Return to Louisville: Perris Jones continues to strive for life goals

November 9th, 2023, that is the last time UVA took the trip to play at ACC school Louisville. Virginia went 3-9 that season, the first season after the 2022 tragedy. Up to that point Virginia was 2-7 going into #11 in the country Louisville. It was a Thursday night game, so primetime on ESPN, with a magical 3rd quarter of tying the game and taking the lead as Virginia put up 21 unanswered points. However, the celebration of the third touchdown to make it 21 unanswered was not what you would expect. It was a screen pass to running back Perris Jones who was hit hard, and he fumbled, right behind him was wide receiver (Current Miami Dolphin) Malik Washington to pick it up and take it to the endzone. That made the score 21-14, but laying there unable to move was Perris Jones. When Coach Elliott came up to him, he apologized for fumbling but could not move.

It turns out that Jones had suffered a Spinal Cord injury where he was temporarily paralyzed from the neck down. Jones came out of that game and was transported immediately to the ICU at the Louisville Medical Center. The doctors had determined he needed Spinal Cord surgery and performed it successfully. Three weeks after first being admitted, Jones walked out of the Rehab facility, with all of the doctors that saved his life cheering him on.

Two years later, where is Perris now? Jones realized that football was a passion of his, not a purpose. Jones knew since he was a child that he really wanted to work with people, younger people at that and has started to take steps towards doing that. Jones applied and was accepted into the University of Louisville doctorate program. According to RaidersWire, Jones hopes to open his own institute one day at the University specializing in Spinal cord injuries, concussions, and traumatic brain injuries.

As UVA gets set to make their return to Louisville for the first time since the traumatic incident, the University of Louisville announced that it would be honoring Perris Jones and the doctors that saved his life before the game Saturday. A true full-circle moment. On X, Louisville Athletics made a post Tuesday afternoon saying, “On Saturday, we welcome Perris Jones back to L&N stadium, join us pregame as we recognize Perris & the team of doctors who saved his life.”

Virginia is set to play Louisville at 3:30 on ESPN 2 after an emotional win over #8 FSU. Louisville comes in unbeaten and just outside the top 25.