After wild week of speculation, Matt Campbell says his passion at Iowa State football remains unchanged
After a week of swirling speculation and rampant rumors, Matt Campbell finally spoke.
Though for Campbell, it was hardly the words that mattered.
“There’s been a lot of things said,” Campbell said Sunday hours after his Iowa State football team was selected to play in the Cheez-It Bowl against Clemson, “and I think when you go back to my belief system, it’s really been your actions speak louder than your words. For the last six years, I’ve said and followed through on the same actions.”
Campbell had been at the center of a rush of speculation about his candidacy for various premier jobs over the last 10 days, from USC to Notre Dame and a few in between.
“Something could come open that is the right fit for the right reason,” Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard said on the school’s radio show last week. “If that’s what he wants to do, we should be ecstatic because he’s delivered and then some for Iowa State.”
More: Iowa State football draws Clemson in the Cheez-It Bowl
Campbell, though, remains at the helm of Iowa State and is set to lead the Cyclones to a program-record fifth-straight bowl game.
“Building a program has always been my dream,” Campbell said. “Whether it was at the collegiate level or the high school level, to me that doesn’t matter. It’s always been about people for me. It’s always been about the priorities of, No. 1, my own family, No. 2, the people I get to work with and for, and then No. 3, the purpose of making a difference in the lives of young people.
“Those are my goals and aspirations. I know a lot of people like to put words in my mouth or assume that they know who I am or what I’m thinking, but the people the closest to me understand my value system and what’s important to me.”
The last 10 days have not been the first time Campbell has had to address questions about his future at Iowa State, and, if the Cyclones continue on the trajectory he has set, it won’t likely be the last, either.
“Whether it’s been the last week or every day in the last six years,” Campbell said, “I’ve woken up with a passion and action to lead our program the right way.
“It really comes back to your actions speak louder than your words. We’re in a time and place where a lot of people say a lot of things, but your actions are what are indicative of who you are and what you’re about.”
Are opt-outs coming?
It’s become an increasingly common trend to see draft-eligible players opt out of bowl games to safeguard their health as they prepare to begin their professional careers.
Iowa State has 21 seniors on its rosters along with two juniors — running back Breece Hall and defensive end Will McDonald — that have appeared high on draft boards.
“The really great, positive thing from my end, almost to a person, is no matter what the future holds for them, I think everybody wants to finish this thing out,” Campbell said, “and put a great end to what has been a really great season for our kids.
“My expectation is if there is anybody that chooses not to play, we’ll probably find that out in the next five or six days, but I would say the bulk or majority of our team will be prepared to go to this bowl game and play.”
More: 5 things to know about Clemson football, Iowa State's opponent in the Cheez-It Bowl
Clemson connection
Clemson is no stranger to college football fans after making the last six College Football Playoffs and winning two national champions, and their coach, Dabo Swinney, is no stranger to Matt Campbell.
“Coach Swinney has been a great resource for me,” Campbell said. “A couple years ago, I had the opportunity to go down to Clemson, and for a young coach that I am, you’re always searching for people in our profession that are doing it the right way and are leading from the heart.
“For me, it was a transformational experience because of what I saw when I got to Clemson, the kindness and the care and the love and the passion that coach lead with and continues to lead with. It was a huge eye opening experience of you can lead a football program the right way.”
More: How to watch Iowa State football vs. Clemson in the Cheez-It Bowl
Swinney, though, said their relationship predates Campbell's trip to South Carolina.
“The first time I met him, we were actually crossing paths at an airport,” Swinney said Sunday. “I was immediately struck with his authenticity, who he is and I’ve admired what he’s done at a place where it’s not easy to go do what he’s done.
“We swapped numbers and he came out to Clemson and really from that time on, from time to time talk, swap text messages.
“Just an incredibly bright coach, a guy that I think really loves the player and is very serious about certainly winning but winning in a way that builds great men through the process.”
Travis Hines covers Iowa State University sports for the Des Moines Register and Ames Tribune. Contact him at thines@amestrib.com or (515) 284-8000. Follow him at @TravisHines21.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Matt Campbell reaffirms his passion to coach Iowa State football
