Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell has offered an impassioned message to high school football players as their season begins, highlighting the sport's purity at the amateur level.
Amidst the significant changes in college football driven by Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules and players returning to collegiate play after NFL stints, Campbell described high school football as the sport's last truly unadulterated amateur arena.
"You guys grew up together, and I know this: we've got a couple of coaches that have seniors. They have seniors that are opening up tonight. And man, you never forget your senior year for sure," Campbell told reporters on Thursday. "You don't forget all of them, but man, wherever you're at, make the most of it because you're not guaranteed to be able to get a chance to play and be with those guys that you grew up with. Enjoy the game at that level."
Campbell, 50, reminisced about the sensory details of high school football, including the smell of freshly cut grass and the excitement of games played on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. He characterized the experience as a time of "wins and the sacrifice and the hard work and the blood and the sweat and the tears."
He specifically encouraged younger players on high school teams to recognize the significance of the season for their senior teammates. "If you're a young guy, man, I'm a freshman. I'm a sophomore. I mean, you owe it to the seniors because this may be the last time – you get one more shot – They don't," Campbell stated. "So give them everything you got and make it a special year for them because next year is your year. and you're going to want those young guys to help you. So, man, enjoy it. It doesn't last, and you'll remember it the rest of your life."