Belichick recalls other falls in Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA >> “The Place That Loves You Back” has made an indelible impression on “The Hoodie.”
During a Tuesday conference call, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick almost made his audience choke on its coffee with his recollection of how he remembers Philadelphia fondly.
“Personally, I’ve always had a real affection for the city of Philadelphia,” said Belichick, who will be here again this weekend. “I grew up there going to all the Army-Navy games. Every Saturday after Thanksgiving, I’d get up there on Black Friday and see all the shoppers out there and how busy it was there on Broad Street. Wanamaker’s and the Bellevue-Stratford, there’s really a lot of great memories from my childhood growing up on those weekends in Philadelphia.”
This from the guy whose Patriots team beat Andy Reid and the Eagles so badly in a 2011 game at the Linc that the crowd broke into a chorus of “Fire Andy.”
Belichick’s late father, Stephen, spent 30 years in various capacities with the Naval Academy football team. He passed away in 2005 in Annapolis, where Bill was raised. Those moments still resonate with the 67-year-old Belichick, who has guided the Patriots to an NFL-record six Super Bowl titles. He was the head coach of the original Cleveland Browns when they defeated the Eagles at Veterans Stadium in 1994. He also served as defensive coordinator of the Giants under Bill Parcells.
Belichick is 4-2 as a head coach against the Eagles, including a win and a loss to the Birds in respective Super Bowls XXXIX and LII.
In addition to the ArmyNavy games at JFK Stadium, Belichick’s memories include
Randall Cunningham’s 91yard punt that helped the Eagles beat the Giants at the Meadowlands in 1989, the dominant win for the Browns in 1994, the legacies of Dick Vermeil, the late Marion Campbell and Buddy Ryan and into the more modern times with Reid, Doug Pederson and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, a scout for the ‘94 Browns.
Belichick never lost sight of the Eagles.
“They’re always a very competitive team,” he said. “I think Jeff Lurie and his family have done a great job with that franchise. They’ve been very, very competitive through the years there, going back to Dick and Buddy and obviously Andy, and now Pederson, who’s really an Andy disciple.”
Belichick blew off the opportunity to explain how the Patriots have been able to sustain their success, while the Eagles have not by fast-forwarding to the task at hand.
“Obviously it’s a big challenge for us,” Belichick said. “We didn’t do very well the last time we played them. Hopefully we can be more competitive this time.”
As for that last Super Bowl, Belichick said, “we talked about that game at length, ad nauseum. That game was a long time ago. We’re getting
ready for this game.”
As for Eagles fans, Belichick praised their passion, deadpanning, “I’ve always gotten a real nice and warm reception from the fans. I’m sure that will continue.”