Writer: Matt Rappa
Soul GM Beau Bell: Ron Jaworski Is ‘Great Mentor, Inspiration, Leader’
By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor
Since its inception in 2004, the Philadelphia Soul have been guided by former Philadelphia Eagles Pro Bowl quarterback, Ron Jaworski. Now the Philadelphia-headquartered Arena Football League's Chairman of Executive Committee, "Jaws" has positively and significantly impacted both the team and league overall amid its expansion and "new direction."
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At the Soul's last open player tryout on Saturday at Total Turf Experience in Pitman, New Jersey, Soul General Manager and Assistant Head Coach Beau Bell said Jaws, the team's Majority Owner, a "great mentor" for himself, as well as a "great inspiration."
"He's a great leader. He's a great individual and great person, and I'm blessed to be able to have a relationship with him and with the Philadelphia Soul itself," Bell said.
Bell, 32, has experienced a wealth of professional football among the National, United, Canadian, and Arena football leagues. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns as a linebacker in the 2008 NFL Draft, and would later play for the UFL’s Omaha Nighthawks (2010) and Las Vegas Locomotives (2011), the CFL’s BC Lions (2012), and the AFL’s Spokane Shock (2011, 2013) and Los Angeles Kiss (2014), before ultimately calling Philadelphia home for three seasons (2015-2017).
Bell would retire after the Soul’s ArenaBowl XXX victory with two league championships, and two First Team All-Arena 2017 AFL Defensive Player of the Year honors. He joined the newly formed Albany Empire in 2018 as its Director of Player Personnel/Pass Rush Coordinator, before ultimately returning to the City of Brotherly Love and the Soul this September in his new role.
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Soul Head Coach Clint Dolezel echoed Bell's thoughts about Jaworski before dozens of open player tryout attendees on Saturday, saying "the man eats and sleeps football."
"It doesn't matter what it is, if he was up here, you would see the passion in that man. I love that guy."
Along with Jaws, other Soul ownership, Dolezel and his staff, Bell is tasked with assembling a roster to help the team return and win its third ArenaBowl championship over a span of four seasons. The Soul won their first ArenaBowl in 2008, and 11 years later, Dolezel said falling short of a fourth championship "would be not be "acceptable."
"It starts from the top … with Jaws [and the owners], they make a great atmosphere to be able to work in a trade environment," Bell said. "That's all we can ask for from great people in the front office, to be able to get the business side going, and great coaches with Coach Dolezel, getting the football side going and putting it all together."
"It's just a recipe for success."