New Campbell University President Dr. William Downs spoke to members of Campbell University’s men’s basketball team on Thursday, introducing himself and welcoming a new head coach and team made up of almost entirely new transfer players.
Speaking courtside in an empty Gore Arena before the team’s summer workout, Downs spoke of athletics’ role as the “front porch” of Campbell University and the importance of being role models and good representatives of the school both on and off the court.
“Always remember, you’re an ambassador for this institution,” Downs said. “You’ll be under a microscope. People will watch you. They’ll know your name. They’ll care about how you behave on the court and how well you do on the court. But they’ll also care about how well you’re doing in the classroom. They’re going to look and say, ‘OK, what are they doing in the community? How well are they representing themselves on social media?’ Just know that everybody’s watching. There will be little kids coming here just to watch you guys play.”
Downs shared his own experience growing up as a fan of NC State basketball and watching his favorite player, David Thompson, leader of the 1974 national championship team and a Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer. He recalled years later, when he was president of Gardner-Webb University, meeting Thompson at a Big South Conference tournament game and getting his picture taken with his childhood hero.
“I grew up loving basketball and believing that my team — who everybody else discounted — could and would find a way to take down the giants,” Downs said. “And they did.”
The men’s basketball team was Downs’ third team to visit since becoming president on July 1. On July 14, he spoke to Campbell’s football program, and then on July 17 he visited with the women’s basketball team. In his third week on campus, Downs met with new student-athletes participating in the University’s Summer Bridge program. Downs plans to meet with all teams throughout his inaugural year.
Hopes are high for the basketball program after naming former University of Florida assistant John Andrzejek head coach in the spring. Andrzejek played a key role in leading Florida to its third national title in April, and he’s brought in several transfers from solid mid-major programs to build a winner at Campbell, which hasn’t made it to the NCAA Tournament in over 30 years.
Speaking to the team, Downs said he chose Campbell for many of the same reasons they did — “incredible academic programs,” “awesome campus,” “strong faith foundation” and being part of a “sports crazy state.” He showed the team his two Big South Championship rings the basketball programs at Gardner-Webb won (one men’s, one women’s) during his time in Boiling Springs, and he challenged the Fighting Camels to head into their season with sights set on winning their own. Downs lauded the team’s upcoming schedule, which will include road games against blue chip programs like Gonzaga and Wake Forest and Big Ten teams Minnesota and Wisconsin.
“Don’t think of these games as David vs. Goliath,” Downs said. “When you go to those games, walk in with swagger. Walk in with confidence. [Coach Andrzejek] is going to have you ready.”
Downs concluded with a charge for the players to run a clean program, one that follows NCAA rules and guidelines and one that “wins the right way.”