Everyone remembers the Jets game in 2001 as the game that changed the course of Patriots history.

That day, of course, was when Drew Bledsoe was smoked on the sideline, forcing Tom Brady into action and the rest as they say is history. However, people often forget the emotional scene that took place before that game as Joe Andruzzi – a Patriots lineman at the time for those not old enough to remember – led the team out onto the field for the home opener after it was delayed a week holding two small American flags. Joe’s brothers who were members of the New York Fire Department also came out onto the field and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house at the old Foxboro Stadium.

Bill Belichick had some ties to the tragedy as a former coach of the Giants too. On Friday, Belichick reflected about the Patriots’ preparation that week, what he remembers about that day and also how he remembers that year in general since there was a pretty happy ending in New Orleans.

“It’s a lot of mixed feelings probably, as we all have,” he said. “We were game planning that day on Tuesday, and then everything just obviously changed quickly. Just a lot of different emotions and thoughts and questions that eventually kind of got answered, but initially there was a lot of speculation and just trying to figure out what happened, why it happened and so forth. But on the football team, certainly Joe’s ties to New York, the New York City fire department. Having been with the Giants in New York and spent time in that area, I had some personal connections to the event as well. Just as a country, it was kind of, let’s say it brought a certain feeling of nationality and patriotism to us that I think we all felt during that season, and then in a lot of different ways turned into a very magical season for our football team.

“All of us that were intimately involved in the relationships, and ultimately, the success that that team had and the way it had was certainly an unforgettable year for me, and I’m sure for all of us that were involved. A lot of mixes there. 2001 was, football wise, a pretty happy experience. When you mix it in with 9/11, it definitely puts another perspective on it that is a lot bigger than football.”

Belichick was also asked about the role the NFL played in helping the country return to normal. The U2 performance of the 2001 Super Bowl is an all timer and the fact that the team wearing red, white and blue pulled off a miracle victory was an incredible story. Everyone remembers the Mike Piazza home run for the Mets or President Bush’s rocket of a first pitch in the World Series, but it was these moments that might have meant the most as far as sports helping the country heal.

“I’m not sure I know the answer to it. I don’t know if I have a global perspective on that,” said Belichick. “I was so deep in the middle of it that honestly, we were just trying to prepare and win a game. We won a lot of close games that year. We weren’t any type of dominating team. I mean, every game seemed like it came down to the wire, or it was a tough game. They were all tough games, so I’m not sure that I have a global perspective on that for our team and the franchise and certainly the New England area.

“I mean, the support was fantastic, and again, it was a very magical year for all of us. What it meant outside of the region and to the country and all of that, I don’t know that I could give you a good answer on that.”