After Charlottesville riots, UVA coach Bronco Mendenhall wants team to 'bring the community together'

In the wake of riots in Charlottesville, Virginia, University of Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall speaks out for the first time.

In the wake of riots in Charlottesville that left one woman dead and many others injured during the protest and counter protest of the removal of a Confederate statue, Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall has spoken for the first time.

Mendenhall spoke after practice Tuesday about the state of his team during all the turmoil going on.

"I was expecting more concern," Mendenhall said, "but most of them are realizing that this is happening from people that are coming in from outside our city and leaving, ... that won't necessarily be their neighbors and their fans. No recruits have said they're no longer coming, no parents are saying they're no longer coming."

Mendenhall said the team's message is one of unity, "embracing diversity and being together, and respecting one another for differences, not separating because of differences."

Mendenhall went on to say "We would like to help our team inspire and teach and perform in a way that will bring the community together."

The statue of Robert E. Lee at the center of all this is located less than two miles from Virginia’s stadium in an area called Emancipation Park (it was formerly named Lee Park.)

White supremacist protesters marched through Virginia’s campus Friday night, and Cavalier players, per Mendenhall, requested that they have this picture taken on Monday linking arms to show unity in the same spot others chose to show hatred.