Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell addressed media members on Wednesday, for the first time since early on in Brock Purdy’s run to the NFC Championship Game for the San Francisco 49ers.
The current coach is prideful of the play of his former signal-caller.
“I think for me it’s just pride,” Campbell said during the press conference. You’re so proud of who he is and the funny thing to me is just that, it’s the same guy. It’s the same guy that you guys saw in ’18. It’s the same story in ’18 as what it is right now.”
Purdy took over the starting job in 2018 midway through the year and helped the Cyclones reach the Alamo Bowl during a successful season.
“I mean, could you have been any prouder even in the second half when the kid’s got a torn arm and he’s going into the game and there was no emotion. He did what was best for the team,” Campbell said. “To me, we see the eight wins and you’re excited and so proud because there’s justification of doing it the right way.”
Campbell also recalled what Purdy’s teammates have said about him, and what that means to him and the brand at Iowa State.
“To hear his teammates talk about him and even to hear Fred Warner talk about him Sunday after the game, it’s really powerful,” Campbell said. “I think you’re so grateful to have led with a young man like that in our program. You’re so grateful that that’s who is representing Iowa State football right now on the national stage.”
Injury Update: As reported by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday afternoon that if surgery is done with no hiccups, the staff believes Purdy will build up his arm strength in 3-6 months and will be ‘the same dude and ready to go.’
