is from, his community. Our players have done a great job of trying to be an example of that and I’m proud of them for that.”
WHAT STEPS DO YOU TAKE AS A PROGRAM IN TERMS OF HAVING SUPPORT STAFF AVAILABLE?
“The tremendous thing about here at Liberty, we have tremendous support, not only from our administration but all across campus. We’ve had access to that for a long time, not just the last few days. Our team’s had the opportunity to speak, whether that’s individually, coaches have too, whether that’s individually or that’s in a group. We’ve had people out to practice just to go through the different things we’re all going through. There are certain steps, any time there is something that tragic happens, there are certain steps that you go through. I think the staff has done a really good job, I’m saying not necessarily the football staff but the staff in general, the people here on campus, all the services we have, of playing out different processes you have to go through as you prepare and try to grieve through a challenging time.”
“We’ve had a lot of players use those services and they’ve been around our practices. Our athletic training staff have phenomenal through this all and helping our players navigate the challenges of us.”
WHAT HAS BEEN LIKE SEEING THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FROM OTHER COACHES, SUCH AS VIRGINIA?
“Obviously, they have went through challenging times, as well. Nobody wants to go through that at all. To know there are so many people that are praying for your community, your team, that have experienced loss. Whether that’s just listening, whether that’s just a word of encouragement, gets you through. There has been people all across the country that have reached out, whether it’s myself or other people on our staff. To have our friends in the state here, to do that, it means a lot to us, it means a lot to our team.”
WHAT DO YOU HOPE CAN COME OUT OF WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE HAD TO FACE?
“I do believe wholeheartedly, Romans 8:28. I shared that with our team. I know something good will come from this. Our team, I know has become closer. One thing as a staff, as you build a program, you hope you have a brotherhood and sometimes that has to be forged through fire. Through this time frame, I think, we are able to send the players and the emotions and the outpouring they had, about how they felt about Tajh, I think that has brought them closer together. If that comes from this, then we will navigate this successfully. They will build a bond that can’t be broken. That will help as a team but also in their lives as they move forward. I believe wholeheartedly in our team that something good is going to come out of this.”
HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO REACH OUT TO TAJH’S FAMILY AND HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING IN TERMS OF THE POLICE INVESTIGATION AND WHAT HAPPENED?
“The first question, I have spoken to his mom and dad a couple times now since the weekend, checking in, seeing how they’re doing, seeing what’s going on, anything we can do to offer support. We’ve had some players do that, as well, especially from our offensive line group. She’s felt and they know that Tajh was loved here and that he was a part of our program. He will always be a part of our program and in our hearts. We have let them know that.”
“From a police investigation standpoint, I’m not included on any of those conversations or anything from that nature. I don’t know if they’re still investigating or if anything is close from that standpoint. I’m sure we will find out at some point soon.”
WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIS DEATH, WAS IT FOOTBALL RELATED?
“It was not a football related death.”
COULD YOU TELL US ANYTHING MORE ABOUT THAT, THE LYNCHBURG POLICE SAID THERE IS NOT AN INVESTIGATION?
“I’m going to respect the privacy of his family. If they want to share the circumstances, I will let them do that.”
I KNOW YOU ARE NEW AT THE UNIVERSITY AND TAJH WAS A FRESHMAN, CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT KIND OF PERSON HE WAS?
“He loved fashion. He loved clothes. He’s got a storage unit full of clothes. He loved clothes. He made a huge impact on the team. He was very quiet, as far as an outwardly quietness. If you saw him in the hall, he was cordial, but he was very quiet. When he was 1-on-1 with his teammates, he lit up the room. Seeing how he impacted not only on the offensive line but his teammates he came in with, in January, they bonded. He shared a lot of life experiences with the players. There was a lot of challenges that he grew up with that he overcame to be successful and to get himself to this point where he was at. He was really willing to share that with anybody that would listen that was going through challenging times. He had a giving heart. If there was something that anybody was going through on the team, he was always there. He was a very giving person. He loved to help others out.”
HOW TOUGH IS IT RIGHT NOW AT A CRITICAL PART AS YOU ARE EVALUATING TALENT AND HAVING PRACTICE, HOW TOUGH IS IT TO EVALUATE GUYS RIGHT NOW?
“You definitely have to take in, as you are trying to make a judgement on that, all the circumstances surrounding that. We are at a point right now that I’m not going to say that’s on hold, but that’s not the most important thing we are doing now. Obviously we are trying to get a team ready but we are trying to make sure we are understanding the different feelings that different groups might have and how to navigate that. Sometimes maybe somebody is having a bad day because of the circumstances. We have really tried to focus on that as a coaching staff and let guys know that if they need time, take the time, and do some of those things they need to do to help them grieve. People are doing that differently. We are taking that day by day.”
