Athletes often describe sports as a fraternity where they look out for each other’s best interests, and the same seems to go for coaches. Penn State head coach Matt Campbell is getting ready to take his team to eastern Pennsylvania to play a game against Temple, which has him reflecting on his relationship with Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni.
The Nittany Lions will be playing the Week 2 contest at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Eagles, so Campbell has had some discussions with his longtime friend. When asked how much of a sounding board Sirianni has been throughout their careers, Campbell told reporters, “Nick has been a great sounding board. I think we’ve gone through some of the same journeys as head football coaches — good moments
and tough moments.
The two coaches struck up a friendship during their playing days at Mount Union, a Division III school they helped lead to three national championships in a row. They maintained that connection for decades after they graduated, and now their paths cross once again as they both prepare for games at Lincoln Financial Field this weekend.
For Sirianni, he’s getting ready to embark on his sixth season as head coach of the Eagles, but Campbell is primed to coach in just his second game for Penn State. It’s nice to have someone to lean on when such a big change is taking place in life, and that’s exactly what Campbell has with Sirianni.
“Obviously that relationship, that friendship, having the ability to have somebody that’s kind of going through some of the same journeys has been huge,” said the Nittany Lions coach.
Somehow, two men from small towns in the northeast became the faces of two of the biggest flagship franchises in North American sports. They have a ton of pressure on them to perform, but it seems like their friendship helps them navigate through it all.
Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X and Facebook.
If you purchase through our links, the USA Today Network may earn a commission. Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State’s Matt Campbell leaning on NFL head coach ahead of Week 2
