When It Matters Most, IU’s Campbell At His Best
9/21/2022 10:00:00 AM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Charles Campbell runs to glory, and runs from it, all at the same time, like a human quantum physics experiment bathed in a Cream & Crimson football glow.
You've seen the videos, the photos, the accolades that come with being the latest Hoosier hero.
Instant images remain. Indiana's redshirt senior kicker has made the field goal to beat Western Kentucky. Hoosier fans celebrate at Memorial Stadium, in bars and homes and backyards around the state.
A Hoosier victory that 20 minutes earlier seemed as likely as earth gaining a second moon has turned real, and Campbell races across the field, arm thrust in the air, the conquering hero until the next challenge arrives -- Saturday at Cincinnati -- and he has to do it all over again, pressure be darned.
"I let myself have that moment," he says. "It was big.
"But this is a new week. We have nine more (regular season) games. Hopefully we have 10 more."
The immediate aftermath radiates social media frenzy.
It can get to a guy's head so that his greatest moment could lead to his greatest fall unless he stays humble and true to the work, discipline, and character that produced it.
"It's just one game," he says. "I have to be consistent."
Campbell understands the fall. He has been there in limited doses given he rates among the most accurate kickers in IU history.
He felt Western Kentucky kicker Brayden Narveson's pain after Narveson missed a game-winner as regulation expired, then had an overtime kick blocked to set up Campbell's game-winner.
"For the team, I wanted to win," Campbell says, "but for Brayden, I never want to wish ill will upon somebody. I've missed some. I missed two last week. There are highs and lows in every game."
Narveson has had plenty of his own highs. Before those misses, he was 4-for-5 on the season, including 3-for-3 in the game.
"He's a great kicker," Campbell says. "One of the best in the country. Great stats. I told him, buddy keep your head up."
Campbell's sympathy reflects a kicking brotherhood and depth of character that transcends want-to-win competitiveness.
"I never want a kicker to miss. You feel for guys who do."
*****
There have been times over the last four years when it seemed Campbell would never miss, when pressure and human frailty seemed to have no effect. They do, of course, and last year Campbell missed five of 18 field goal attempts. That's 72.2 percent, which is great for most people, but when you begin your career by making your first nine college field goal attempts, and 12 of your first 13, greatness has a higher bar.
When Campbell missed two practice field goals two days before the Idaho game, and then missed two field goals in that game (although one was nullified by a Vandal penalty), head coach Tom Allen let him know that wasn't good enough, that Campbell was better than that, that the Hoosiers needed him to be better than that, because this is not a team that will blow its way through the season in the manner of college juggernauts Georgia and Alabama.
Allen even suggested he might bench Campbell.
"I was hard on him," Allen says. "Everything we do matters."
Was Allen bluffing? We'll never know because Campbell responded as the best always do when challenged. Against Western Kentucky, he went 4-for-4 on field goals, kicked the 51-yard game winner to save an offense that lost nine yards in three overtime plays, and earned Big Ten special teams player of the week honors.
"That's what we talk about in special teams -- be at your best when it counts the most," Allen says. "He responded in a situation where it's hard. Just his mental toughness. He's clutch for us, and has been for several years."
Senior linebacker Cam Jones isn't surprised. He's seen it from Campbell since their Tennessee high school days -- Jones from Memphis, Campbell from nearby Jackson. Jones has been a family friend for years.
"Seeing him be at his best when it counts the most is something he does whenever the game is on the line," Jones says. "I'm so proud of him."
*****
With 32 career field goals made at an 82 percent clip, with a range that extends to 60 yards (his career best is 55), Campbell gives IU a weapon few teams can match.
"It's huge," quarterback Connor Bazelak says. "Even in mid-game, when we get inside the 30, we know we have points. He will kick it through. It's a big deal."
As for his 51-yard game winner against Western Kentucky that came after IU lost nine yards in three overtime plays, Bazelak says, "I wasn't happy with how we set him up for the game-winner, but it didn't matter to him. He kicked it right through. It would have been good from 60 or so.
"He's an unbelievable person and player."
Campbell was once a standout soccer player who took up football in the eighth grade. He was all-state in both sports in Tennessee, although he didn't get serious about football until his high school sophomore season.
"My kicking coach in high school told me I could be really good. I didn't believe him, but I kept getting better and better. It got to the point where I had to decide between soccer and football. I chose football."
The clincher came at a kicking camp where Campbell was nationally ranked and realized, "Wow. I can do this. It made the decision easier."
For Campbell, it's all about routine. Before each game, he goes through a series of drills. He visualizes himself make field goals from a variety of distances.
"I back up to see what a long field goal would look like," he says. "I might have to hit a long one."
For a target as he lines up a field goal, he says, "When I take my steps back, I pick something to aim at, a section of the upright or something behind the upright. Something to give me a line. Then I set my feet in the position I want them to be set in. Then I don't aim after that. I have my line, and I kick on my line."
*****
Campbell's resiliency comes from experience, confidence, and faith.
"Over time you learn and grow through games and experiences, whether that be good or bad," he says. "For me, I rely on my relationship with God. I put myself in that when I'm kicking and that helps."
When misses happen, and they always happen, Campbell says, "You have to flush it and move on."
And so Campbell does, focusing on technique.
"I work on honing back to basics. I know what I do affects those guys. I just try to help."
IU's 3-0 start has been long on drama, short on complete-game execution. Saturday's game against 2-1 Cincinnati could change that.
"It's a testament to this team and our team mentality," Campbell says. "We found a way to win even when it didn't look good.
