Plankton
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Very interesting read.
http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/11/28/nfl-matt-patricia-bill-belichick-patriots-defense
OXBOROUGH, Mass. — In 2004, when the Patriots were at the height of their dynasty, they put out word that they had an opening for a “coaching assistant,” an entry-level position. A Syracuse football grad assistant named Matt Patricia applied, was summoned to New England and found he would be interviewing with Bill Belichick himself. Belichick grilled Patricia on plays, schemes and terminology. He kept pushing for more detailed answers, probing deeper with his questions, putting Patricia under constant psychological pressure.
Patricia left the interview wondering, what just happened? He had studied aeronautical engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Firms such as Boeing, General Electric and Lockheed Martin had flocked to RPI to recruit bright minds like him. But this Belichick interview, Patricia would later tell his friends, was the hardest interview he ever had.
The Patriots sent Patricia home around midday, earlier than he expected, and he spent the trip back replaying the conversation in his head. He didn’t know that everyone who works or plays for Belichick is at some point subjected to intense evaluation. Belichick needs to know that he can trust you, that you can deliver, and then maybe he’ll give you some responsibility, and then some more, until, a decade later, you’re his right-hand man running his defense.
Patricia’s phone rang. The Patriots. The job was his, but they wanted an answer immediately. He hesitated. Understandably, he told them he needed to consult his wife first.
The Patriots pulled the offer. If Patricia couldn’t answer them then, they figured, he wasn’t that committed. He wouldn’t fit their culture.
Patricia freaked out. He called Nick Carparelli, a friend who had worked at Syracuse and also as the Patriots’ director of operations under Belichick. Carparelli knew the organization well. He called a Patriots assistant and stressed how much Patricia really, truly wanted the job. The next day Belichick called Carparelli back. According to Carparelli, this is how the conversation went:
“What’s up with this kid Matt Patricia? Should I hire him?”
“Absolutely, coach.”
“Is he going to flake out on me? Does he really want the job? Or is he going to leave midseason?”
“Coach, trust me.”
“Nick,” Belichick said, “if I hire this kid and it doesn’t work out, I’m going to kill you.”
http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/11/28/nfl-matt-patricia-bill-belichick-patriots-defense
OXBOROUGH, Mass. — In 2004, when the Patriots were at the height of their dynasty, they put out word that they had an opening for a “coaching assistant,” an entry-level position. A Syracuse football grad assistant named Matt Patricia applied, was summoned to New England and found he would be interviewing with Bill Belichick himself. Belichick grilled Patricia on plays, schemes and terminology. He kept pushing for more detailed answers, probing deeper with his questions, putting Patricia under constant psychological pressure.
Patricia left the interview wondering, what just happened? He had studied aeronautical engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Firms such as Boeing, General Electric and Lockheed Martin had flocked to RPI to recruit bright minds like him. But this Belichick interview, Patricia would later tell his friends, was the hardest interview he ever had.
The Patriots sent Patricia home around midday, earlier than he expected, and he spent the trip back replaying the conversation in his head. He didn’t know that everyone who works or plays for Belichick is at some point subjected to intense evaluation. Belichick needs to know that he can trust you, that you can deliver, and then maybe he’ll give you some responsibility, and then some more, until, a decade later, you’re his right-hand man running his defense.
Patricia’s phone rang. The Patriots. The job was his, but they wanted an answer immediately. He hesitated. Understandably, he told them he needed to consult his wife first.
The Patriots pulled the offer. If Patricia couldn’t answer them then, they figured, he wasn’t that committed. He wouldn’t fit their culture.
Patricia freaked out. He called Nick Carparelli, a friend who had worked at Syracuse and also as the Patriots’ director of operations under Belichick. Carparelli knew the organization well. He called a Patriots assistant and stressed how much Patricia really, truly wanted the job. The next day Belichick called Carparelli back. According to Carparelli, this is how the conversation went:
“What’s up with this kid Matt Patricia? Should I hire him?”
“Absolutely, coach.”
“Is he going to flake out on me? Does he really want the job? Or is he going to leave midseason?”
“Coach, trust me.”
“Nick,” Belichick said, “if I hire this kid and it doesn’t work out, I’m going to kill you.”
