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University of Minnesota Athletics
Future Gopher Q&A: Josh Campion
4/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Throughout the winter and spring, GopherSports.com has been bringing you interviews with future Gophers who signed letters of intent earlier this year. Next up is offensive lineman Josh Campion. GopherSports.com caught up with the Fergus Falls, Minn. product to get his thoughts on TCF Bank Stadium, wrestling and his little-known ability to walk on his hands. Campion spoke to GopherSports.com on the phone earlier this week. Here’s a transcript of that interview:
GopherSports.com: Has it all sunk in that you’re officially a Golden Gopher yet?
Josh Campion: Yes, absolutely. I have been training a lot and doing drills that the Gophers do. It is going to be so fun.
GopherSports.com: Can you talk about the recruiting process and what made you decide to come to Minnesota?
Josh Campion: To be honest with you, I didn’t want to go anywhere else even if I could have. The first thing that I said to Coach Brewster was that I would love to play for you some day and that was before they thought I was any good. I went up to Coach Brewster, shook his hand and said that I would love to be a Gopher some day.
GopherSports.com: Is there anyone you like to emulate or pattern your game after?
Josh Campion: I know my coaches are not going to like this too much because he plays defense, but I really liked Reggie White. I liked him the most because I did a biography on him when I was in school. Reggie White was a Christian man that led the football team with good leadership through a Christian point of view. He played for the Lord when he put the helmet on and he played for Him when he was just hanging out, too.
GopherSports.com: How has wrestling helped you with football?
Josh Campion: I think a lot with conditioning and one-on-one technique. It is really fun and it has helped out a lot.
GopherSports.com: When did you decide to focus on football instead of wrestling?
Josh Campion: I actually love wrestling just as much as football. It is harder to go further with wrestling in Minnesota, because the university has such an excellent program and excellent football. The wrestling program has so many State Champions. I am not a State Champion and not as good at wrestling as I am at football. I have been wrestling since I was four years old. I love wrestling a lot.
GopherSports.com: What advice has your brother given you being a college and professional athlete?
Josh Campion: Yes, he played in the NFL for a while. He is the one person I give credit to for where I am at now. If it wasn’t for him, I can guarantee that I wouldn’t be half the football player I am today.
GopherSports.com: Do you realize you’ll be part of the first class to play your entire Minnesota career at TCF Bank Stadium?
Josh Campion: It is huge for me. I really want to start out with a bang. I know everyone else on the team would like to have an undefeated season at home. You can’t really beat that.
GopherSports.com: What does it mean to you to continue to play in Minnesota?
Josh Campion: This is my home state and not too many people know that I used to live right across from the Gibson-Nagurski Football Complex when I was a freshman in high school. I would see all the football players go to practice and I knew that Minnesota was the place I wanted to go to school before anyone thought I would play football. It is just home to me. I wouldn’t expect to go anywhere else.
GopherSports.com: What are you looking forward to most this summer when you get to campus?
Josh Campion: Just playing football. I was playing earlier today and doing some drills. Football is just fun.
GopherSports.com: What are your goals for your first season with the Gophers?
Josh Campion: I would love to play. That is what I would really love to do and that is everybody’s goal. I just want to work as hard as I can and do my best. If I am blessed enough to play, then I am.
GopherSports.com: What are your long-term goals for your college career?
Josh Campion: I sure want to win a National Championship, if not two. That is what we all shoot for, to do our best.
GopherSports.com: What have you been up to since Signing Day?
Josh Campion: I have been busy with school and had been wrestling a lot. I have been doing a lot of workouts for the football program. I work out every single day of the week. It’s a blast. It is truly a blessing to be able strap up the pads and have fun every day.
GopherSports.com: What’s your favorite thing to do if you have a day to yourself to do anything you want?
Josh Campion: I have an old muscle car and my ultimate day would be to fix it up, work on it and drive it around a little bit. It is a 1967 Cougar.
GopherSports.com: What music are you listening to most right now?
Josh Campion: I like a lot of music. It just depends. In my car, the only station I get in my hometown is country.
GopherSports.com: Is there one song that gets you pumped up before hitting the weights or before a game?
Josh Campion: Led Zeppelin, Stairway to Heaven.
GopherSports.com: Favorite movie or movies ever?
Josh Campion: I would have to say Forest Gump. I like it because I like history a lot.
GopherSports.com: Favorite type of food? If you had to choose your favorite meal, what would it be?
Josh Campion: I really like spaghetti. I like Tater-Tot Hot Dish, which would have to be my favorite.
GopherSports.com: What’s can’t miss TV for you?
Josh Campion: My buddies and I watch South Park every Wednesday night.
GopherSports.com: Do you have any hidden talents that maybe not many people know about?
Josh Campion: I can walk on my hands for a long distance. It is just a trait from wrestling because you have to have strong upper body strength.
GopherSports.com: Is there anything you’d like to say to Gopher fans who will be reading this?
Josh Campion: Get ready to see some great teams coming up. I think Coach Brewster is one heck of a coach, along with Coach Davis, my offensive line coach. There is no doubt in my mind that we are going to have some great football teams coming up.
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