Matt Campbell on Staying in Ames and Quarterback Brock Purdy

ARLINGTON, Tx – Iowa State’s Matt Campbell was the first coach up on the stage at the 2021 Big 12 Media Days at AT&T Stadium. The Cyclones finished the 2020 season with a 9-3 overall record, 8-1 in Big 12 play, with their lone loss coming to No. 12 Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game, 27-21.

Campbell returns arguably one of the best quarterback-running back combos in the country in Brock Purdy and Breece Hall, with Hall being one of the two Cyclone players in attendance. In fact, Campbell told the media the reason Purdy’s not here is because he’s set to attend the Manning Passing Academy on Thursday.

Campbell addressed multiple topics on Wednesday morning, but two of the more important topics came in the middle. The first one we’re going to hit on here was the question on everyone’s mind: why in the world in one of the more successful young coaches in the country, who could probably coach anywhere, is still in Ames, IA?

“For me, very simply put, I didn’t get in this profession to be somebody, I got into this profession to do something,” said Matt Campbell. “From my end, what I love about football is to teach; what I love about football is to coach. What I love about creating a culture where young people feel confident and safe to show up everyday and work to become the best version of themselves. Where coaches show up everyday and work to become the best versions of themselves, that’s what I love. I think we’ve worked really hard to create a culture that allows that growth to happen within our walls. That’s what I love about the sport and what I love about what I get to do day in and day out.”

I think the next quote Campbell gave on Brock Purdy certainly makes it easier to stay in Ames, IA.

“When you talk about Brock Purdy, I think you talk about where our program has come and the growth we’ve been able to make, it’s literally been on the coat tails,” said Campbell. “We wouldn’t be where we’re at today without his consistency, his leadership, without his demand to be the best at everything he does. I think what I love about Brock more than anything is he’s never been satisfied and he’s an elite competitor. What I loved about his growth a year ago, anytime you care so much, I think myself, the coaches, the players that have invested so much, that you’re almost paralyzed because you don’t want to screw up or make a mistake and what I saw last year as we got to November and December and finishing the season, I saw that in Brock Purdy as a freshman that played with so much confidence and so much care-free mentality. It was such a joy for me as a coach to see that come back and enjoy playing football at Iowa State again. I’m so proud of him and what he’s become, and I really think he’s got a chance to put a really great finishing touch on what’s been an incredible journey for him.”