End Zone: UT Rockets

O'Brien hitched his ride to Campbell; upcoming years should be fun

BY RYAN AUTULLO
BLADE SPORTS WRITER

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UT's seniors settled into a corner of BG's Doyt Perry Stadium for an impromptu photo shoot, each hoisting four fingers signifying their career-long lease of the 25-mile strip of I-75 separating the two schools.

That snapshot from Saturday I believe illustrates why Matt Campbell received a contract extension Wednesday. There were only about 10 seniors pictured.

Campbell, with a small senior class, is winning somehow while positioning the program for future success.

Linebacker Junior Sylvestre, a junior, had three sacks. Freshman Kareem Hunt, the next great UT back, went over 100 yards for the second straight week. He did it behind a line of four juniors. Catching the winning pass was a sophomore, Alonzo Russell, who had two TD grabs on the day. A touchback into stiff wind by junior Jeremiah Detmer crimped BG's final series.

Athletic director Mike O'Brien knows quickly if he likes a coach. He extended Tricia Cullop after one year. Tim Beckman, Tod Kowalczyk, and Campbell got new deals by their second year.

O'Brien just hitched his ride to Campbell, and the upcoming years should be fun times.

Contact Ryan Autullo at: rautullo@theblade.com, 419-724-6160 or on Twitter @AutulloBlade.

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