Dec 7, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell stands on the field before the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
ANKENY — Matt Campbell’s a creature of habit.
Routine reigns supreme for Iowa State’s veteran head football coach. The amount of decisions he must make — from what he wears to what he eats — is streamlined for efficiency.
So suffice it to say, preparing for the Cyclones’ so-called “week zero” Aug. 23 season opener against Big 12 rival Kansas State in Dublin, Ireland, has challenged Campbell to deviate from his well-crafted daily regimen.
And that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
“As a routine guy, this has got me out of my comfort zone a little bit, but sometimes that’s good,” Campbell said while kicking off the ISU athletics program’s Tailgate Tour early Monday afternoon. “And I think when we’ve had to do that it’s challenged us and we usually come out better because we just haven’t said, ‘Well, this is the way we’re gonna do (it).’ We’ve tried to research it and put the best plan together.”
Part of that research has hinged on meeting with a handful of NFL teams to gather intel on how they handle not only playing a game overseas, but how they adjust in the aftermath to get back on track stateside, as well.
“There’s been some really good insight,” said Campbell, whose team is coming off its first 11-win season in the program’s 133-year history. “I think probably the greatest insight is understanding the impact postgame and how you handle coming off of that, and really probably putting a plan of attack (together) for that.”
As always with Campbell, that plan reveals itself in the details. How will the Cyclones deal with the six-hour time change? How can they stay in peak form physically despite the travel-related issues? How can they play well in an extra-early and vitally important conference opener and recover well enough to open the home season the following week against a strong FCS team in South Dakota at Jack Trice Stadium?
“I just think it really puts a high demand on how important every day is in June, July and, obviously, August,” said Campbell, whose team will face Iowa at home and Arkansas State on the road to complete a stretch of four straight games early in the season. “So we’re gonna have to be great teachers and great coaches through the summer, and we’re gonna have to be able to maximize our value through that experience, so it’s a really good challenge (and) It’s been good for me to learn and grow, to be honest with you.”
ISU director of athletics Jamie Pollard said it hasn’t been much of a challenge to get Cyclone fans to snatch up tickets for the season-opening Aer Lingus College Football Classic at Aviva Stadium. It doesn’t hurt that the game features a matchup of long-running rivals, as well.
“We’re 10,000-plus (tickets sold) and K-State’s in that same neighborhood,” Pollard said. “So the promoter is extremely pleased with where we’re at. We just had our ops team come back from over there and they had the same experience that coach Campbell and I had, which is, our fans are gonna love this.”
But back to those details. One of the NFL coaches Campbell met with, naturally, is Nick Sirianni, who led the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl triumph last season. Campbell and Sirianni played together for four years at Division III Mount Union — and coached together one season there, as well.
“Coach Sirianni and the Eagles last year, they played in Spain, then had to come back and play,” Campbell said. “And they were 2-2, and then had a bye week, and then, obviously, went on a great run.”
So win or lose, Campbell expects the Cyclones to grow significantly from their first-ever transatlantic trip.
“You try to take all that and try to put the best plan together,” he said.
CAMPBELL ON BROCK PURDY’S BIG PAYDAY
Campbell’s not remotely surprised the Cyclones’ former record-breaking quarterback, Brock Purdy, cashed in on a new five-year, $265-million contract with the San Francisco 49ers.
After all, Purdy went through “prove-it” mode at ISU — then went from “Mr. Irrelevant” as the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft to a high-performing starter in quick succession.
“You’re talking (about) one of the best organizations in football, so the great thing about Brock is I think he’s been doubted since high school, right?” Campbell said. “He’s been a guy that every time he’s been given the chance to lead, he’s taken on that opportunity, that moment, and he’s capitalized on it. That’s what’s really special about him. … The money piece is great, but I think the reality of the story’s even greater, and that’s what’s awesome.”
