"I show up, and he starts pontificating about his position at Western Michigan, how it was trying to be a big-time program and how he noticed me on film," Offerdahl remembered. "I looked up and said: 'Great. I've got to get to band practice. I've got a concert tonight.' "
Not considered an NCAA Division I prospect, Offerdahl was more interested in playing French horn and becoming a doctor than football. When he realized he could ease the financial burden on his parents with a scholarship, though, he agreed to go to Kalamazoo, Mich.
Mattison refined Offerdahl's technique, helped him become the leading tackler in the Mid-American Conference, and pointed him toward a lucrative NFL career. After Offerdahl's junior year, during which he struggled with biochemistry classes, he wanted to quit football to preserve his dream of becoming a doctor.
"[Coach] pulled me aside and made two points," Offerdahl said. "First, he said, 'John, you can do it, and we can work with you.' Then he said, very clearly: 'You don't know how close you are to a dream that thousands of men your age have and never reach. You're on the precipice of playing in the NFL.' ...
"Coach Mattison made that the defining moment in my life. He said, 'Don't throw it all away,' and his example spurred me on."
During his long tour of college coaching, Mattison resisted overtures from John Harbaugh to join the NFL. He had just completed the 2008 recruiting season at Florida when he decided to make the move.
"Every day I've been here, it's reinforced that this is a tremendous place," he said. "I'm not so naive not to know some of it has to do with having a great season [reaching the AFC championship game]. But I'm talking about the day-to-day relationships with players.
"I'm coaching Ray Lewis, and Ray is the greatest player I've ever had the opportunity to coach. He listens to every word you say, does everything you ask him to do.."
When minicamp starts Friday, Mattison will have new weapons to work into the equation, among them free-agent cornerback Domonique Foxworth and draft choices Paul Kruger, Lardarius Webb and Jason Phillips.
Mattison said he will introduce as much of the playbook as he can this weekend, then break it down in later sessions. The rookies and new players will be scrutinized.
Mattison wanted to make one final distinction as Ryan's successor.
