The Patriot Way: Family Values and Toughness Drive Success on the Field
If you find yourself at Hodges Field on the campus of Arendell Parrott Academy on a Friday evening, you might notice one word written on the shirts of the Patriots as they warm up: 'FAMILY'. To most, it might be just another word that is used by any team; however, to Head Coach Matt Beaman and his staff, it means so much more.
But what exactly does the word 'Family' mean to the Patriots? I asked Coach Beaman exactly that, and he didn’t hesitate in his response. “We’ve got it across our shirts, many people have copied us since, we just don’t have it written across our shirts to look good and talk about it. We are really about Family.”
For Coach Beaman, it's about the person next to you whether you are on the field, in the weight room, or in the classroom. “You look at the guy next to you, you have got to be able to count on him. During tough times, you have got to rely on the people that you love”.
In the short season that I have been able to cover the Patriots on the field, the family feel is always evident. Even when the score is not going their way, the players on the field and the sidelines are there for each other. “We always talk about being a family and pulling for and being there for each other. That’s our core value of our program,” said coach Beaman.
But 'Family' is not the only thing that the Patriots look to every day. They want to prove that they are always a physical team, mentally and physically. The culture for the Patriots is just like you would find in any other successful locker room. Coach Beaman wants his guys to be clear minded on the field when playing and not to get caught up in the extracurricular activities that some teams try to trap them in. “We don’t want to get involved in the talking, we want to talk with our pads and the scoreboard”.
With 8-man football, you might find yourself as an undersized Freshman going against an experienced Senior. However, with the coaching style of Coach Beaman, you will always be prepared to win your battle, assignment, and even the game. “The opponent might be bigger, he might be faster, he might be stronger, but you’ve got to be mentally tougher. You have got to figure out a way to win because losing isn't an option”.
Winning and Patriot football are two things that go together hand in hand. Since Coach Beaman has taken over, the Patriots program has been successful each year. The Patriots have had four State Championships since 2015. During that same stretch, they have a record of 64-19 and are currently 4-2 this 2023 season looking to defend their state title.
Coach Beaman knows that all the success does not come without a target on his program. “When they play Parrott, I guarantee it's circled on their schedules. It’s a good thing, it makes us need to bring it every night.”
This year, it seems that the Patriots are not the all-out favorite to repeat as State Champions. They have already played a very tough Rocky Mount Academy team and have games against John Paul II and Faith Christian awaiting them. However, with a few losses and a tough schedule, Coach Beaman isn't backing down at all this year. “I’ll bet on our coaching staff and kids to make adjustments more than anybody.”
I asked Coach Beaman what his definition of a successful season would be for this year, and he didn’t hesitate with an answer. “Winning a conference championship or having more victories isn't what we're about. It’s (State Championship) the ultimate goal and we’re going to keep striving for that.
With a tough ending to the regular season and upcoming playoffs, I know that Coach Beaman and his staff will have their players ready. The “FAMILY” feel and toughness are always evident whenever the Patriots take the field and with the adversity faced this year and past success to draw from, the Patriots will always be in the fight.
And if you're wondering if the Patriots were still ready to defend their State Championship, Coach Beaman knows exactly what is needed. “I don’t think on paper we are the favorite to win the State Championship, but we are going to give them everything we got; that’s our goal!”
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