"Earl Campbell
is one of the truly genuine people I've come across. He
doesn't know the meaning of the word 'I'. With Earl, it's
always 'we' or 'us'."
~ O. A. "Bum" Phillips
Earl Campbell
left Houston in a storm of controversy and
arrived in New Orleans the same way. Houston
fans felt he had been unfairly traded, and
didn't like the backhanded, clandestine
tactics behind the trade. New Orleans fans
felt too much had been given away in the
trade for this "over the hill"
player.
Whatever the
case or the city, Earl was not happy with the
controversy and the ensuing media criticism.
He felt that too much attention was being
focused on him as an individual player, when
the focus should be on the team effort, in
whichever city he was playing football.
Something essential was missing from his game
when he arrived in New Orleans to play for
the Saints and Bum Phillips; he had lost his
passion, and no longer had that "fire in
the belly" which had propelled him to
stardom as a Longhorn and as an Oiler.
Even though
Earl would now be back playing with his
friend and mentor, Bum Phillips, and several
of his former Oiler teammates, he was acutely
aware that the fans didn't like him and would
not accept him. They thought Bum was bringing
over too many Oilers, especially since he had
given away a first round draft choice to
obtain Earl. New Orleans questioned Bum's
need for Earl when the Saints already had
George Rogers, a respected, top-notch running
back.
All aspects
of the Campbell trade had gone against the
logic of the New Orleans fans. Media and fans
alike felt that Earl was past his prime. In
his many years of playing raw and bruising
ball, the press implied, Earl was bound to
have lost a step or two. In addition, the
fans didn't understand why Bum decided to
have Earl split playing time with George
Rogers, instead of having Earl be the backup
to their rookie sensation.
Things were
not going well for Earl, and the tension
weighed heavily on him.
Despite the
many negatives going in, Earl finally decided
to set his mind to the task at hand, vowing
to give his all for Bum once again, no matter
the circumstances. The first order of
business was to block out all of the critical
media hype. Earl felt that he could focus on
the game he so dearly loved to play, if
everyone would just let him do his job and do
his best.
Fortunately,
some of the old fire returned. As had been
the case several times in Earl's past, once
he took his first lick on the field, the
desire factor clicked in and drove him to
excel. He finished the '84 season with 468
yards rushing on 168 attempts and four
touchdowns. It wasn't the type of year he had
hoped for or had achieved in his previous six
years in professional football, but he felt
good about his efforts.
His positive
feelings were reinforced when Bum decided to
trade George Rogers at the end of the season,
openly proclaiming that Earl Campbell was,
once again, "The Man."
But with the
news of the Rogers trade, the media and fans
turned on Bum and proclaimed their fury
openly. To them, it seemed obvious that Bum
was trying to establish a "Luv Ya
Blue" type atmosphere in a city that
just didn't want it. New Orleans fans had
never made that unique connection with their
many losing football teams.
The Saints
franchise had been in existence for seventeen
years, but the team had never been to a
playoff game. Determined to end this
disgraceful record, the media and fans issued
a harsh ultimatum to the executive management
of the Saints: "Bum either wins a
playoff spot this year or, Bum can get
gone!" But it was a Catch-22 situation,
for without fan or media support, this would
prove a most difficult task for Bum and his
players to achieve.
* * * * *
As the 1985
preseason ended, Bum Phillips was having a
difficult time understanding the negative
attitude the New Orleans fans and the press
held toward him. He was doing his best with
what he had, and doing it without the help of
either the media or the fans. The media were
key, for Bum realized that he would never
gain fan support without positive media
backing, but this seemed unlikely in
"The Big Easy."
After the
Saints' first preseason loss at home, and
continuing throughout the season, one
disgruntled female Saints fan would stand
above the tunnel the players and coaches had
to go through to get to the locker room after
the game. She was waiting for Bum Phillips,
and when he got to just the right spot she
would pour an ice cold sixteen-ounce cup of
beer directly on top of his head. Because he
still held fast to his momma's teachings
about not wearing a hat indoors, Bum didn't
even have his Stetson to protect him.
Bum couldn't
help but notice that this fan never went
after any of the players or other coaches,
just him. Before too long, though, he figured
out that she only got him with the beer when
the Saints lost. So if he wanted to stay dry,
he would just have to win every home game.
