Growing up on Minneapolis’ North Side, Rodney Pierce-Tyler knew all too well the problems caused by COVID-19 in 2020.

Urban communities were strained under the weight of social distancing and mask requirements. Backyard barbecues, over-the-fence conversations and shindigs late into the night became frowned upon.

One notable casualty of the pandemic was youth sports. Park- and community-sponsored teams were put on hold, leaving many young athletes with no place to play.

Seeing a need, Jay Brekke of Minneapolis started a youth club football program called the Minnesota Panthers.

Pierce-Tyler, who played football and basketball at Minneapolis Southwest before a journey as a college athlete, was recruited to coach a Panthers team.

Because so many other youth sports doors were closed, the Panthers program boomed. Kids from across the city showed up to play, including many of the top athletes.

Bonding over football, Pierce-Tyler’s group excelled. When they were in seventh grade in 2022, they received a No. 15 ranking from the program’s national governing body. They played in a national tournament in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and managed to take third.

“We learned how to take a loss and still do our best and have fun,” said Cru Carter, an offensive lineman on that team who acknowledged that many of the teams Panthers faced on that trip to Florida were bigger and stronger than they were.

“I really don’t know how to explain it,” Carter said. “They could play. But we showed them Minnesota ball. We showed what we could do.”

When they reached eighth grade, the players got the chance to practice and train at Brooklyn Center High School. Pierce-Tyler had landed an assistant coaching position there through his connections with the Panthers.

The Panthers were allowed to use the field and weight room.

Bonds grew strong.

One day, Pierce-Tyler brought the players together.

“I asked them what they wanted to do,” he said. “Did they want to keep this team together or go their separate ways? Everybody voted to keep the group together.”

A pact was made among eight or so of the players to open-enroll at Brooklyn Center, a 6-12 secondary school on the northern border of Minneapolis.

Re-creating a winning culture

Consistent time in the win column has been absent at Brooklyn Center. The only two football state tournament appearances in school history came more than 40 years ago, including the only football state championship, in 1982. The Centaurs won the Class A title that year in the inaugural Prep Bowl.

“We wanted to bring winning back to Brooklyn Center,” Pierce-Tyler said.

The players who had been competing together since sixth grade comprised the school’s JV program as eighth-graders. Once the school year was over, Pierce-Tyler was named Brooklyn Center’s head football coach. His presence only solidified the former Panthers players’ resolve.

They wanted to be where he was.

“When I was younger, I played on a rival team of the Panthers,” said sophomore running back/safety Alpha Meaway. “After we played them, he would come over and talk to me. One time, I actually listened. I was like, you guys do have a good program. Why don’t I come over there? You guys have a nice brotherhood. You guys have good chemistry.”

Meaway wasn’t the only one sold on Pierce-Tyler’s message of team unity.

Sophomore Larry Smith Jr. had played youth football since he was in third grade. “I always played up,” he said, meaning he competed against players older than him. He was accustomed to more mature teammates, but Smith Jr. quickly recognized the chemistry the Panthers were building when he joined the team in sixth grade.

“When we were together, we played good,” Smith Jr. said. “We wanted to stick together.”

This is now the fifth year together for the Panthers 8, their second as the core of the Brooklyn Center varsity.

Last year, Brooklyn Center took a few lumps but coaxed three victories out of the schedule. That has fueled the Centaurs’ fire for this year. The players are getting noticed. Meaway, a strong, powerful runner with an explosive burst, is Prepredzone.com’s top-ranked running back in the Class of 2028. Smith Jr. plays quarterback and is ranked No. 22 in the state as an athlete. Others are getting respected by rankings services.

The respect just adds to the players’ preseason anticipation.

“Our goal is to go 8-0,” Smith Jr. said with a wide smile. “If we just stick together.”

So far, that hasn’t been a problem. Pierce-Tyler has promoted a spirit of team camaraderie and togetherness that is the foundation of his coaching style.

“These guys are always together, going to each other houses, helping each other out,” he said. “This is like a family. They can call me any time. These kids are always at my house, eating up my food. It’s not just about football. It’s about relationships.”

Growth in the classroom

A big piece of the puzzle Pierce-Tyler is putting together centers on academics. It’s a point of emphasis, and he empowers the players to hold each other accountable.

“If anyone has a ‘D’ or an ‘F’, we all come together and study together. And if that still doesn’t work, then we skip practice and do nothing but conditioning,” he said. “I stress accountability.”

The message resonates.

“Coach Rodney preaches that to us all the time: We’re student-athletes. The student comes first,” Smith Jr. said. “If we don’t get the grades, we can’t do nothing.”

Players refuse to let each other slide. One failure is a team failure.

“I didn’t used to like school,” said Carter, a powerful 5-8 center. “Things are way better now. I was doing good last year, but I kind of fell off at the end because I missed a couple of days of school. My GPA was like a 2.9 last year, but I think I’m going to do better this year. I’m trying for a 4.0.”

Hurdles remain for the Centaurs. Numbers aren’t growing as fast as hoped. And money is tight.

“We only have two footballs to practice with,” Pierce-Tyler said. “I’ll probably have to buy new ones out of my pocket. Last year, my whole coaching stipend went into the football program. I’ll probably do the same thing this year.”

There’s hope a team fundraiser put on by a local car wash will replenish the coffers.

Pierce-Tyler’s devotion to his team is obvious. Assistant coach J.T. Miles, a childhood friend, was already coaching at Brooklyn Center when Pierce-Tyler arrived.

“We grew up together, we played park board together, we’ve been best friends for a while,” Miles said. “For a second, before I knew Rodney was going to be the head coach, I was actually planning on moving. Once I found out Rodney was the head coach and he was starting something new here, I had to stay.”