Cody Campbell and Texas Tech coaching staff

Cody Campbell and Texas Tech coaching staff

The events of yesterday were great! Steve Sarkisian got the fan base fired up and laughing at event full of Texas fans. Fans of Texas and Texas Tech had a terrific X fight to follow. Peak off-season, especially following Lane Kiffin stirring up Ole Miss a week'ish prior. 

When Cody Campbell sent out his tweet to Sark and CDC he presented the opportunity to ask a question that I believe needs to be addressed by Campbell and the entire Texas Tech football staff. 

I simply asked Campbell on X this ... "Question ... as a former college athlete at Texas Tech, are you okay with a player that bet on a team he was a part of continuing to retain eligibility ever or period? Would you have been okay with this scenario as a starting Texas Tech player?" 

I believe this is a very important question Campbell needs to answer. And look, I'm not expecting him to answer because he can hide behind the legal process and Sorsby's agent. But it's very important for Campbell to answer this at some point. He's literally a former very good DI athlete that now wants to have one of the most important voices in the future of college athletics. If he would be okay with Sorsby retaining his eligibility and suiting up again in college athletics, every fan in the country should hear it from him. If not, the same. If he wants to be a powerful voice in college athletics, he needs to declare on the issue of a college athlete betting on a team he's a part of. And this isn't a Texas Tech vs Texas issue for me, at all. This is all about the fabric of team sports. One guarantee I can make is Cody Campbell was never on a team or never heard a speech from a coach that included it's okay for a player to bet on a team he is a part of. Whether it's the third team long snapper, fifth team running back, number seven receiver or starting quarterback. So he 100% needs to declare on this issue in my opinion.

And I also believe the entire Texas Tech coaching staff needs to declare their position as well. And they likely won't for the same reason, but I really hope I'm wrong. And I think that is bad for team sports. Can you imagine how many speeches the entire Texas Tech staff has given to a team or players over their careers? Can you also imagine how many conversations and in-home visits the staff has conducted with prospects and parents? It's in the thousands. How many times do you believe any coach on the staff has told prospects or parents it's okay if you bet on the team you play on? The obvious answer is NONE. And the reason is simple, betting on your own team is the one aspect of team sports that is an unquestioned no-no. Period. 

I grew up in coaches offices and have spent my 20+ year career going to high schools and colleges. I've heard hundreds, if not more, speeches from coaches and been around coaching offices and part of conversations for pretty much my entire life. And to the surprise of absolutely nobody, I have never heard one coach say they are okay with a player betting on his own team. As you can imagine, it's the opposite. 

For me, Cody Campbell and the Texas Tech staff need to declare where they are at. They likely all have kids growing up (or grew up) in team athletics as well. Do we think any of their conversations with their own kids involved the phrase, "It's okay if you bet on your own team". I think we all know the answer. 

Cody Campbell needs to declare as a former DI athlete with a huge voice in the future of college athletics. Does he really want to help college athletics in the future? This is a golden opportunity for him to declare strongly. And the entire Texas Tech staff needs to do the same to remain truthful and real to their profession. Otherwise, not a single person should ever listen to a word they say again. If they can't declare where they stand on an issue they have always known is a non-starter in team sports, then why should anyone listen to them in the future?