Things weren’t going well for Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell in the first half of the Big 12 championship game on Saturday.
No. 10 Oklahoma had a 24-7 halftime lead over the No. 6 Cyclones, quarterback Brock Purdy wasn’t having a great performance, defensive back Isheem Young was ejected less than a minute into the game for targeting and, at one point late in the first half, Campbell didn’t get a call he wanted and absolutely lost it.
On 4th-and-2 on Oklahoma’s 34-yard line with about six minutes left in the second quarter, Iowa State tried to bait the Sooners to jump offsides. When the Cyclones didn’t get the call they wanted, Campbell — whose mask was not covering his face — lost his cool and unleashed a long tirade against the game’s officials.
Matt Campbell LOST IT after there was no offside call on this play 👀 pic.twitter.com/o7oyn4GH1f
— ESPN (@espn) December 19, 2020
MATT CAMPBELL IS LOSING HIS MIND pic.twitter.com/DSX5tDZjg4
— Cover 3 Podcast (@Cover3Podcast) December 19, 2020
If anyone should have been penalized, it should have been Campbell for this angry explosion. Passion, enthusiasm and defending your team is great, but this is clearly over the top.
Even if you feel you’ve been wronged, this is a totally absurd way for a coach to operate on the field, and getting in people’s faces while not wearing a mask in the middle of a global pandemic isn’t a good look either.
And while some fans loved it, others offered jokes at his expense for this ridiculous behavior.
When you know your brother Buzz ate the last of the cheese pizza on purpose https://t.co/CX4j1lgPLr
— Travis Hines (@TravisHines21) December 19, 2020
Find something you love as much as Matt Campbell loves arguing non-existent penalties.
— Blinkin Riley (@blinkinriley) December 19, 2020
Me when one of the boys shows up with Miller Lite instead of Busch Light https://t.co/uvtTzYJXz4
— Colton Denning (@Dubsco) December 19, 2020
I have never had a reason to dislike Matt Campbell until now. For the 2nd time today, he has shown that he doesn't understand the rules of football.
— Degadoga (ᏕᎦᏙᎦ) (@TsmitOU) December 19, 2020
Matt Campbell, please tell us how you really feel about the refereeing in today's Big 12 title game😂😂 pic.twitter.com/iadR1QxwlY
— Aaron Torres Sports Podcast (@AaronTorresPod) December 19, 2020
Matt Campbell did this for 45 seconds straight and didn't spit his gum out once. amazing. pic.twitter.com/oYoQfnMKaw
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) December 19, 2020
Matt Campbell gonna be like this after that temper tantrum pic.twitter.com/TvQc8vQ3Fg
— Chiefs (12-1) (@Carter_Clay10) December 19, 2020
Matt Campbell about to come out there and pull a WWE move on the refs #Big12Championship pic.twitter.com/ggOLWCOKyr
— StateLine Sports (@statelinesportz) December 19, 2020
Matt Campbell (@?) should've been penalized for that temper tantrum. Grow up.
— 🏆🎉T.A.F.K.A. @Winters4ksu🎉🏆 (@WintersOfEarth) December 19, 2020
Matt Campbell: pic.twitter.com/KWan1IwrWC
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) December 19, 2020
Congrats Oklahoma
The only way you lose this game is if Matt Campbell literally kills these refs pic.twitter.com/Xp7gbWqj3g
— Kirby Smart is Nick Saban’s Son (@BuiltBySaban) December 19, 2020
Matt Campbell gunna watch the replay and realize he looks like an idiot #Sooners
— Rob (@ok_bert) December 19, 2020
Matt Campbell just lost his shit and kind of looks like an idiot but you know who loves it? His players. His fans. That's what matters.
— Eddie Radosevich (@Eddie_Rado) December 19, 2020