"Moving forward, it gives us confidence that no matter what position we're in, we have a chance."
And so will Campbell -- running to glory, running from it, pressure be darned.
You've seen the videos, the photos, the accolades that come with being the latest Hoosier hero.
Instant images remain. Indiana's redshirt senior kicker has made the field goal to beat Western Kentucky. Hoosier fans celebrate at Memorial Stadium, in bars and homes and backyards around the state.
A Hoosier victory that 20 minutes earlier seemed as likely as earth gaining a second moon has turned real, and Campbell races across the field, arm thrust in the air, the conquering hero until the next challenge arrives -- Saturday at Cincinnati -- and he has to do it all over again, pressure be darned.
"I let myself have that moment," he says. "It was big.
"But this is a new week. We have nine more (regular season) games. Hopefully we have 10 more."
The immediate aftermath radiates social media frenzy.
It can get to a guy's head so that his greatest moment could lead to his greatest fall unless he stays humble and true to the work, discipline, and character that produced it.
"It's just one game," he says. "I have to be consistent."
Campbell understands the fall. He has been there in limited doses given he rates among the most accurate kickers in IU history.
He felt Western Kentucky kicker Brayden Narveson's pain after Narveson missed a game-winner as regulation expired, then had an overtime kick blocked to set up Campbell's game-winner.
"For the team, I wanted to win," Campbell says, "but for Brayden, I never want to wish ill will upon somebody. I've missed some. I missed two last week. There are highs and lows in every game."
Narveson has had plenty of his own highs. Before those misses, he was 4-for-5 on the season, including 3-for-3 in the game.
"He's a great kicker," Campbell says. "One of the best in the country. Great stats. I told him, buddy keep your head up."
Campbell's sympathy reflects a kicking brotherhood and depth of character that transcends want-to-win competitiveness.
"I never want a kicker to miss. You feel for guys who do."
*****
There have been times over the last four years when it seemed Campbell would never miss, when pressure and human frailty seemed to have no effect. They do, of course, and last year Campbell missed five of 18 field goal attempts. That's 72.2 percent, which is great for most people, but when you begin your career by making your first nine college field goal attempts, and 12 of your first 13, greatness has a higher bar.
When Campbell missed two practice field goals two days before the Idaho game, and then missed two field goals in that game (although one was nullified by a Vandal penalty), head coach Tom Allen let him know that wasn't good enough, that Campbell was better than that, that the Hoosiers needed him to be better than that, because this is not a team that will blow its way through the season in the manner of college juggernauts Georgia and Alabama.
Allen even suggested he might bench Campbell.
"I was hard on him," Allen says. "Everything we do matters."
Was Allen bluffing? We'll never know because Campbell responded as the best always do when challenged. Against Western Kentucky, he went 4-for-4 on field goals, kicked the 51-yard game winner to save an offense that lost nine yards in three overtime plays, and earned Big Ten special teams player of the week honors.
"That's what we talk about in special teams -- be at your best when it counts the most," Allen says. "He responded in a situation where it's hard. Just his mental toughness. He's clutch for us, and has been for several years."
Senior linebacker Cam Jones isn't surprised. He's seen it from Campbell since their Tennessee high school days -- Jones from Memphis, Campbell from nearby Jackson. Jones has been a family friend for years.
"Seeing him be at his best when it counts the most is something he does whenever the game is on the line," Jones says. "I'm so proud of him."
*****
With 32 career field goals made at an 82 percent clip, with a range that extends to 60 yards (his career best is 55), Campbell gives IU a weapon few teams can match.
"It's huge," quarterback Connor Bazelak says. "Even in mid-game, when we get inside the 30, we know we have points. He will kick it through. It's a big deal."
As for his 51-yard game winner against Western Kentucky that came after IU lost nine yards in three overtime plays, Bazelak says, "I wasn't happy with how we set him up for the game-winner, but it didn't matter to him. He kicked it right through. It would have been good from 60 or so.
"He's an unbelievable person and player."
Campbell was once a standout soccer player who took up football in the eighth grade. He was all-state in both sports in Tennessee, although he didn't get serious about football until his high school sophomore season.
"My kicking coach in high school told me I could be really good. I didn't believe him, but I kept getting better and better. It got to the point where I had to decide between soccer and football. I chose football."
The clincher came at a kicking camp where Campbell was nationally ranked and realized, "Wow. I can do this. It made the decision easier."
For Campbell, it's all about routine. Before each game, he goes through a series of drills. He visualizes himself make field goals from a variety of distances.
"I back up to see what a long field goal would look like," he says. "I might have to hit a long one."
For a target as he lines up a field goal, he says, "When I take my steps back, I pick something to aim at, a section of the upright or something behind the upright. Something to give me a line. Then I set my feet in the position I want them to be set in. Then I don't aim after that. I have my line, and I kick on my line."
*****
Campbell's resiliency comes from experience, confidence, and faith.
"Over time you learn and grow through games and experiences, whether that be good or bad," he says. "For me, I rely on my relationship with God. I put myself in that when I'm kicking and that helps."
When misses happen, and they always happen, Campbell says, "You have to flush it and move on."
And so Campbell does, focusing on technique.
"I work on honing back to basics. I know what I do affects those guys. I just try to help."
IU's 3-0 start has been long on drama, short on complete-game execution. Saturday's game against 2-1 Cincinnati could change that.
"It's a testament to this team and our team mentality," Campbell says. "We found a way to win even when it didn't look good.
"Moving forward, it gives us confidence that no matter what position we're in, we have a chance."
And so will Campbell -- running to glory, running from it, pressure be darned.
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