When it was announced that the mastermind behind the New England Patriots' dynasty, Bill Belichick, was the next featured speaker in the Salem State College series, I knew that I had to be there.
After realizing that the tickets had sold out quicker than any speaker before, or so it seemed, I had to join the majority of students that had missed out on what should be a once in a lifetime experience.
However, as Sports Editor at The Salem State Log, I was fortunate enough to find my way into the lecture, in the top balcony with the rest of the local media. In accordance with Coach Belichick's contract, there were only local credentials in attendance. This wasn't the only thing Belichick had termed into his deal. Photography was only allowed for the first five minutes of the lecture, and only from your seat.
The capacity crowd at Rockett Arena was first greeted by new president of Salem State College, Patricia Maguire Meservey, Ph.D., R.N. She proclaimed that she 'deeply treasures' her new position as president of the college, and received a loud cheer from the crowd upon mentioning the Patriots' prefect 16-0 season.
Following the president was a short video collage of the Patriots and coach Belichick accompanied by Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir". The video covered all the major accomplishments of coach Belichick's career, which are numerous.
Bill Belichick is a 33-year veteran of the NFL, and is the only coach in NFL history to win three Super Bowl titles in a four-year span. In 2007, Belichick led the Patriots to the fourth perfect (no losses or ties) regular season in the NFL's 88-year history, and the first since the NFL established a 16-game schedule in 1978.
He has led the Patriots to the Super Bowl four times in the last seven seasons, and he has produced five straight AFC East titles and six division championships in the last seven seasons.
Belichick's Patriots own the all-time NFL records for consecutive total victories, 21 from 2003-04, consecutive regular-season victories, 19 from 2006-07, and consecutive playoff victories, 10 from 2001-05. Belichick owns the second-best postseason record in NFL history, 15-4, and is the winningest NFL head coach since 2001 at 100-29.
Belichick has spent more seasons in the league than any other current NFL head coach, and in that time, he has been a part of five Super Bowl championship teams. His overall record of 105-40 with the Patriots gives him the most victories, and the best winning percentage, of any head coach in franchise history.
This man is truly a football genius, but his humor is probably what makes him such a great coach. After a roaring ovation, coach Belichick commented on his apparent 'genius',
"I've been called a football genius, but I've also been called a moron by my kids; when I forget to take out the trash or I let the dogs off the leash...so that kind of goes both ways."
Coach Belichick also offered some kind words about the City of Salem.
16 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Dan Dourian about 1 year ago
Good Work Snow. Entertaining and informative.
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Nathaniel Snow about 1 year ago
Thanks Dan, glad to see you getting involved in the sports blogging too. Write some stuff up that will still be relevant for our first issue next semester... That's what I am going to try and do...
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Bruce Dickenson about 1 year ago
"Does your uncanny ability to breakdown offenses stem from your patience on the golf course?"
No it comes from cheating. Ha Ha cheater.
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Nathaniel Snow about 1 year ago
ha ha ha... HATER...
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Mike Dussault about 1 year ago
Great read. Thanks for posting. I love this stuff. Too bad idiots like the Rats fan and his brilliantly original comment above can't appreciate anything BB does. Best Coach in NFL History!
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Bruce Dickenson about 1 year ago
Oh com'on, can't you guys laugh a little?
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Mike Dussault about 1 year ago
I laughed at South Park's Beelll Beeelichick episode.
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Bruce Dickenson about 1 year ago
Honestly I just think the guy is a jerk. The funny thing is Mangini is developing a reputation for being a bigger jerk.
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Nathaniel Snow about 1 year ago
He actually came off as a genuinely nice guy, and he is presented that way in Michael Holley's book 'Patriot Reign'. And yeah, I get the joke I just didn't think it was funny. HA.
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Bruce Dickenson about 1 year ago
You didn't get because you are not willing to admit that your coach is an ass...and he cheats.
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TR about 1 year ago
Bruce, I think that you are the ass. Take your head OUT of your ass, and you just might see the light of day. I'm glad I'm not you.
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Bruce Dickenson about 1 year ago
I love you Terry.
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Nathaniel Snow about 1 year ago
Years from now, Belichick will be remembered as possibly the best head coach of all time, and none of this 'scandal' bull will even make it into the commentary. I doubt it has any effect on his making it into the Hall of Fame either.
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Nick Colon about 1 year ago
This is a funny post. Not the article itself, as I was there with ya Nate, but I mean this Bruce fella, and all the commotion he's getting. Must be a Jets or Giants fan. Poor Bruce. Anyways, yeah Bill is a genus, and he'll go down as a legend in the game. All these Super Bowl rings, and not enough fingers to put them on eventually..hmmm.
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Nick Colon about 1 year ago
By the way...nicely written article. I knew you took plenty of notes during the event, but that's really indepth. You'll have to teach me how to do that. Did the recorder work out fine by the way?
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Nathaniel Snow about 1 year ago
yeah, i got the whole event on the recorder so it made it really easy to recount the evening
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