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Belichick played for Rutgers and now wants to beat his alma mater

Posted on by Vanessa
Belichick played for Rutgers and now wants to beat his alma mater

At Rutgers, he was known as Stephen Belichick as a member of the 2011 football team. as a walk-on long snapper, as someone who presented himself a little more formally, even though his hair was longer than ever.

He came to the Scarlet Knights as the son of a famous NFL coach, but because of his parentage he was not granted any special privileges and certainly no playing time.

After four seasons with the Rutgers lacrosse team, his primary sport, Belichick joined the football team as a 5-foot-10, 185-pound senior. He wore number 16. He was part of a 9-4 season that ended in the Pinstripe Bowl against Iowa State at Yankee Stadium. He never appeared in a game. Nevertheless, he left with good feelings.

“I had a great time,” he said. “I really appreciate Coach (Greg) Schiano and the guys that were with me. It was a great experience. Yes, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Thirteen years later, the young Belichick, 37, returns to Piscataway, New Jersey, as a football opponent, as the University of Washington's defensive coordinator and as coach Jedd Fisch for a Friday night game that will be nationally televised by FOX.

Belichick and Fisch are both New Jersey natives, born in Summit and Livingston, respectively, which adds to the coziness of this football game.

Otherwise, Belichick will be looking to beat the man he played for in Schiano, now serving as Rutgers coach for the second time since returning in 2020. His first tour began in 2001 and lasted eleven seasons.

Bill and Steve Belichick attend Rutgers' Pinstripe Bowl appearance together in 2011.

Bill and Steve Belichick attend Rutgers' Pinstripe Bowl appearance together in 2011. / Rutgers

Schiano and Belichick simultaneously left the Scarlet Knights and moved to the NFL – Schano became head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the 2012 and 2013 seasons, while Belichick joined his father in 2012 as an assistant coach with the New England Patriots and a stay of a dozen years.

The elder Belichick often traveled the 235 miles from the Boston area to Rutgers to watch his son play lacrosse, even wearing that team's gear at his press conferences and posing for photos with Steve at the Pinstripe Bowl after the game.

Schiano recounted in a Providence Journal story how Belichick came onto his team and agreed that he should play one sport at a time.

Steve Belichick was a long snapper for Rutgers in 2011.

Steve Belichick was a long snapper for Rutgers in 2011. / Rutgers

“Stephen talked to me about playing football early on when he decided to come to Rutgers,” the coach said. “He came to play lacrosse, so we decided it would be best for him to get down to earth there, and so that didn't come about until his lacrosse career was over.”

Steve Belichick came to Rutgers from The Rivers School in Weston, Massachusetts, where he played both sports and spent time as a linebacker, tight end, fullback and long snapper on his high school football team.

Any pleasantries between the alum and his old team will be put aside once the teams square off at Rutgers at 8 p.m. ET.

For the latest UW football and basketball news, visit si.com/college/washington

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