by “Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but rather in the hours, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it.” – T Allan Armstrong
The first time we ever covered Tommy Bebie, he was a sophomore suiting up for the Rocky River Pirates. The day was August 29th, 2019 and the Westwood Cup was on the line as opening weekend kicked off for High School Football.
The visiting Rocky River Pirates trailed the Westlake Demons 7-6 at halftime and it looked as though an upset may be in the making. It was then that Tommy Bebie stepped on the field for the second half and everything changed.
Tommy Bebie rebounded from only 3 carries for 12 yards in the first half, to blast for 161 yards on 16 carries with 3 touchdowns by the end of the night. Bebie took things over and turned a 7-6 halftime deficit into a 41-14 blowout by the end of the night. He was just getting started!
A few weeks later we were in River to cover the Pirates again as they hosted Normandy when Bebie went off for 138 yards on only 7 carries with a touchdown. On the same night, his older brother Owen caught two long touchdown passes from rocket armed quarterback Braedon Spies. It was clear, River had something special!
The thing that stood out about young Tommy was that he made plays all over the field on both sides of the ball. He literally did it all and never gloated once. He exuded hard-work and was an example for his teammates around him. It was clear, Bebie had what it took to be a champion.
He may measure currently at 6 foot 1, 195 pounds, but even though those numbers are getting him looked at by top colleges all over the nation. It is his heart, hustle, loyalty and leadership that will get him signed to the college of his choice. You can list him as a tailback or a linebacker, it doesn’t matter because the best word I use to describe Tommy is champion.
This young man could have gone to St. Edward, or St. Ignatius but he stayed local and decided to play for his hometown city. That is so rare, and also so refreshing! Bebie is putting River on the map and on his way to becoming the most decorated athlete in school history.
With a talented QB like Spies behind center, it will keep defenses honest and refrain from stacking 8 in the box. With that being the case, the options and potential for Bebie are unlimited!
I spoke to some of his coaches today who had plenty to say about this talented and humble young man. Coach Hrusch who handles the Varsity Defensive Backfield had this to share about Tommy, “Tommy is the hardest working player I have ever been around. He is deserving of all the awards, accolades and attention he is getting. He is very humble though, and keeps striving for greatness.
He is a great leader, and brings others with him on his journey. When I coached Tommy as a freshman, I made a prediction that he had a chance to be the greatest Rocky River football player of all time and he is on his way to being in that discussion. Tommy is bringing attention to other great players in our program with his recruitment and opening doors for them as well.
The fact that Tommy is doing this at Rocky River High School in his hometown when he easily could have gone and excelled at one of the nearby Private High Schools speaks to Tommy’s loyalty and commitment to this school, community and his teammates.”
Coach Atwater, who is in charge of the QB’s and also Pass Game Coordinator also had plenty to say when it came to his pass catching threat, “Since his time here as a freshman, Tommy Bebie has displayed an uncommon commitment to excellence that has driven teammates and coaches to follow suit.
The result has been the development of a journey that is on the brink of something special. Behind the leadership of Tommy and this senior class, I’m confident that the Brotherhood of the Pirates is primed to have an experience, through football, that will have an impact on them for the rest of their lives.”
Wide receiver Coach Phafl also had high praise for Bebie who continues to make this offense explosive, “Tommy is a student athlete who understood early that he already was good, but he made the choice to be elite. Tommy didn’t settle for just being a hard worker, coachable and a great teammate.
He took those basic traits, which honestly every player should already have, and chose to live them everyday at an elite level with consistency, extreme attention to detail and urgency.
Tommy trains to be dominant. He is a problem solver who makes himself available to his teammates to help them level up. He deflects individual recognition and shines the light on team success. He relentlessly does everything he can to improve himself daily in all areas of his life.”
Varsity Defensive Line Coach Milner has the pleasure of working with Bebie and his teammates on the defensive side of the ball, and was eager to share various exciting points about the young man, “Tommy Bebie is a once in a generation type of kid. Tommy’s on field skill speaks for itself. If you watch any clips of him playing, you know that he is a player that must be precisely game planned against each week. The most incredible thing is that this isn’t even his best attribute: It is his work ethic, his drive, and his commitment.
There is not a single second that goes by where he is not improving upon himself in some fashion, whether it is physically, mentally, or emotionally. Whether it is an early morning lift before practice or a late night session of improving upon his 40 and shuttle time at the field with no lights on, Tommy’s goal is always to be the best at whatever he does through relentless effort and dedication.
One of my best memories of Tommy was after we lost a tough game to Bay his sophomore year, he rapidly approached me after the game, still taped and in his jersey and pads, and asked if I had time to take him to the weight room because he wasn’t satisfied with his performance.
A “day off” or a “break” is a very foreign concept to Tommy. The main thing that sets Tommy Bebie apart from others is the way he brings others along on his journey to greatness.
Tommy Bebies greatest success is not what he has turned HIMSELF into through endless hours of self improvement and dedication: It is the courtesy, compassion, and concern for OTHERS who he has motivated to better themselves along his journey as well. He is an epitome of a “brother” in our Brotherhood of the Pirates here at Rocky River.
Perhaps head coach Josh Wells sums it up best with his comments, “I think the best way to describe why Tommy is such a great leader and teammate is the fact that he makes everyone around him better.
He holds teammates accountable, celebrates accomplishments of his teammates, and puts the team first. He never asks a teammate to do something that he wasn’t willing to do.
Tommy has a drive and work ethic to him that is contagious and it has rubbed off on other players in our program. Tommy attacks each day like it’s game day and that’s what makes him the great player that he is.”
The home schedule for the Pirates has been set, and is as follows.
8/20 vs. Midview,
8/27 vs. Firelands,
9/10 vs. Lakewood,
10/1 vs Fairview,
10/8 vs. Westlake.
