College baseball fans! I know the fall season is dry for you since there are no games going on, but I am back again this year and am excited to make this time of year just as great as springtime. Football is cool and all, but it certainly is no baseball. Our falls are full of tough weight room sessions, getting to know new teammates, our Fall World Series, lots of running, and great community service experiences. I cannot wait to share all of this with you and give you more insight into what it’s like to be a Fighting Camel.
As I returned to Campbell University about a month ago, that same old feeling of excitement and nervousness hit me like it had the past two years. Going into my junior year, I haven’t been more ready since I moved in my freshman year. We had our first team meeting and it was fun getting to see all of the fresh, new faces and of course my returning teammates as well. We had great introductory talks about all that was expected of us. We were constantly reminded that nothing was going to be easy and that we had to come together as one big family as soon as possible. Everyone stood up and announced their name, where they were from, and what year or class they belonged to. Of course every new name was forgotten very shortly after they sat down. This was okay because we had time to chat and put names to faces after the meeting was over. Our head coach, Justin Haire, made sure that every one of our guys knew our four core principles which are Faith, Family, Country, and Campbell.
Coach Haire advises but does not force a faithful lifestyle on our team. It is important to him and he tells us how helpful it can be after making it a priority in our lives. Secondly, we talked about the family aspect which I already touched on briefly. Many of our guys are from the West coast and many more are at least from outside of North Carolina. Because of this, it is important to make teammates feel at home and welcome at all times. Nothing can be accomplished if we aren’t close friends throughout the process. Our program also stresses what it means to be patriotic and proud to be a part of the country we live in. It is very easy to show up every day doing what we love to do without realizing how blessed we are to have this opportunity. Personally, I want to make sure I don’t take anything for granted this year. The foundation of Campbell baseball extends farther than just this team. Everyone should take a few moments each day to count their blessings and understand how lucky they are to live in this country. Lastly, we talked about Campbell. This consisted of us keeping this school and team at the center of our hearts. When putting in the amount of time and effort we do on a daily basis, we have to love the process. We have to commit completely to what it takes to be successful. Taking pride in our facilities, work ethic, and most importantly the name on the front of our jerseys were emphasized heavily.
This meeting was just the start to this year. We have had individual practices and team workouts and they have been a grind but are going well. The summer conditioning routines given to us by our coaches can make the first week easier but definitely not easy. It is obvious that the Campbell program is making a renewed commitment to conditioning and strength. We began the fall with the sub-6 minute mile. This first goal was the key to getting “team grays” (our gear before our actual gear) and moving to the next phase in the process. The mile run wasn’t just about individual times. It also marked the first challenge for the team. It is not enough to make your run and move on. Each Camel player is responsible for every other teammate. I am proud to say that all the Fighting Camels have achieved this milestone and moved forward. Each player has established goals in the weight room and in nutritional meetings. My personal goal is a 5 lb weight gain. The coaches are working with me to create the right eating habits that will allow me to gain 5 more pounds the right way. Fall conditioning also means the weight room. We are putting in the work. The strength coaches keep us motivated in every session. It is a mental and physical commitment to getting stronger every day to prepare for the season ahead.
It could be easy to complain about the grueling conditioning that we partake in and the constant grind, but when it comes down to it there’s nothing like doing everything with your new family. February will be here before we all know it and I could not be more excited about it and to share this year’s experiences with you all. The steps we take in the fall are critical to our success in the spring. Until next time! Roll Humps!
Drew Butler