As it turned
out, Bum had a wet season in '85, and the
players had a long one. They were 4-8 after
the first twelve games. Bum received three
beer showers for the three home losses. After
the third time, following a 27-3 loss to
Seattle, Bum dried his sticky head and
remarked, "That lady is never gonna have
a chance to do that again." No one paid
much attention to the remark, or what he
meant by it - no one, that is, except for
Earl Campbell. He knew.
After the
Saints pulled off a stunning upset of the
Minnesota Vikings in Minnesota, Bum had time
to do a lot of thinking on the flight back to
New Orleans. The big win they'd just
accomplished wasn't enough to change the
course of his thoughts. He realized that he
had done his best, but it just wasn't working
anymore. The truth was, Bum Phillips was
tired. Retirement was the only proper course
of action.
He knew that his son Wade, an assistant coach
with the Saints, would finish out the season
if the brass would allow it. If they wouldn't
allow it, well, "so be it."
At that
moment of decision, Bum Phillips relaxed, the
stress lifting from his shoulders. He knew
the New Orleans press and fans would be
pleased with his retirement announcement. He
also knew one other unmistakable fact:
"I told everybody that lady'd never
spill a beer on my head again and, by golly,
I meant it."
Earl had seen
this one coming, and wasn't shocked by the
news. He knew Bum Phillips, and understood
that Bum knew what was best for Bum.
Wade Phillips
was given the nod to finish the season as
head coach, finishing with a 1-3 record. The
team finished the season 5-11, and it was
apparent that many changes would take place
during the off season in New Orleans. Earl
didn't know if he would be part of those
changes, but he returned to New Orleans
thinking he would give it one more year. He
fully intended to remain prepared for any
alternative. Earl knew it wouldn't be easy in
New Orleans without Bum, and that the new
coaches, the press, and all of the fans would
be demanding proof that he could still play
the game. If any flaw could be found, Earl
knew that New Orleans would be unmerciful in
their assessment of it, and of him.
* * * * *
The Saints
named Jim Mora as their head coach for the
1986 season. Mora was a tough, no-nonsense,
well-disciplined coach who understood the
challenge that lay ahead of him. The
first-year goals he outlined to the media and
fans were simple: he intended to get rid of
the over-the-hill players on the squad, and
to get the Saints into the playoffs. He knew
this would be no easy task, but he knew too,
that "Rome wasn't built in a day."
Immediately
after the '85 season was over, Earl returned
to work out with Tom Williams. His training
with Williams had always prepared him in the
past, but Earl realized that the upcoming
season would be different and considerably
more difficult. As in his senior year at The
University of Texas, Earl knew that he had to
be in the best shape of his life when going
against all the young running backs vying for
his job. With this in mind, Williams and Earl
worked rigorously. Earl reported to training
camp at an extremely well-defined 225 pounds.
To all appearances, he looked like the
"old Earl," and he was all set to
prove the fans and coaches in New Orleans
wrong.
Earl knew he
would be scrutinized by all the coaches, but
he had no idea that Mora would be focusing so
intently on him. Mora was looking for any
mistakes or deficiencies in Earl's style of
play, using him to set an example with his
players and to establish himself as the boss.
He wanted to weed out all those players who
couldn't play according to his guidelines.
Thinking back, Earl is convinced that Mora
was trying to run him off, in a roundabout
way.
* * * * *
Earl
remembers August 18, 1986 as if it were just
yesterday, since it turned out to be one of
the happiest and yet most painful days of his
life. It was Saturday, and the Saints were
going up against the New England Patriots in
their second preseason game. Going into the
game, Earl felt good because he would be
playing against several of his old friends.
As he'd expected, the friendship was left on
the sidelines, as several Patriots were
giving the veteran running back particularly
intense blows. On one play, Earl was handed
the ball and a huge hole opened up. In the
past, when such a hole had been presented,
the adrenaline would pump and Earl's eyes
would bulge with disbelief at his good
fortune. But now, after an eight-yard gain,
the hole suddenly collapsed, and Earl was
brought down hard by the Patriots' defensive
unit. Since it was third down and the Saints
didn't make the necessary yardage, Earl
walked off the field to a smattering of boos.
He stood on
the sideline in shock, hoping Mora wouldn't
put him in again. Fortunately, he didn't.
Earl knew that in the past, he would have
blown right through a hole that size,
demolishing any defenders who tried to stop
him. His performance haunted him for the
remainder of the game, for he'd always
believed that once he was no longer
beneficial to the team, "it was time to
pull the pin."
After
showering, Earl was so physically sore and
bruised that he had a difficult time making
it back to the dormitory where the team
stayed during training camp. Although his
whole body was in pain, it was his feet that
hurt the worst. He lay in bed hoping for some
relief so that he could sleep. None came.