IS THERE MORE PRESSURE ON YOU AND THE COACHING STAFF, THE FOLKS THAT ARE OLDER AND HAVE BEEN THROUGH LIFE MORE, TO BE A GUIDE OR A SOUNDING BOARD, A LEVEL OF SUPPORT FOR THE PLAYERS?
“I wouldn’t say there’s more pressure. As a coaching staff we believe in being that leader and that mentor all the time, whether that’s during good times or during challenging times. That’s why we do what we do. We enjoy using the game of football to give people the opportunity to change their lives. I wouldn’t think there’s more pressure on that. I would think the challenge for me and our staff with the circumstances is still trying to get a team ready to how to recognize how someone is dealing with it differently and not get in the mode of it’s fall camp and we’ve got to go, go, go. That’s more of an issue for me, pressure that I’m feeling on how to juggle that.”
HAVE FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS BEEN MADE, WILL THE TEAM BE PART OF IT?
“Those have not been arranged yet. Once they are arranged we will obviously re-arrange whatever schedule we have to give ourselves the opportunity to be a part of things.”
A LOT OF TIMES YOU COULD BE VIEWED AS A FATHER FIGURE FOR THE PLAYERS, HOW DO YOU TRY TO HELP THE PLAYERS DURING THIS TIME?
“I think you have to be vulnerable. As coaches, the old way is you show toughness, a man you don’t show that you cry you don’t show emotions. I think it’s very important that you show your emotions. I think you let your team know how you are affected by it as well. As a head coach, I am affected by it, our whole team and whole staff is affected by anytime something happens. That could be an injury, somebody that has given everything they have and then they are out for the year. It can be an injury or it can be something like this.”
“For me, I’ve tried not to mask what I’m feeling. If there are days that I’m not doing well, then I let them know. Hopefully they can see that it’s alright to let them know if they are not. I don’t know if there’s a map to guide that, but that’s how the Spirit is leading me right now.”
YOU MENTIONED WHAT A DIFFICULT DAY SATURDAY WAS, WAS THAT WHEN HE PASSED OR WHEN YOU GUYS FOUND OUT HE PASSED?
“That’s when we found out. We found out Saturday.”
UVA IS GOING THROUGH SOMETHING DIFFERENT BUT IN SOME WAYS SIMILAR, HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH TONY ELLIOTT?
“I have spoken with Coach Elliott. He did reach out and sent some words of encouragement. It was much needed during a challenging time.”
I SAW YOU POSTED A RAINBOW PICTURE, TELL ME ABOUT THAT MOMENT?
“That was Sunday, obviously after everything Saturday. We had a service Sunday and let some of our players share their hearts. Then, it started raining. One of our players after it rained, he said rain brings growth. Then, obviously, to see the rainbow there over the stadium, just reminds you of God’s promises and better days are coming and to rely on Him, lean on Him. I think sometimes when you go through certain challenges, you ask why, why did this happen? Just trust, trust God.”
YOUR SENIOR OL GADLIN, ONE OF THE THINGS HE SAID WAS THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR HIM TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, HOW HAS HE REACTED TO THIS?
“It hit him hard because being a senior leader in there, he takes a lot of pride in mentoring the young offensive line. He took it hard like a lot of people in that room did because they were so close. To his credit, he’s been vulnerable but also he’s rallied that group because that is the group that spent the most time with him. Our offensive line coach, our offensive line, all the different people in that room, all the time, you can imagine how the whole team felt, but that group specifically because they are 24/7 with him. X’Zauvea, X, has done a really nice job of the emotions he’s feeling and taking the pulse of the room and being that leader from that standpoint. I’ve listened a lot from him the last few days as far as how they’re doing. He lets me know and try to gauge how we’re doing things based on how that room is feeling a little bit and what they’re processing. He’s been tremendous. Everything you know about him and people have wrote about him is true. He sure did step up in this time.”
HOW THERAPEUTIC IS THE GAME OF FOOTBALL RIGHT NOW FOR THESE GUYS?
“I think it’s tremendous for a lot of them. I think there are certain times where there are reminders too. So, there’s the balance of those emotions. They are lifting weights right now and it’s great, it’s tremendous, but maybe there partner was … so there’s a tug from that. I think you’ve got to find your sanctuary among the challenges of life. For these guys, that can be their sanctuary for two hours or whatever it may be. I think it allows them to get some of the emotions out, as well. It brings those emotions up. They need it more than ever now.”
“I do have a couple of football things I will share with you. Jacob Jenkins, a tight end, his waiver was denied so he’s going to be ineligible this year. Brendan Schlittler was hurt and he’s most likely out for the year, offensive lineman. Then, Lawrence Brown, one of our defensive backs was hurt yesterday, most likely out for the year, from the injury standpoint of things.”
COULD YOU EXPAND ON THE INJURIES?
“Lower body.”
“Again, thank ya’ll for being here. Thank ya’ll for the prayers. Thank you for everybody that has reached out. Please continue praying for the community and the team and the family. Thank ya’ll.”
