ROCKINGHAM — There aren’t a lot of off days for Richmond Senior High School’s head football coach Bryan Till. But one day during the offseason following his first season in 2017, a thought to make the program stronger hit him and it’s been visible ever since.
The Raider program has used the moniker “make your link strong” during the entire 2018 season and has carried the hefty slogan into the first four games of the 2019 campaign. Although it may seem like an old cliche that coaches use to pump up their team, Till has made it a keystone in the Raider locker room.
Found as a hashtag on social media, plastered on the walls of the weight room and a verbal cue that resonates with veteran and rookie players, “make your link strong” extends far beyond the parameters of this season’s team.
“When I took this job, I knew there was a lot of history with this program,” Till explained. “After the first year, I reflected back on the things that made Raider football successful before, especially the standard of play and the high standard of the program.
“I wanted to find the links of our history with what we are building now,” the 41-year-old coach continued. “We want to get back to being a state championship program with quality coaching, and that’s where the ‘link’ analogy came from.
“The goal is to continue our rich tradition. Our players, coaches, faculty and the community are pieces within the chain of this program. The more I do with this job, the more I realize there are so many moving pieces. We don’t want to be the weak link while we’re here.”
Richmond’s football history extends to the school’s opening in 1972, and has seen the Raiders amass 494 career wins to just its 110 losses and five ties in a little over 46 seasons (.815 winning percentage).
The Raiders have won 85 of their 118 career playoff games and their seven state titles (1978, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1997, 1998, 2008) ranks them near the top of the all-time list amongst North Carolina high schools.
The names of coaching greats Daryl Barnes, Hal Stewart, Ed Emory, Hal Shuler and Paul Hoggard have come and gone, and given way to a set of Raider alumni taking over the sidelines.
Some of those immersed in the winning culture today include two-time state champion quarterback and current offensive coordinator Brad Denson (‘97, ‘98), quarterbacks coach Jay Jones and junior varsity head coach Patrick Hope.
Other members of the current varsity coaching staff who are Raider alumni are: Milton Swiney (defensive line coach), Andy Shuler (wide receivers coach), James Johnson (linebackers coach) and Kemp McSween (offensive line coach).
Throughout the JV and freshman programs are Kevin Alfonso, Travis Byers, Justin Jackson and Taivon Jones. Not only does each coach serve a role in making the 2019 teams better, but they act as integral links in connecting different eras of Raider football with today’s standard.
QB Coach Jay Jones’ link decorated in Raider colors and “snipers” for his quarterbacks.
During pregame warmups, fans will notice several offensive line players toting a massive chain made up of detachable screw-on chain links. The links are more than meets the eye as plated zinc connectors, as each one represents a player or coach on this year’s varsity team.
With some wrapped in Raider green and gold tape and sprinkled with names of family members and jersey numbers, and others with the words “brother,” “team,” “family” and “stronger” inscribed on them, each link is a reflection of the players’ and coaches’ commitment to tying the Raiders’ past with its present and future.
The linkable chain is new this season, and is an upgrade from two logging chains used last fall. The two smaller chains are still used this season, with one representing the offense and the other representing the defense. All three are laid out on the grass behind the Raiders’ bench for the length of every game.
“The chains are also representative of the community, which includes everyone from those working the gates, the crowd, the Sheriff’s Department and our boosters,” Till said. “In order for us to be the best program we can be, we need all of those links to be strong.
“It’s really cool that our players and coaches have written on their (individual) link,” he added. “It allows us to be a physical part of the chain and gives us a chance to show who and what motivates us and makes us stronger.”
Ahead of each game, the Raiders “build” the chain during the team’s pregame meal. Following a devotion, a coach, whether it’s Till or one of the assistants, hangs his chain on a hook. From there, as they walk to get in line for their meal, players add their respective link to the chain.
Each player’s helmet is also garnished with a chain sticker that rides down the center, reminding players of the bond they share. Also on the new television cart, which was assembled by Wayne Stevens for the team to use for instant replay and in-game adjustments, the handle is made of a chain link and has the slogan painted on the side.
Though the process is simple, Till believes it gives his players a chance to make the “make your link strong” mentality into a personal and team-oriented reality.
“None of this means anything unless we can make it into our own reality,” Till said. “The links allow them to understand the concept of the world around them and should remind them of how they are supposed to apply the idea of making their link stronger.
“Our link needs to be strong in the classroom and on the field. And it reflects our work in the offseason, in the weight room, and the work of the community and volunteer support we get to make us better.”
Another addition this season has been a “fearless” attitude, something that Till said challenges all players and coaches to “confront any fears” they may have on and off the field.
Ranked as the No. 1 team in the East by HighSchoolOT.com, the Raiders (4-0) look to continue this growth mindset when they open Sandhills Athletic Conference play on Friday, Sept. 26, at home against Purnell Swett High School (0-3).
Junior offensive tackle Austin Moore’s link reads “team.”
