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Campbell makes a heart-warming return to the football field
By STEVE FRANKLIN, Sports Writer
GREENVILLE — A couple of years ago, Terence Campbell’s future at East Carolina looked bright.
As a red-shirt freshman in 2006, Campbell burst into the starting lineup at offensive tackle. He started 11 games at right tackle before shifting to the left side for the final two games after Eric Graham went down with a knee injury.
He recorded 47 knock downs and logged 880 snaps in his first season.
His stellar play drew the eye of coaches across Conference USA, as well as the national media, both of whom selected the 6’5” mountain of man to Conference USA’s All-Freshman Team.
He was a star in the making, a sure bet to be entrenched at the tackle slot at ECU for the next three years.
Then, all of a sudden, tragedy struck.
While going through offseason workouts on Feb. 26, 2007, Campbell began to feel queasy and there was a tightening sensation in his chest. He continued to push himself though, attributing the ill feeling to a cold that he’d been battling for weeks.
He spoke with trainer Mike Hanley later during the workout and informed him of what was going on. Hanley told him to go home and monitor the situation. If things worsened, they’d take action.
Hours later, Campbell’s chest palpations got stronger. His arms tingled. His side went numb.
Still more than a week from his 20th birthday, young Terence was having a heart attack.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Campbell said. “It was the scariest thing I’ve ever been through. I’m a football player, I exercise all the time and take care of my body, but I’m having a heart attack? I thought I was dying.”
That night, doctors performed an angiography to X-ray the heart.
“They found a bit of blockage in there,” Campbell said. “But the confusing part was that they didn’t think it was enough to cause a heart attack.”
Nevertheless, in the early morning hours of Feb. 27, 2007, Campbell underwent an emergency angioplasty to clear the blocked vessels.
“They said it was a combination of a lot of things,” Campbell said. “It was part blockage, part chest cold.”
Two days later, he was released from Pitt County Memorial Hospital, and a week after his near-death experience, Campbell was back on the Greenville campus attending class.
Campbell was glad to be back in the classroom, but he immediately turned his focus towards returning to the football field.
Running from doctor’s appointment to doctor’s appointment became a way of life for the 300-plus-pound lineman.
While he was determined to strap on the helmet once again, doctors had a different opinion. They wanted to make sure Campbell was out of danger.
So for the next few months, Campbell underwent a plethora of tests. He passed all with flying colors, but a return to the football field was ruled out for the 2007 season.
“That was the tough part,” Campbell said. “I never thought about missing football. I always figured I’d get back out there and play a couple of months later.
“It was hard to watch the games. I knew I could play, but I couldn’t get clearance.”
Campbell’s clearance finally came this February, a couple weeks before the Pirates kicked off the spring football season.
On the final day of February, Campbell made his return to the practice field.
“It was so great to see Terence get back out there,” center Stephen Heis said. “We all know how bad he was hurting having to miss last season. He’s been through a lot, and we’re all glad to see that he’s back.”
Since the incident, Campbell has undergone some huge changes in his life. Salads and fruits are an important part of his diet these days. Not greasy cheeseburgers and pizza.
“I’ve learned to take care of my body,” Campbell said. “You’ve got to take care of yourself, no matter how old you are.”
Now 15 pounds lighter, at 6’5”, 320 pounds, Campbell is back in a purple and gold uniform. But there’s still work to do.
He’s currently listed as a reserve tackle behind senior Stanley Bryant on the Pirates’ preseason depth chart.
“We’re glad to have Terence back,” offensive line coach Steve Shankweiler said. “We’re glad to see that he’s okay. Right now, he’s listed as a backup, but he’s a competitor and he’s fighting to get his job back. He wants to get back on the field, and he’s working hard to do so. He’s definitely pushing those guys in front of him and making them better.”
Coach Skip Holtz is certainly glad to see the big man back on the practice field.
“When you look over and see Terence with his trademark smile it brings a smile to your face,” Holtz said. “You never want to see something like this happen to one of your players. He’s been through a lot and we’re happy to see that he’s made it back.”
Now, Campbell’s next big moment will come when he runs out of the tunnel at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte when ECU opens the season on Aug. 30 versus Virginia Tech.
