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Matt Patricia and the greatest engineering challenge of his career

Former Detroit Lions QB and ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky sits down with Dave Birkett on radio row for Super Bowl 54 on Jan. 30, 2020, in Miami. Detroit Free Press

TROY, N.Y. — As Matt Patricia prepared to enter the Jonsson Engineering Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for the first time in nearly a quarter-century, he suddenly veered to his right, away from the front door. He wanted to see what couldn’t be seen.

On a frigid Feb. 14 morning, the Free Press joined theDetroit Lions coach for a nearly 12-hour visit at his alma mater that concluded with him giving the keynote speech at the school’s annual ROTC military ball.