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Campbell: No ill-feelings whatsoever


Now that recruiting for the Class of 2017 has entered a “dead period” of no in-person contact lasting through January 11th, new Oregon head coach Willie Taggart can turn his focus from a three-day whirlwind of recruiting visits to assembling his coaching staff. And one of the earliest set of decisions he needs to make is which current assistant coaches will he offer to retain.

Duck Sports Authority has had the pleasure of numerous interviews with Campbell over the years
Duck Sports Authority has had the pleasure of numerous interviews with Campbell over the years (Tom Corno - Duck Sports Authority)


"I'd really like to talk with those guys and see if they are a good fit for what we're trying to do," Taggart said Thursday at his inaugural press conference in Eugene. "I think it is really important that we get the right fit. That's so important in hiring a staff. For me personally, I want to make sure that we hire a staff that's going to capture the hearts and the minds of our football players. That's probably the most important thing for me. They have to be great mentors to our guys to help them accomplish all of the things that they want to capture as a young man."

When talking to Duck fans, the name that comes up most often in the “retain” column is running back coach Gary Campbell who has been with Oregon for 33 years. During that time he has sent numerous players to the NFL; names like Loville, Philyaw, Whittle, Droughns, Morris, Stewart, Blount, James, Barner and Thomas.

To some it might seem unfair after a three-decade career in Eugene of recruiting fine athletes and mentoring them into adulthood that a man like Campbell is in employment limbo. But like all things in his life, he is handling this situation with class and dignity.

“I have no ill-feelings whatsoever,” Campbell told Duck Sports Authority. “I obviously have been in this game a long time. I know things happen that are sometimes a little distasteful. But then again, there is not a whole heck of a lot you can do about them.

“I don’t worry about anything I can’t control.”

At 64-years old, Campbell has many choices in front of him. One of them is whether he still even wants to work.

“If I don’t stay here at Oregon, then I’ll probably retire,” said Campbell. “I may look at some other things but there is not a whole lot I want to do as far as coaching. It would have to be something really good.

“Right now, I am just going with the flow and seeing what will transpire.”

The next thing to transpire would be to sit down one-on-one with Coach Taggart.

“Whether that happens I have no idea to tell you the truth. If he does like I said I will talk to him. And if he doesn’t I won’t be mad at him. Often times guys have their guys. I respect that. He has been at a couple places now and so he has had a couple running back coaches. He could have really formed a bond with that person. If so he has no reason to feel like he’s obligated to retain me.”

And what if the new Duck boss offers him his old job back?

“I would really have to think about it seriously,” admitted Campbell. “I’m not thinking about it right now. I would be happy to sit down with Willie and discuss the possibility.”

In the meantime, Duck fans will be watching and waiting anxiously to see if one of their all-time favorite coaches will continue in that role.

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