Instead, the pain graduated to intolerable
levels, and finally, when Earl had to go to
the lavatory, he was forced to crawl on hands
and knees to get there. As he crawled, he
prayed that God would get him through the
night.
After he
finally was able to crawl back to bed, with
tears of helplessness forming at the corners
of his eyes, Earl reached a decision that had
been a long time in the making. He'd always
known it would happen eventually; he just
hadn't anticipated it would happen like this.
But the time had come.
Earl picked
up the phone and dialed his mother's house in
Tyler, hoping she would be awake so he could
personally tell her first. His next oldest
brother, Alfred, answered instead, and told
Earl that their mother had turned in for the
night. Alfred would have to be the first to
receive the news.
"Alfred,
don't wake Momma, but as soon as she gets up
in the mornin', tell her that I've decided to
retire. Tell her not to be alarmed or
worried, because it was my choice." His
voice cracked with the emotion of actually
speaking the words.
Alfred
listened carefully as Earl told him about his
decision, and responded as only an
understanding older brother could.
"Earl, I'm happy for you. All your life,
you set certain goals for yourself, and you
have achieved each one. You don't need to
prove yourself any longer. You've already
done that to the entire country. Don't worry
about Momma. She'll understand. She's always
known that this day would come sooner or
later, and she will be pleased to find out it
was your choice, not theirs. In the meantime,
if there's anything you need, just call and
I'll be there. Once again, I'm proud of you,
man!"
Earl leaned
back after the call, and felt the weight of a
world of stress lifted from his shoulders. He
was perfectly aware that Alfred was right.
Earl Campbell was leaving the game of
football on his terms, not because of someone
else's decision.
Since Earl
wanted those closest to him to hear the news
first, before he informed the Saints and the
media got wind of it, he phoned Darrell Royal
next. Coach Royal's wife, Edith, answered the
phone and informed Earl that her husband was
in Colorado. When Earl explained the reason
for his call, she was very understanding, and
told Earl that she knew Coach Royal would be
pleased to hear about his decision. She
promised to get in touch with him
immediately, knowing that Darrell would want
to talk to Earl as soon as he could. Her last
words made Earl positive that he had made the
right decision, "You've always been a
hero to us, Earl."
Calling Reuna
was relatively easy for Earl, for he knew
that she would be in favor of his decision.
Reuna had known for longer than Earl that he
had nothing more to prove to anyone. Since
the first day she'd met Earl, she had known
that he would be a success, and he had proven
that to the world over and over again. As he
had expected, Reuna was very happy to hear
about Earl's decision - happy that the
physical abuse to her husband's body would
end, and that the Campbells could once again
be reunited as a family on a full time basis.
She hadn't liked having to live apart after
his move to New Orleans to play with the
Saints. And as far as she was concerned,
Earl's decision couldn't have come at a
better time, for she was seven months
pregnant with their second child.
The final
call of the evening was to Bum Phillips, and
Earl knew that this one would be difficult.
As Earl suspected, Bum at first thought his
good friend was just "joshing" him,
because he had played a "darn good game
that evening."
When Earl
finally convinced Bum that this was a
decision he was certain about, Bum's laughter
ended. He realized that one of the all-time
greatest running backs in professional
football was about to hang it up. But Bum,
like Ann Campbell, was a realist. He'd known
this moment would eventually come, even
though he had always believed that Earl would
play through the 1986 season.
"Heck,
Earl, if that's your decision, I support it
one hundred percent. You've done your time,
an' done it well. You've done many people
proud, includin' myself, an' above everything
else, you did it with class. Don't you worry
about what the coaches or media say to or
about you, just get your stuff an' get on
home to your family and friends."
After these
four important calls had been made, Earl felt
at peace with himself and his decision. He
knew he had complete support from those who
mattered most to him. He lay back down on his
bed once again, and for the first time in a
very long time, slept peacefully, knowing
that the hardest part of the decision was
behind him.
* * * * *
The following
day Earl asked Jim Skipper, his running back
coach, if he could have a word with him.
Skipper agreed, and, as they entered his
office for privacy, talked excitedly about
how well his backs had performed the previous
evening.
"Coach," Earl began, "there's
only one way I know how to say somethin', and
that's straight up. I'm here to inform y'all
that I've decided to retire, effective last
night. Bottom line, coach, is that I just
don't like playin' football anymore."
