NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas — They're pretty fired up at Richland High School for one of their own to play in Super Bowl LVIII.
"Number 4 Rashee Rice. Kansas City CHIEEEFS!" bellows Richland high school coordinator Derek Hinton.
"He's gonna play in the Super Bowl, his rookie year with Patrick Mahomes and Kelce, and he's their leading receiver," Richland assistant football coach Kerry Barrett said. "I mean, get you some of that. Isn't that something?"
But as proud as they are of his exploits on the field, they love Rashee Rice for the way he's stayed connected to the community.
"Raised up Richland. #RUR. That's what it means. And he's definitely a product of that," Hinton said.
And there's no one he's been more connected to than Coach Barrett and his wife Melanie.
"She was a pied piper. Kerry is the same way," Richland head football coach Ged Kates said. "The two of them together, were the most magical... they made Richland High School what it is."
"She was the centerpiece," Hinton said. "Not just for Rashee, but for a lot of our players."
On Rice's senior night in 2018, it was Melanie Barrett who walked Rashee out onto the field.
"Sometimes it's too cool to show love," Kates said. "Sometimes it's too cool. Not him and not her."
A year and a half ago, Melanie passed away at 44 years old due to colon cancer.
"You know, they say the good die young, and Melanie was one of those people, that you don't forget her," Kates said. "And you could feel the love coming from her."
Now, Rice keeps in touch with Melanie's husband Kerry on a regular basis. Barrett says it's Rashee's way of checking in on him. And Rashee sees 'Miss B' all the time. Even in the face of a flight attendant on the Chiefs team plane.
"It did look a lot like her," Kerry said. "And it's just funny, I sent him back 'man, it does look like Miss B, but she's not as hot!' And he sent back, 'Facts.'"
"It's really cool. I mean, of course it stops your heart for a second, because it does look like my wife. But then, to think that that kid, sometimes is like me there's so many things out in the world that bring back memories that remind you."
"That just goes to show," Hinton said, "he feels like she's with him all the time."
"If she's on your mind, if she's on your heart, you see her," Kates said.
"It's really cool that he thought to send that and say 'Hey coach, she's on the plane with us," Kerry said.
A coach and player, both missing a piece of their heart and taking turns making sure they're both okay.
"It's something that, they're gonna be linked forever," Kates said. "And she's the link. Melanie Barrett."