Matt Campbell Notebook | Practice No. 1

Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell spoke following Tuesday's practice as the Cyclones prepare for Notre Dame in Saturday's Camping World Bowl. 

On bowl experience from last year helping the team this year:
"It's kind of like the journey we've been on this year. With a young team, a lot of stages that have been big stages. Sometimes the fear of making a mistake can paralyze you a little bit. You can see in some of the games. We might not have gotten off to a great start.

"I don't think it had anything to do with just us going through some of those moments for the first time. I think it was huge for a guy like Brock to play in a game like that and understand how to handle it. Now, it will be his second time and you've seen Brock learn from his experiences and he's done a great job of it." 

On team remaining focused on the game:
"What's great about bowl games is if you have a powerful purpose, you can keep things as normal. That's the one great thing about our kids, our program and our team. These are powerful experiences. The opportunity to have a purpose is really strong.

"When you have that, you can keep a really good routine and still be able to enjoy some of the moments, but really have a great opportunity to have a strong purpose.”

On receiver Deshaunte Jones:
"The neat thing about Deshaunte is he's the quiet leader. He's a guy who is confident. He's done everything in his power to be the best version of him he can be. Guys have seen that. Our players have seen it. Young players have seen that and they've been able to rally around that. 

"When he speaks, his words are powerful and strong. I think he really has been a great rallying point not only for the youth in the receiver room, but for our entire team at times. He's been a guy who has been able to bring everything together. I've been really proud of that." 

On what quarterback Brock Purdy learned from last year's bowl game:
"That environment was really powerful. I think for a guy like that where so much is on your shoulders, you got to feel it and go through it. Then you have to experience it to know how to prepare for it. 

"All those things are great navigating forces as he gets ready to take on another powerful stage and another powerful opponent." 

On routine for bowl game:
"I think it's been fun to be part of a lot of them and see how it's been done the right way and maybe see how it's not done the right way. You have to be unique. You want to give the kids the opportunity to experience the bowl trip because they've earned it.

"I'm a competitor and our coaches are - that's a great thing about our program. We're not coming down here for vacation. We're coming down here to be the best version of ourselves we can be. 

"We'll have to be to even compete against an opponent like this. That part is exciting for us."