Every year the fall wind starts to blow during the third week of September, and for many it’s a special moment when the leaves start to change, and gone are the days of wearing shorts and a t-shirt at night.

For the area high schools, it is a special moment as well when they celebrate Homecoming week of high school.

Many people associate homecoming with the football team, the big games on Friday night and the crisp cool wind that often blows at that time of the year.

Cory Satterfield, Principal at Richmond Senior High School, sees the annual event as a unique time for not only the school, but Richmond County as well.

“We have a unique opportunity every year to bring the students and the community of Richmond County together and show their support for not only the Raiders, but Richmond County as well,” Satterfield said.

“We have a great tradition at this school and we like to bring the people of Richmond County together at the parade and then here at Raider Stadium for the football on Friday night to continue that tradition,” Satterfield added.

While many people focus on the football aspect of the Richmond Raiders, Satterfield sees the entire school as a magical place, and wants to showcase what his school has to offer in the week leading up to the game.

“I want it to be about Richmond County,” Satterfield said. “We don’t have any fashion shows or best class competitions during the week of homecoming, but it’s about community pride and pride in the high school that we all love so much,” Satterfield said.

The idea of Homecoming is to bring the community the high school serves back to their home and to see the progress that the school both academically and athletically has made since they left Richmond Senior.

“We bring the football team and alumni back together year after year,” Satterfield said. “We have Mr. Robertson as the Grand Marshall of the parade on Friday afternoon, and then the five Athletic Directors that Richmond Senior has had over the past 38 years will be in attendance for the football game,” Satterfield added.

This tradition has been ongoing at Richmond Senior for the past 38 years and it is something that the community has come to expect and love every September.

While homecoming normally revolves around football and the team, Satterfield and the other faculty members have found a way to include the entire student body.

“We have emphasized to students that this week is about spirit and school pride,” Satterfield said. “We have the traditional home coming court, but we do not have a king and queen. We have a Mr. and Ms. Spirit that is voted on by the students the Thursday before the football game.”

“The school board has been very supportive in letting us release the students at 1 p.m. on Friday so that they may attend the parade, and everyone here looks forward to our alumni coming home that Friday night,” Satterfield.

With so many wonderful things going on at the high school, and the return of the Raider mascot roaming the sidelines after a 10-year absence, this homecoming week has had that extra something in the air.

Contact sports reporter Travis Anderson at 997-3111 ext. 44 or by e-mail at tanderson@yourdailyjournal.com.