Richmond football coach Nick Persell called Feb. 29, 2024, a “great day to be a Cardinal.” The reason the coach at a high school whose mascot is the Spartans said that is because he’s also a graduate of William Jewell College, whose mascot is the Cardinals. And early in the afternoon of Feb. 29 in the Richmond High School gym, one of his seniors formally signed his letter of intent to be a William Jewell Cardinal – Hayden Happy. “It’s always nice to see Spartans that commit to go play at William Jewell. … It was a great college for me and my experience and my life,” Persell said during a short speech. “I’m excited for Hayden to go … (have the) same opportunity.” Happy, who expects to play linebacker at William Jewell, chose the private, Liberty-based, NCAA Division II school because of his own experiences visiting there, he said. “Every time I go visit there and stuff, I like it more and more,” said Happy, who intends to pursue premed studies there as part of his long-term goal of…