Coach Skipper
appeared to be honestly shocked by this
simple declaration. He tried to talk Earl
into rethinking his decision.
"Earl,
before you do this, let me go get Coach Mora,
so he's aware of what's goin' on."
Earl
responded, "I don't care who you go get.
I've made up my mind and I'm stickin' by my
decision."
Mora came into the room, and upon hearing
Earl's decision to retire, appeared as
surprised as Skipper had been. Like Coach
Skipper, he requested that Earl wait and
allow him to talk with Jim Finks, General
Manager of the Saints.
Earl told
Mora the same thing that he had told Skipper,
"Y'all can call whoever you want, I've
made my decision and that's it!"
After Finks
had spoken to Coach Mora, he called the owner
of the team, Tom Benson, at his office in San
Antonio. Benson was similarly stunned by
Earl's decision, and made plans for an
immediate flight to New Orleans. He liked
Earl and didn't want to see this happen; in
fact, he was one of the few people in the New
Orleans organization who felt that Earl could
still play. So when Benson met with Earl, he,
too, tried, unsuccessfully, to change Earl's
mind, even offering him more money on his
contract.
"No
thanks, Mr. Benson. You've always been fair
with me, and I'm gonna be fair with y'all. My
mind is made up. I've done my time, and it's
important that I go out on my own and that it
wasn't someone else's decision." In the
back of his mind, Earl had always felt that
Coach Mora was going to try to get rid of him
eventually, one way or the other.
"Well,
heck, Earl. You know I hate to lose you, but
if that's your decision, so be it. At least
allow us time to contact ESPN and hold an
impromptu press conference."
"Tom,
I'll do that for y'all, but please make it
quick. I wanna get to the airport and home to
my family. They need me now, as much as I
need them."
"O.K.
Earl, good luck. One more thing before you
go," Benson said. "I just wanted to
say, 'thanks for the memories.'"
"No
sweat, Tom. I'll see y'all on down the
road."
That
afternoon, ESPN and the local media gathered
at the press conference where Earl's
retirement from professional football was
formally announced. The statement was a short
and simple adios to New Orleans, and to the
game that he had loved with all his heart.
Later that
year, Earl had an opportunity to speak again
with Jim Skipper. Skipper admitted to Earl
that he had made a good decision, and had
made it at exactly the right time, as Coach
Mora had planned to cut him before the season
began. Earl was grateful to Skipper for his
honesty, and the revelation confirmed that
his decision had come not a minute too soon.
Earl had gotten to throw the first punch, and
a knockout one at that.
Once again,
Earl sensed the hand of God in his life.
Skipper's coming clean about the situation
only served to verify that God had planned
for Earl Campbell to retire on his own terms
and with dignity.
Earl held no
ill feelings toward the city of New Orleans
or its fans. He understood that he was being
paid big money to perform for these people,
and he also knew when the time was right to
pull out. Earl figured that the already
resentful New Orleans fans would feel cheated
had he chosen to play one more year. Ann
Campbell's son wouldn't ride somebody's
coattails like that, just for the sake of
money. If the people in New Orleans had ever
bothered to truly get to know The Tyler Rose,
they would have realized that he never played
football for money.
Earl Campbell
played football for pride.
* * * * *
After the
press conference, Earl boarded the first
flight he could get for Houston. Once he was
seated, the hostess asked if there was
anything she could get for him.
Earl thought
for a moment before responding, "Yeah,
I'd like six cans of Budweiser."
Shocked, the
pretty young attendant informed Earl,
"But Mr. Campbell, we're only going to
Houston, a forty-minute flight, if
that."
Earl smiled,
leaning back in his seat as he answered,
"I know that, darlin', I know."
When they
were airborne, Earl was brought the beer.
There are times, after all, when a man just
has to celebrate. With the smile seemingly
etched on his face, Earl prepared to enjoy
the flight home. He never once looked out
upon the city or the life he was leaving;
instead, he fixed his gaze on the future, and
on all the blessings to come. Earl was
looking forward to a full-time relationship
with his wife, his child, and his
child-to-be, and to spending time with his
momma and the rest of his family in Tyler.
Because of training demands, season
schedules, and constant practices that came
with a career in professional football, these
were pleasures that he hadn't fully
experienced in eight years.
With so many
positive thoughts in his mind, there was no
way Earl could have imagined that God still
had a challenge for him, one that had nothing
to do with football. Instead, this challenge
would literally leave Earl fighting for his
life, with no one to help him. This would
become, for the famed Tyler Rose, a true test
of his will to live.
