FOOTBALL: QUESTIONS, COACHES, AND, COVID - COACH CAMPBELL

It's been a strange and unusual ride the past few months, but nothing could have prepared me for the empty feeling of September without fall sports at the CCCAA level... especially without football. As the NFL begins its first week of competition, an anxious wave of emotion settles in the pit of my stomach as if I am missing a deadline. Although we should be in week two of the season, it is important to remember that the safety of our student athletes and staff always come first. We will have our time again! So, let's find out what the Fullerton College coaching staff has been up to regarding student athletes, workouts, classes, and more. This week, the Hornet's Head Football Coach, Garrett Campbell, took some time out of his busy teaching and coaching schedule to answer a few questions. 

 

CAMPBELL: It's always tough with a large roster, so our assistant coaches are so critical for this.  Our coaches do a great job in speaking with our players about everything they are going through.  I've had individual Zoom meetings with players and am trying to help them work their transition to college or their transition to transferring.  

With COVID and no contact with your players, what are some of the training methods that you're doing to keep them sharp on the field?

We have individual workouts that we distribute through an app on their smartphones, so that has been extremely helpful.  Obviously, we've used Hudl to show them some film.  Additionally, to help them raise their Football IQ and situational awareness, we've also attached short quizzes to videos of Power 5 games through a software called PlayPosit.  Personally, I've had Quarterbacks send me video of their throwing session so that I can provide feedback.    

How challenging is it planning workouts around with nearly 100 players? Are there specific actions or protocol that you go through to keep everyone safe?

Honeslty, I haven't seen any of my players since March.  I'm not allowed to meet with them.  So this probably isn't a great question for me.  Although, I have protocals ready to go when I get the green light!

Which players do you feel will have positive impact on the season this spring? Sophomores? Freshmen?

This is always the intriguing question before any season!  I believe that there are returners poised to have a great season.  A few would be Braylon Willis, Kashan Griffin, Junior Wily, Nate Ramirez.  As for the new guys, I guess we'll just have to wait and see who steps up and produces; but we really like the players who have joined our program.  

What are your team goals for this upcoming year?

Transfer all our players and win every game!  But in reality, the main thing we need to do is focus on daily improvement.  I know our players will compete and play hard - but the real question is, are we better today (on and off the field) than we were yesterday?  

If you could have a weekend pass from COVID what would you do? What do you miss the most from this isolation?

I'd have a practice - I miss the relationships!  I miss being around our coaches, players, and athletic training staff!  I miss standing on Sherbeck Field on a hot day. I miss the laughter of a practice.  I miss the yelling of a practice.  I miss the comradery of a practice.  

When you're not teaching or coaching, what do you enjoy doing? Any hobbies?
Well since I have a first grader in remote schooling, I can't help but feel like I'm repeating first grade.  But it works out well because I know most of the answers!

What inspires you in life? What motivates you to motivate others?

Personal growth, not just in myself, but in my players.  When you witness a young person mature right before your eyes, over the months or years you are working with them, it's amazing!  As a coach, you could have an impact that far outweighs many other relationships in their life.  I know I had that with my coaches growing up and I see that with the relationships with our coaches and their players every day.

We have a saying "Once a Hornet, Always a Hornet", what is it you love about Fullerton College?

People & impact!  I know that the people I come across at Fullerton College genuinely care about the students - it's a very student-centered campus atmosphere!  Additionally, I know that these same people are having a daily impact in the lives our students!  And it's not just coaches or faculty; it's classified staff and administration too!  I've seen too many examples of it over the years to know how much of an impact we have on all our students!