‘Looking down at me smiling’: Memories of his mother drives Raines’ star’s push for football glory

As we walks across the field of the Graveyard, a gold chain hangs around Troy Butler’s neck.  Inside this Viking’s necklace, he carries a reminder of his greatest motivation – a photo of his mother, who passed away in 2023. “I know my momma looking down at me smiling,” Butler said. “So I got to do what’s right.” Now, in his junior year with the Vikings, Butler wants to set the tone. He said each and every practice he goes as hard as he can to make sure the team is ready for any challenges down the road.