“Everyday is a new milestone,” Campbell said. “I look forward to that first game. That will be special. Then I can move on and put this whole ordeal behind me.”
As a red-shirt freshman in 2006, Campbell burst into the starting lineup at offensive tackle. He started 11 games at right tackle before shifting to the left side for the final two games after Eric Graham went down with a knee injury.
He recorded 47 knock downs and logged 880 snaps in his first season.
His stellar play drew the eye of coaches across Conference USA, as well as the national media, both of whom selected the 6’5” mountain of man to Conference USA’s All-Freshman Team.
He was a star in the making, a sure bet to be entrenched at the tackle slot at ECU for the next three years.
Then, all of a sudden, tragedy struck.
While going through offseason workouts on Feb. 26, 2007, Campbell began to feel queasy and there was a tightening sensation in his chest. He continued to push himself though, attributing the ill feeling to a cold that he’d been battling for weeks.
He spoke with trainer Mike Hanley later during the workout and informed him of what was going on. Hanley told him to go home and monitor the situation. If things worsened, they’d take action.
Hours later, Campbell’s chest palpations got stronger. His arms tingled. His side went numb.
Still more than a week from his 20th birthday, young Terence was having a heart attack.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Campbell said. “It was the scariest thing I’ve ever been through. I’m a football player, I exercise all the time and take care of my body, but I’m having a heart attack? I thought I was dying.”
That night, doctors performed an angiography to X-ray the heart.
“They found a bit of blockage in there,” Campbell said. “But the confusing part was that they didn’t think it was enough to cause a heart attack.”
Nevertheless, in the early morning hours of Feb. 27, 2007, Campbell underwent an emergency angioplasty to clear the blocked vessels.
“They said it was a combination of a lot of things,” Campbell said. “It was part blockage, part chest cold.”
Two days later, he was released from Pitt County Memorial Hospital, and a week after his near-death experience, Campbell was back on the Greenville campus attending class.
Campbell was glad to be back in the classroom, but he immediately turned his focus towards returning to the football field.
Running from doctor’s appointment to doctor’s appointment became a way of life for the 300-plus-pound lineman.
While he was determined to strap on the helmet once again, doctors had a different opinion. They wanted to make sure Campbell was out of danger.
So for the next few months, Campbell underwent a plethora of tests. He passed all with flying colors, but a return to the football field was ruled out for the 2007 season.
“That was the tough part,” Campbell said. “I never thought about missing football. I always figured I’d get back out there and play a couple of months later.
“It was hard to watch the games. I knew I could play, but I couldn’t get clearance.”
Campbell’s clearance finally came this February, a couple weeks before the Pirates kicked off the spring football season.
On the final day of February, Campbell made his return to the practice field.
“It was so great to see Terence get back out there,” center Stephen Heis said. “We all know how bad he was hurting having to miss last season. He’s been through a lot, and we’re all glad to see that he’s back.”
Since the incident, Campbell has undergone some huge changes in his life. Salads and fruits are an important part of his diet these days. Not greasy cheeseburgers and pizza.
“I’ve learned to take care of my body,” Campbell said. “You’ve got to take care of yourself, no matter how old you are.”
Now 15 pounds lighter, at 6’5”, 320 pounds, Campbell is back in a purple and gold uniform. But there’s still work to do.
He’s currently listed as a reserve tackle behind senior Stanley Bryant on the Pirates’ preseason depth chart.
“We’re glad to have Terence back,” offensive line coach Steve Shankweiler said. “We’re glad to see that he’s okay. Right now, he’s listed as a backup, but he’s a competitor and he’s fighting to get his job back. He wants to get back on the field, and he’s working hard to do so. He’s definitely pushing those guys in front of him and making them better.”
Coach Skip Holtz is certainly glad to see the big man back on the practice field.
“When you look over and see Terence with his trademark smile it brings a smile to your face,” Holtz said. “You never want to see something like this happen to one of your players. He’s been through a lot and we’re happy to see that he’s made it back.”
Now, Campbell’s next big moment will come when he runs out of the tunnel at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte when ECU opens the season on Aug. 30 versus Virginia Tech.
“Everyday is a new milestone,” Campbell said. “I look forward to that first game. That will be special. Then I can move on and put this whole ordeal behind me.”
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