Campbell says goals remain

The 2017 season has been a successful one so far for the University of Central Arkansas football program and its Coach Steve Campbell.

UCA (8-1, 7-0 Southland Conference) moved up one spot to No. 3 in the Football Championship Subdivision coaches poll, which is the Conway school’s highest ranking in the FCS poll since it began playing at that level in 2006.

Senior quarterback Hayden Hildebrand has passed for 2,366 yards with 23 touchdowns and

7 interceptions this season. Sophomore running back Carlos Blackman leads UCA with seven rushing touchdowns. On defense, senior linebacker George Odum has a team-high 90 tackles.

“A lot of people have stepped up,” Campbell said at the Little Rock Touchdown Club on Monday at the Embassy Suites. “Hayden Hildebrand has played great. The people that we needed to play really good have played really good. They have stepped up and played really well.”

UCA has two games left in the regular season — Saturday at Incarnate Word and Nov. 18 against Abilene Christian at Estes Stadium in Conway. Campbell said his team isn’t satisfied with its strong start.

“We got a lot of goals and expectations,” Campbell said. “Our first goal is to win a conference championship. Win this game and you’re conference champions. Then

worry about the next [game] after that. We’ll take it one week at a time.”

At one point during his speech Monday, Campbell couldn’t resist the opportunity to poke fun at an in-state rival.

On Oct. 23 at the Touchdown Club, Arkansas State University Coach Blake Anderson addressed several University of Arkansas, Fayetteville supporters.

“We were running a little bit late today, and I apologize,” Anderson said. “I was having trouble trying to figure out which [Sun Belt] conference championship ring to wear.”

Anderson also recalled a story in a Jonesboro elementary school classroom. In the second-grade classroom, all but one student raised a hand when asked by their teacher whether the students were Razorbacks fans. The student raised her hand and said she was a Red Wolves fan because both of her parents were.

The teacher said, “You don’t have to be exactly what your parents are. What if your parents are both losers?”

“Well,” Anderson said the student replied, “then I’d be a Razorback.”

Anderson, after the crowd erupted in laughter, “Is it too soon? Is it too soon?”

Campbell’s Bears defeated Anderson’s Red Wolves

28-23 on Sept. 24, 2016, in Jonesboro. The Bears coach told several UCA athletic department members Monday he wasn’t going to tell any Razorbacks jokes.

Instead, he used last year’s UCA victory over his friend Anderson to take a friendly jab.

“Blake is one of my buddies,” Campbell said. “I’ve got too much respect for them and their program. They got a great program. Blake does a great job.

“Matter of fact, they played us as tough as anybody last year. They were right there with us.”

Anderson, whose Red Wolves are 5-2 overall and 4-0 in the Sun Belt this season, responded to Campbell’s comments on Twitter later Monday afternoon.

“Well played…well played Steve,” Anderson tweeted. “Congrats on [a] great season. Keep it rolling. #LoveIt!!!”

Campbell