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Raider head football coach Tom Hardman makes a point to his players at the beginning of an after-school study hall. JIM COOPER/SPENCER NEWSPAPERS

The last thing a lot of teenagers want to do is head off to class — especially after the last bell has rung to end the school day. But, at the insistence of their head coach, nearly 40 Roane County High football players are doing just that.

The class is an after-school study hall supervised by Tom Hardman. Players who plan on suiting up for Hardman’s Raiders next season are doing a lot of heavy lifting during the off-season in both the weight room and the classroom.

“At first, I thought we should be lifting, not studying,” Caleb Greathouse, a junior lineman and honor student said. “But it’s actually a good thing. I usually work on my trig.”

Hardman said he came up with the study hall idea after losing nine varsity players, including a pair of two-way starters, who failed to have the required 2.0 grade point average last fall.

“Last year was very disappointing,” Hardman said. “We talked to our guys about it (then), but talking wasn’t enough. We’ve got to make time for this if we’re going to do what we want to do. I’m seeing improvement, but it’s going to take some time to get this right.”

Hardman’s goal includes having a full roster capable of taking the program to a third straight playoff appearance, and then putting together some postseason wins.

Hardman and his assistant coaches are available to help players with their studies, as are teammates who might be proficient in a particular area. The study hall lasts for a little more than 30 minutes before the team heads to the weight room.

Freshman lineman R.J. Burdette, a B-student, said the extra study time has been beneficial.

“Oh yeah,” he said. “My last class I don’t have a lot of time to do (homework) and I can do it in here. This helps people that don’t do their homework so that more people can play.”

The players’ academic progress is tracked on a chart at the front of Hardman’s room. The list is divided into categories, with returning players in green and prospects in red. Pink beside a name designates academic difficulty.

Four veterans are in the pink, not a good thing. But Hardman said that represents an improvement over the nine that were in trouble at the end of the last grading period.

“It keeps you on track and makes sure you don’t do the wrong things,” junior lineman Brandon Abbott, another honor student, said.

Freshman receiver and defensive back Justin Dunlap admits to having some academic problems. He said his failing grades in English and health at the beginning of the semester have since turned into B’s.

“My English teacher likes me being in study hall,” he said.

Hardman recently dismissed four potential players for lack of effort in the classroom and called another front and center for a close encounter with the chart.

“I told him he was cheating himself, his teammates and me,” Hardman said. “I put the accountability on him. We’re just being honest.”

Hardman said the study hall has a two-fold purpose — to increase the football roster while boosting the teens’ future chances at success.

“Face it, most of these guys aren’t going to play college or pro football,” he said. “They’ll need something to fall back on.”

Greathouse said the commitment shown by Hardman and the other coaches does not go unnoticed by the players.

“Coach will get onto you if you’re not working,” he said, noting there is no distinction made between starters and reserves. “He has shown he really cares about everybody.”

That’s tough love.