BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. — Minutes feel like hours in the moments before kickoff.
The weight is heavy for Brooklyn Center head football coach Rodney Pierce-Tyler. The Centaurs home opener brims with excitement for the first year head coach.
New plays to call, touchdowns to score, players to encourage, and moments to reflect… on the one thing that’s missing.
Emmanuel Seward Jr., also known by loved ones as E-man, started for Brooklyn Center at defensive end last season.
“He was crazy. He was definitely more of a standout player because of his attitude,” said Erick Gutierrez, junior wide receiver.
Despite being just 5’8, 160 pounds, what E-man lacked in size, he made up for with his fight, energy, and drive to inspire teammates.
“He was good, he was really strong, unexpected because he’s little,” said senior wide receiver Deontae Thomas.
On the afternoon of July 9, 17-year-old Emmanuel and two of his friends went swimming in the Quarry Park and Nature Preserve near St. Cloud.
“Me and my brother, we’re still close. Still to this day, I share locations with him,” said Princess Seward, Emmanuel’s older sister.
The youngest of four siblings, Emmanuel rarely went a day without contacting his older sister Princess.
“That day, I was like, hmmm, I haven’t heard from him. I facetimed him, and when I facetimed him, a police officer had his phone. And he’s like, well, I just got a call approximately 15 minutes ago that your brother went under water, and he didn’t resurface, and I’m like what? Hold up,” said Princess.
According to the Stearns County Sherriff's Office, Emmanuel, who didn’t know how to swim, jumped off a 10-foot-high cliff into the water and never resurfaced. The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the cause of death as an accidental drowning.
“I’m like no… I’m just thinking, I’m trying to pray, like no, not lines, like no… just trying to make it seem like it’s a nightmare…. I get emotional all the time. There’s not a time I don’t think about him, but I have to stay strong, because I know that’s what he would want, you know?” said Princess.
The Centaurs move forward with a hole in their hearts covered up by the patch they play for.
“When you see that three, what goes through your mind? What does that number represent? E-man. Him and himself. Everything he did on the field,” said Thomas.
“Just hearing his voice. Hearing him telling the team lock in. Everything we do going forward we call it the E-man way,” said Brooklyn Center head football coach Rodney Pierce-Tyler.
E-man’s way on full display on Friday’s in the fall.
“We have a bigger purpose. We have a job to get done. We know what E-man wanted. This year, he wanted to shock the state of Minnesota when it comes to football from Brooklyn Center.
E-man’s jersey on their sideline, number on their helmets, his scrappy energy shining through every down.
“That means a lot, I’m not going to lie. It does mean a lot, because this meant a lot to my brother, like he had so much potential,” said Princess.
His helmet watching silently from the sideline providing comfort as another fourth quarter passes by.
“It does mean a lot that they can honor him like this because, this is what he would want to be doing, you know?” said Princess.