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My biggest memory of Earl Campbell and the Houston Oilers

Buckeye Homer

Rookie
Contributor's Club
It was 1978 or 79, I think. It was Monday Night Football with the best team in the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers, playing at Houston. Houston kicked Pittsburgh's ass and I remember the crowd was raucous and was singing along to "Houston Oilers, Houston Oilers, Houston Oilers are #1..." I'll never forget it. It ranks up there with the 1979 World Series where all of the Pittsburgh Pirate fans were singing "We are Family" and the Pirates were down 3 games to 1 and came back to win it all! Great memories!
 

JRingo

Rookie
Out to lunch one day and a Skoal brothers van pulled up next to us. It was Earl and Tim Smith. My buddy had just got a new RV and Earl commented on how nice it looked and said he was going to buy his wife one. Wanted to know how he liked it. We shot the s**t with them for 30 minutes. What a classy group of gentlemen..
 

OptimisticTexan

2024 / Rebuilding Block 4 After Playoffs / Texans
If I could ever re-write history in any way……I would have Earl Campbell penciled into the Oilers Run-N-Shoot offense. He would’ve been even better b/c there’d be no way defenses could stack the box for Earl and cover the receivers at the same time. Earl would’ve had a a ducking feast on NFL defenses.
 

JB

Innocent Bystander
Contributor's Club
If I could ever re-write history in any way……I would have Earl Campbell penciled into the Oilers Run-N-Shoot offense. He would’ve been even better b/c there’d be no way defenses could stack the box for Earl and cover the 0receivers at the same time. Earl would’ve had a a ducking feast on NFL defenses.
Earl would have hated getting only 3 carries a game
 

Mollywhopper

Facilitator
Staff member
Earl would’ve gave him a reason. Pardee ran the ball at UH….Witherspoon averaged 9.6 yards for the 1986 season in that RNS offense. Chuck Witherspoon was 5-9 at 229 pounds.
I think you mean 1989..

And Weatherspoon averaged 11 carries a game. Together with Kimble Anders they combined for a whole 13 carries per game.

By contrast Ware threw the ball 52 times per game that same season.
 

JB

Innocent Bystander
Contributor's Club
Earl would’ve gave him a reason. Pardee ran the ball at UH….Witherspoon averaged 9.6 yards for the 1986 season in that RNS offense. Chuck Witherspoon was 5-9 at 229 pounds.
Weatherspoon nor Pardee was at UH in 1986. They got there in 1987. Weatherspoon didn't get a carry at RB until 1988, and then averaged less than 12 carries a game over the next 3 years
 

Earl34

Hall of Fame
How do you rate Derrick Henry by comparison? Derrick reminds me of Earle.
Based on my user name, you know I'm going to be biased. IMHO. I don't think you can compare them. Henry is not your typical power RB. Henry is tough after he gets past the LOS. However, because of his height, stride and running style, he's not in Campbell's class. Sometimes, it takes him to long to get going. This season, watch how he approaches the LOS. Especially when he doesn't have an immediate hole.

In fact, I think Henry is a bigger, stronger Tony Dorsett than a bruising, power RB like Campbell.
 
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Earl34

Hall of Fame
Two of my favorite Bum Phillips' quotes about Earl.

To a reporter who said, "He sure gets up slow", after Earl Campbell had been tackled. "Yes, but he goes down slow, too."

On RB Earl Campbell's inability to finish a 1-mile run "When it's 1st and a mile, I won't give it to him."

- Bum Phillips
 

Earl34

Hall of Fame
One of my favorite running backs of all times. He was a monster out there.
As a kid, when I started playing football. When asked what position I wanted to play, only because of Earl, I immediately said RB. It took me weeks of games and practices to realize that there is a significance to the play calls and designated holes. I wasn't supposed to just get the ball and look for someone to run over. Thinking about it. I probably was concussed for those few weeks.
 

OptimisticTexan

2024 / Rebuilding Block 4 After Playoffs / Texans
Weatherspoon nor Pardee was at UH in 1986. They got there in 1987. Weatherspoon didn't get a carry at RB until 1988, and then averaged less than 12 carries a game over the next 3 years
If your RB gets you 1300+ yards in a season….does it really matter how many carries it takes to do it so long as it’s not 400 carrie’s?

Career wise….395 R / 3,247 Y / 8.2 A / 27 TD

Also…..117 C / 1,375 Y / 11.8 A / 8 TD

He was getting enough touches to make difference during his 33 games.

When Pardee was with the Oilers and during their 12-4 campaign….they ran the ball 25.6 times per game. That would be far more than 3 carries a game.
 

Toro Bravo

Rookie
The Monday Night game vs the Dolphins will always stand out to me.
Agree, that MNF game his rookie year was just a super human performance - 4 TD's, 199 yards on 28 carries. However, as Double Barrel pointed out, the play against the Rams where he trucks Isaiah Robertson will always stand out.
Houston Oilers - Earl Campbell runs over Rams (Original Commentary) - YouTube
We had season tickets in 1978 and I saw a lot of Earl and Luv Ya Blue. It was truly a special time I hope we can duplicate. There is only 1 Earl and 1 Bum but they were perfect for the city, time and each other. It's time to start a new culture with Demeco, CJ and Will.
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
The Monday Night game vs the Dolphins will always stand out to me.
This is the game that I remember the most.

Also the Denver game when SS Steve Foley stepped up into the hole perfectly as taught to tackle Earl. Unfortunately for Foley he tried to tackle Earl around the thighs. Mistake, followed by a concussion. The Robertson run was a memory also.
 

JB

Innocent Bystander
Contributor's Club
This is the game that I remember the most.

Also the Denver game when SS Steve Foley stepped up into the hole perfectly as taught to tackle Earl. Unfortunately for Foley he tried to tackle Earl around the thighs. Mistake, followed by a concussion. The Robertson run was a memory also.
Can't forget his collision with Jack Tatum at the goal line
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
The current state of Earl is exactly why the game has changed. He is crippled and struggles with cognitive issues from all the hits he gave and took.
He knew the risks and has even talked about this

There was no reason to change the game.
 

JRingo

Rookie
I flew a puddle jumper from Minneapolis to Green Bay several years ago and was seated next to a guy on the short flight. We got to talking and he asked me where I was from etc.. Asked him where he was from and he said Florida and said he was interviewing for a job interview in Green Bay. It was in February and I asked why in the heck was he interested in working there. Said he was interviewing for lb coach for the Packers. I asked him if he use to play for the Steelers with long ass hair. He laughed and I said you must be Kevin Greene. He laughed and said yes and that he was interviewing with Dom Capers. Told me missed the game and wanted to get far away from family and friends that were always asking for money. Told me he was a Captain in the Alabama national guard and had been on numerous trips to Iraq and Afghanistan to visit our troops. We wished each other well and he was hired that next week. A super nice guy. Gone too soon..
 
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