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Earl Campbell

Discussion in 'Football: NFL, College, High School' started by RocketMan Tex, Nov 17, 2003.

  1. RocketMan Tex

    RocketMan Tex Member

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    I was watching the first quarter of the Texas-Texas Tech game on Saturday night before I headed out for my Saturday evening debauchery.

    It was senior night at DKR-Memorial stadium, and a few old Longhorn football greats showed up.

    Then I saw something that disturbed the hell out of me.

    They showed Earl Campbell, walking with crutches, and being helped into a golf cart so they could drive him around the perimeter of the stadium so he could wave at the fans.

    I saw Earl in person 4 years ago, and he was walking with a cane.

    It looks like his physical condition has deteriorated since then. He was very gray, and looked 15 years older than he is.

    It was very sad and disturbing to see this great man in such poor physical condition. He was a hero of mine, and it saddens me to see such a great warrior broken down like that.

    Did anybody else see this Saturday night?
     
  2. Roc Paint

    Roc Paint Member

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    You ought too see Bucky Richardson now a days. Very, vey sad.
     
  3. RocketMan Tex

    RocketMan Tex Member

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    Really? Is he suffering physically from the hits he took when he played football?
     
  4. rocketfan83

    rocketfan83 Member

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    Ya I saw that during the pre-game show. I saw him in person a few years ago to get his autograph at a car show. The difference b/w maybe 5 years ago and today is very sad.
     
  5. Roc Paint

    Roc Paint Member

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    He's not only suffering from the hits he took in football, he's also been dealt some hard knocks in life as well. I really don't feel right talking about him, because I consider him a friend. But let's just say he's not doing very well.
     
  6. Pezmonger

    Pezmonger Member

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    I see him in the End Zone Club all the time. I was sitting right across from him last year and didn't recognize him. I figured out it was him after he signed some autographs. He definitely didn't look his age.
     
  7. Rocketman95

    Rocketman95 Hangout Boy

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    A pretty good friend of mine was on the cart with Earl, Coach Royal and Coach Akers. We're still trying to figure out why! :)

    It was very sad to see Earl in worse shape than his former coaches.
     
  8. MoBalls

    MoBalls Member

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    Earl was a hero to me when I was a kid.....his strength, running.....he looked beautiful when he ran....I wore that jersey everyday. Hate to hear this about him.
     
  9. A-Train

    A-Train Member

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    Too much sausage...
     
  10. ROCKSS

    ROCKSS Member

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    Thats sad. I really enjoyed watching him play
     
  11. rocketfan83

    rocketfan83 Member

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    My 3rd grade teacher had the biggest crush on him. She had probaly atleast 10 autographed items around the room. It was insane. I don't know much about him other than he played for the Oilers and Qb'ed the Aggies and the fact that he has a awsome name. Hope he gets well soon though
     
  12. rimrocker

    rimrocker Member

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    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    (I think this is the poster I had in my room.)

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    :(
     
  13. Mulder

    Mulder Member

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    BLASPHEMY!!!

    Earl was a Runningback for UT Austin.
     
  14. Rocketman95

    Rocketman95 Hangout Boy

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    I believe he's referring to Bucky Richardson.
     
  15. Houstonrocketss

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    when they honored him at the Astros game last year he had to be helped up out of his seat, sad but he still is a big hero in the eyes of the Houston fans.

    When he shunned the hall of fame honor in Titanville that showed how much he loved the city of Houston and it's fans.
     
  16. A-Train

    A-Train Member

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    He'd look a lot younger if he shaved that huge grey bush off his face...
     
  17. B-Bob

    B-Bob "94-year-old self-described dreamer"
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    I saw that footage of Earl.

    Basically, you can blame his leg condition, in part, on dumbass Bum Phillips. I have never seen a coach kill a back like that. It was always run-Earl-3-times-and-then-punt. The defenses knew he was coming and the punishment was amazing.

    Also, I've read that Earl has had some emotional difficulties -- things like panic attacks, anxiety attacks. Could explain all the gray hair. Poor guy. :(
     
  18. pgabriel

    pgabriel Educated Negro

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    Earl isn't the only NFL player to suffer like this. Bum Phillips may have ended his career prematurely, but about 5 years ago, Sports Illustrated had an article on how former NFL players' bodies fall apart after they retire. Guys having 5 to 10 knee surguries after retirement. All kinds of horror studies.

    The body just isn't built to take that much punishment. Football's an unforgiving sport, and it's particularly bad on Running Backs.
     
  19. A-Train

    A-Train Member

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    I'd sure as heck give it to Earl every time if I had Dan "Passed it to the other team"-orini as my QB....
     
  20. ima_drummer2k

    ima_drummer2k Member

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    Last year, ESPN had an "Outside The Lines" about Earl and the punishment RB's take for not stepping out of bounds. They had an interview with Jerome Bettis and he was saying how he modeled his game after Earls. Then they showed Bettis a tape of Earl today walking around with a cane. Bettis was generally stunned and seemed very frightened. I think it really affected Jerome seeing Earl like that. :(

    Earl is, was, and always will be my all-time favorite athlete. There was nothing like being a 9-year-old living in Houston right smack dab in the middle of the Luv Ya Blue era. Nothing will ever match that. Not even the Rockets championships (flame me if you must).
     

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