New Detroit Lions mentor Dan Campbell, in an enthusiastic, passionate, exceptional and at times interesting hourlong news meeting, wove his way through looking at gnawing kneecaps to inviting travelers to referring to “The Big Lebowski” as he acquainted himself with his new city and group.
On the off chance that there were any inquiries concerning the sort of energy Lions proprietor Sheila Ford Hamp and group president Rod Wood were searching for in their next lead trainer, it was apparent from the second Campbell ventured to the mouthpiece to the second he left it.
Campbell allowed a 19-minute opening explanation, given explicit replies answers on a huge number of themes and communicated precisely what sort of group he needed one that reflects the city he once played for.
“This place has been kicked. It’s been battered. It’s been bruised. And I could sit up here and give you coachspeak all day long,” Campbell said Thursday. “I can give you, ‘Hey, we’re going to win this weekend.’ None of that matters, and you guys don’t want to hear it anyway. You heard enough of that, excuse my language.
“Here’s what I do know. This team is going to take on the identity of this city and this city has been down and it found a way to get up. It’s found a way to overcome adversity, right? So this team is going to be built on, we’re going to kick you in the teeth, right? And when you punch us back, we’re going to smile at you. And when you knock us down, we’re going to get up and on the way up, we’re going to bite a kneecap off. All right? And we’re going to stand up and it’s going to take two more shots to knock us down. And on the way up, we’re going to take your other kneecap and we’re going to get up and it’s going to take three shots to get us down. And when we do, we’re going to take another hunk out of you.
“Before long, we’re going to be the last one standing. That’s going to be the mentality.”
Campbell’s directive for the enthusiasm he needs his group to play with and for him to mentor with was clear. He conceded part of what he was selling Thursday were pitches for likely free specialists to come to Detroit.
It likewise was the first run through any of Campbell’s new players had heard him talk, so he needed the message to come through to them.
Campbell likewise indicated his humor, beginning his presentation by kidding he wound up in Detroit by telling his representative, Rick Smith, to ensure the Lions accepted they were meeting with Iowa State mentor and hot NFL instructing prospect Matt Campbell.
What’s more, Campbell perceived his likeness to the character The Dude, played by Jeff Bridges in “The Big Lebowski,” saying he has heard the examination previously yet “the hair is not like it used to be.”
The Lions clearly grasped the reference to “The Big Lebowski,” recognizing Campbell as “Head Coach/The Dude” on the nameplate hanging outside his office.
“I think the football team can spark something great here. But, listen, that’s in my core what I believe, man,” Campbell said. “Look, I don’t want to sell you guys something that you’ve been sold so many times over believe me I get it. And I wouldn’t want any of you guys to just jump on board right now and be like, ‘I’m sold, I got it 100 percent.'”
“I wouldn’t expect you to. But I’m going to do everything in my power to win you guys over and get our team to win you guys over. At the end of the day, I know wins and losses are the only thing that matters. But when I say I want our team to take on the identity of this city, I mean it.”
