Ohio State's annual Football Coaches clinic started with a bang Thursday night, as New England Patriots Super Bowl champion Coach Bill Belichick spoke. He was introduced by Buckeye coach Urban Meyer, captured on video by Eric Segar of "11 Warriors."
"I'm always amazed how he takes the non-stars and makes them stars," Meyer said of Belichick. "I started asking him about it and he made this point to me. He said 'At this point in my career, I want to coach guys that I like. I want to coach guys that I want to be around. That's it---I'm not going to coach anybody else.' I think if you look at his players, they're doing the right thing and they're in the right spot at the right time. He surrounds himself with players that he likes to coach. I think that's a life-lesson for me when I go out and recruit now. When we talk to our players, I share that with them. I'm at the point in my career, it's the same thing, I want to be around people I like to coach and that's the selfless, tough individuals who are going to help your team win."
Belichick was very complimentary of Meyer and the Ohio State football program during his remarks as well.
"I have so much respect for Coach Meyer and the job he does at (Ohio State) University," Belichick said. "He's turned out so many great players and great people in that program, so when they asked I was really honored to accept and be here."
In the short video above posted by the Ohio State Football Twitter account, Belichick also praises football in the state of Ohio and the passion for the game at Ohio State.
"This is a football state. That's why I love to come back here," Belichick said. "There's a lot of great sports at Ohio State. I respect all those...not taking anything away from that but Ohio State is about football."
Belichick was the first of several speakers at the clinic over the next few days. Urban Meyer himself will talk football Friday, as well as Hall of Fame coach Lou Holtz. Of course Holtz and our own Earle Bruce are among Meyer's biggest influences. Ohio State football posted a picture of Meyer, with those two and Belichick. There's a lot of football knowledge in that photo...Check it out below.