Bill Belichick

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My (small) connection to Bill Belichick

By lifestylebygoldie on | From sportsbygoldie.wordpress.com

As a New York Giants fan who basked in the glory of their last Super Bowl win against the Patriots which ended the latter’s quest for a record-setting 19-0 season, it’s hard for me to admit any affinity towards Bill Belichick. There’s Spy Gate where the Patriots organization was accused of filming opposing teams’ practice, Belichick’s notoriously less-than-rosy demeanor, and his ridiculous bitterness towards former assistant Eric Mangini. The last particularly gets to me because Mangini (’94) is, like yours truly (’97), a graduate of Wesleyan University. My years there provided many fond memories but rooting for Wesleyan’s athletic teams doesn’t have the same cache as say being at Michigan’s 100,000+ seat football stadium for a game against Ohio State. As a Division III school, Wesleyan is more known for its academic prowess but despite the odds, Belichick(’84) and Mangini both managed to be successful in the NFL (not to mention that Jed Hoyer ’96 is currently the Cubs’ GM). There’s a great article originally published in 2004 by the New York Times when the Patriots were in the midst of their mini dynasty about how important Belichick’s economics degree was to him, even in his current profession (read here: PRO FOOTBALL; For Belichick, An Economy Of Thought – New York Times) However, I still can’t shake how poorly he treated his understudy simply for being hired as the New York Jets head coach. Didn’t OC Bill O’Brien just leave the Patriots – during the playoffs no less - to lead Penn St? I’m naturally drawn to the underdog story of a Wesleyan graduate becoming one of the greatest coaches in NFL history (I will never deny that) but his actions have put me off so much that I have no split interests whatsoever. Go Giants!!