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.