AUBURN, Ala. – Flanked by his grand nephews, Randy Campbell smiled Saturday on Pat Dye Field, the playing surface named for the head coach who entrusted Campbell to lead Auburn to the 1983 SEC championship.
“My wife’s a Georgia grad so I’m trying to get these young guys steeped in orange and blue as early as I can,” said Campbell, accompanied by his wife, Nancy.
Campbell returned to his alma mater to receive Auburn's 2024 Walter Gilbert Award, presented annually to former student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through achievements after graduation.
Forty-five years earlier, when Campbell arrived at Auburn from Morgan County High School in north Alabama, he was the Tigers’ 11th-string quarterback.
Two years later, Auburn hired Coach Dye, who implemented a strenuous winter conditioning program early in 1981.
“It was incredibly challenging physically, mentally, emotionally, on every level,” Campbell told Andy Burcham in a recent Talking Tigers podcast. “All you thought about was, can you make it through the next day?”
For approximately three dozen players, the answer was no. Those who stayed and endured laid the foundation for Auburn’s excellence in the 1980s.
“He felt like he had to put us through that to separate the people who really wanted to be there and were committed to winning championships from the ones who weren’t,” said Campbell, who ascended the depth chart to become the starter in 1982 and 1983. “I’m glad there wasn’t a transfer portal back then. We might not have had anybody left.”
On a sunny Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium before Auburn’s win over Louisiana Monroe, Campbell reminisced.
“I do have a lot of great memories out there,” he said. “It reminds me of a perfect fall football day. If I wasn’t so old, I’d like to play today.”
In addition to his family, Campbell was joined by previous winners of the Walter Gilbert Award for the presentation.
“It’s very humbling,” Campbell said. “I know a lot of the people who have won this award and they’re all fantastic Auburn men and women. Great athletes and great people. All of them give back their time and resources to Auburn. Just a wonderful group.”
In the four decades since he helped Auburn win the 1984 Sugar Bowl to finish with an 11-1 record and No. 3 Associated Press ranking, Campbell has consistently given back to Auburn while excelling in business.
“Auburn University took a chance on me, gave me an opportunity, and I developed wonderful relationships while I was here,” Campbell said. “I’ve always felt the responsibility to give back to Auburn in any way that I can, whether it’s being an ambassador for the school, working on a committee on the foundation board or trying, when we can, to help financially.”
Before leaving the field, the quarterback, revered by generations of Auburn people as a winner, gave his final instructions.
“I love Auburn. War Eagle, and let’s keep it rolling.”
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer