A surprise appearance by New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick highlighted the 57th annual Touchdown Club of Annapolis football awards banquet, held last night at the DoubleTree Hotel.
Belichick, the 2010 NFL Coach of the Year, attended as a tribute to his late father - for whom the Touchdown Club has named a special award. Jeff Herrick, who recently retired following a 22-year tenure as head varsity football coach at Broadneck High, became the fourth recipient of the Steve Belichick Award.
The Steve Belichick Award was created to recognize coaches whose contributions are much greater than mere strategies or schemes and whose impact stretches past the athletic arena. The elder Belichick shunned the spotlight while serving as a Naval Academy assistant from 1956 through 1989. He handled opponent scouting and coached special teams while working for six different head coaches.
"My father loved to coach, loved the game and loved interacting with the players," Belichick said. "Nothing means more to coach than when a player comes back and tells you how much you meant to him. It's important that every coach at every level understands what a big impact they can make on young people."
"Jeff, what a tremendous job you have done at Broadneck for so many years. I'm honored to have your name on my dad's award," Belichick said.
