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Father, coach, inspiration

A former University of Miami football standout dispenses knowledge to his son's Freedom High School squad.

By DEMORRIS LEE
Published September 23, 2005

TAMPA PALMS - Matt Patchan doesn't talk about himself much. But his son, also Matt Patchan, will gladly talk about his dad.

Ask the elder Patchan about his days on the University of Miami football team, and he'll reply: "Yeah, I played for UM on scholarship."

But that's when Matt the son chimes in: "Come on, Dad, you were a great player, come out and say it. He does this all the time because he never wants to talk about himself, but they still consider him one of the best offensive linemen to ever come out of the UM."

Patchan the elder, with a slight diversion of the eyes, bashfully says: "You know, you don't want to talk about yourself."

While sitting at a picnic table at the New Tampa Little League Park waiting for younger brother Brandon to finish baseball practice, Matt Patchan the high school sophomore completed his father's sentences. His father often grabbed his son's shoulder to keep him from telling another football story, or to show agreement with his son's last statement.

At the picnic table, they were father and son. Earlier in that day and on Friday nights, they are father and coach. Matt Patchan is the volunteer defensive coordinator of the Freedom High School football team. His son is a sophomore offensive tackle for the team. But the lines of father and son or coach and player are never blurred. And the high schooler insists he gets no special favors from his father.

"He pushes me hard, even harder," the son said. "When it comes to football, it's not the son/coach relationship. He pushes me harder."

At age 15, and 6 feet 6 inches tall, Patchan plays with intensity. And though he says he's playing football because he loves the game, his father's accomplishments as a man beyond the gridiron, despite being through several challenges, is what encourages him.

"I know everything he has achieved, and I want to be like that," said Patchan, a spitting image of his father in his younger years. "He loves us. If we wanted to do anything, he would be proud of any us. But it's a good thing I picked football because now he can help me out."

Matt Patchan, 40, was a beast of an offensive lineman at the University of Miami from 1984 to 1987. Because he was small compared to his counterparts, Patchan used his speed and strength to outman them. He still owns one of the fastest 40-yard dash times for an offensive lineman in UM football history.

"Patchan was probably one of the best offensive lineman to ever go to UM," said Dan Mariscal, who played middle linebacker for UM and was Patchan's college roommate. "They still use his practice films as training film for guys at UM right now."

Now a firefighter in Key West, Mariscal, 40, invited Patchan and several other players to his Florida home one weekend. There, Patchan met Mariscal's sister Deanne. The two later married and now have three sons. Mariscal had never planned to introduce his sister to football players.

"I have no regrets, he's a great person," Mariscal said of Patchan joining the family. "He's a person who will give you the shirt off his back. But when he was playing, you didn't want to go against him because you were going to end up on your back, and there is no doubt about that."

Patchan played at Miami when Jimmy Johnson was the head coach; Johnson later went on to coach the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins. Patchan protected quarterback Vinny Testaverde from defenders. Patchan was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles for the 1988-89 season, but his pro football career was brief.

During a pass protection drill against Reggie White, who was then with the Eagles, he injuried his left shoulder, tearing away two-thirds of the muscles. There is still a visible hole where much of the muscle was removed.

After the injury, the Eagles waived their option to keep him and he went to the Miami Dolphins and then to the Cleveland Browns.

But in 1990, there was another turn. Patchan was trying to get drafted for a new football organization, the World League. A doctor for the league insisted that he do further testing on a lump that Patchan had on his neck.

The lump turn out to be Hodgkin's lymphoma. Patchan needed radiation to stop the cancer. As a result of the radiation, he lost mobility in his legs and now walks with a cane.

"Those were three very difficult years," Patchan said. "I never would have thought my best days would be early in rookie camp. You never know what tomorrow holds.

"As an athlete, I was used to being able to control the outcomes of situations because you can work harder and do whatever it takes," Patchan continued. "But you can't control the uncontrollable, and that's the most frustrating thing."

At Freedom High football practices, Patchan often scoots around in a golf cart. Because he's the defensive coordinator, he spends Friday nights in the coaches' box above the field.

Because of his disability, he's unable to work.

"He's the busiest unemployed guy in town," his son said. They both laughed, and Patchan grabbed his son's shoulder.

Patchan has taken the uncontrollable change in his life much like he approached life on the football field: with lots of energy.

When he's not taking a son to hockey practice or baseball practice, or talking to a Freedom High coach about an upcoming game, he might be found in a health food store.

"He's the biggest natural food guy and knows everything about the body," his son said with a laugh. "We eat healthy."

Patchan said whether he and his sons are watching a UM football game on a Saturday afternoon or whether he's talking to the young players at Freedom High, life is good.

"This is an opportunity to try and make a positive impact on young lives," Patchan said. "I was lucky enough to be able to do what I was able to do. I can take that little experience and share it with the boys. That includes my sons and the players on the team."

Demorris Lee can be reached at 813 269-5312 or dalee@sptimes.com

North of Tampa is doing a regular series on Freedom High School's football team this season. To comment on the series "Beyond the Gridiron," go to www.tampabay.com/guestbooks/freedom

[Last modified September 22, 2005, 09:00:09]