Uncle Phil: Belichick did what all coaches do
If you follow the National Football League, you’ve no doubt heard about the controversy involving New England head coach Bill Belichick, who had a team employee stand on the New York Jets sideline to videotape the signals that Jets coaches were sending to their players.
I’ve always had a keen interest in the gamesmanship of organized sports, and insight from people experienced in such matters is key in further understanding the game within the game. I decided to ask my Uncle Phil his thoughts on the Belichick incident.
Why him, you ask? Well, during the 1970s, Phil was head football coach of a very successful program at Oak Grove High School in San Jose, Calif. One of his assistants during those days was a young Mike Holmgren, who after serving an apprenticeship of sorts under 49ers coach Bill Walsh, won a Super Bowl as head coach of the Packers and got to another as the current head coach of the Seahawks.
Uncle Phil also has his own experience with the NFL as an assistant under former Lions head coach Marty Mornhinweg, who happened to be Phil’s quarterback at Oak Grove High. While he didn’t actively coach players, Phil was involved with the weekly preparation as well as during game days, so he’s got plenty of insight.
My questions are in bold italics; his answers are in regular text.
