--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Coming up as a kid, I played middle…" description: "\"Coming up as a kid, I played middle linebacker and I was very bow-legged, and I wanted to be like the legendary Dick Butkus.\" — Earl Campbell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/297/earl-campbell-22219_coming_coming-up-as-a-kid-i-played-middle-lineb_2965888.jpg" --- # Coming up as a kid, I played middle linebacker and I was… ![“Coming up as a kid, I played middle linebacker and I was very bow-legged, and I wanted to be like the legendary Dick Butkus.” quote by Earl Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/297/earl-campbell-22219_coming_coming-up-as-a-kid-i-played-middle-lineb_2965888.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/297/earl-campbell-22219_coming_coming-up-as-a-kid-i-played-middle-lineb_2965888.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/297/earl-campbell-22219_coming_coming-up-as-a-kid-i-played-middle-lineb_2965888.jpg) > “Coming up as a kid, I played middle linebacker and I was very bow-legged, and I wanted to be like the legendary Dick Butkus.” [Earl Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-campbell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reflects on childhood aspirations despite physical limitations, inspired by a football legend. **In simple terms:** Dreams persist despite obstacles. Key Takeaway Pursue goals regardless of setbacks. Themes sports aspiration determination Mood reflective motivational Type personal sports When to use this quote - team sports - coaching - personal development Key Concepts role models physical challenges Questions to Reflect On - What obstacles have you overcome? - Who inspires your perseverance? A Different Perspective Physical limits may hinder progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coming/) [Dick Butkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dick-butkus-2023199/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kid/) [Legendary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legendary/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Linebacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/linebacker/) [Linebacker Bow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/linebacker-bow-4542221/) [Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle/) [Middle Linebacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-linebacker-1211009/) [Played](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/played/) [Played Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/played-middle-860037/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) ## Related quotes > [I've tried to bring the mentality of the outside linebacker to the inside and the rough, tough style of an inside linebacker to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junior-seau/i-ve-tried-to-bring-the-mentality-of-the-outside-linebacker-to-the/) [Junior Seau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junior-seau/) > [Death is not the end. Death is the middle linebacker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alejandro-king/death-is-not-the-end-death-is-the-middle-linebacker/) [John Alejandro King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-alejandro-king/) > [In football, the middle linebacker is the field captain, and it's the same for a catcher in baseball - you're the field manager. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/in-football-the-middle-linebacker-is-the-field-captain-and-it-s-the/) [Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/) > [I want to be recognized as the best-no doubt about it. When they say all-pro middle linebacker, I want them to mean Butkus!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-butkus/i-want-to-be-recognized-as-the-best-no-doubt-about-it-when-they-say/) [Dick Butkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-butkus/) > [I had a full-ride football scholarship as a middle linebacker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-jacob-friedman/i-had-a-full-ride-football-scholarship-as-a-middle-linebacker/) [Maxwell Jacob Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-jacob-friedman/) > [I really want to stand out as a middle linebacker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-wagner/i-really-want-to-stand-out-as-a-middle-linebacker/) [Bobby Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-wagner/) > [Stan Hansen was a tough-as-nails freshman middle linebacker when I was a senior at West Texas State. He was a damn good football player,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-funk/stan-hansen-was-a-tough-as-nails-freshman-middle-linebacker-when-i/) [Terry Funk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-funk/) > [It's just dumb that people think that. 'Why did you help that guy up after you tackled him?' Because I wanted to. What's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-urlacher/it-s-just-dumb-that-people-think-that-why-did-you-help-that-guy-up/) [Brian Urlacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-urlacher/) > [I like to play wide, but as a youth, I played more in the middle as a 10.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-sane/i-like-to-play-wide-but-as-a-youth-i-played-more-in-the-middle-as-a-10/) [Leroy Sane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-sane/) > [At Porto, I play out wide, on the right, with two other attackers. But I can play in any position in the attack, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hulk/at-porto-i-play-out-wide-on-the-right-with-two-other-attackers-but-i/) [Hulk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hulk/) > [In previous years, I've played in the middle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-foden/in-previous-years-i-ve-played-in-the-middle/) [Phil Foden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-foden/) > [It would be fun if I were 40 pounds heavier and a little bit faster to get in and play some linebacker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-vinatieri/it-would-be-fun-if-i-were-40-pounds-heavier-and-a-little-bit-faster/) [Adam Vinatieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-vinatieri/) > [The defining moment of my life came... when I trotted onto the field wearing a purple jersey No. 46, shoulder pads meant for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morten-andersen/the-defining-moment-of-my-life-came-when-i-trotted-onto-the-field/) [Morten Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morten-andersen/) > [It really doesn't matter to me whether it's defensive end or linebacker. I just want to play the game of football. I've been working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaines-adams/it-really-doesn-t-matter-to-me-whether-it-s-defensive-end-or/) [Gaines Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaines-adams/) > [Ray Lewis, I've grown up watching Ray Lewis. Just watching his intensity, his passion for the game, his love for the game, his work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manti-te-o/ray-lewis-i-ve-grown-up-watching-ray-lewis-just-watching-his/) [Manti Te'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manti-te-o/) ## More by Earl Campbell > [I always knew that I wanted to do something in business and I prepared myself for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-campbell/i-always-knew-that-i-wanted-to-do-something-in-business-and-i/) [Earl Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-campbell/) > [I think one game we played the Oakland Raiders and Jack Tatum and I had an accident on the one-yard line. The only thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-campbell/i-think-one-game-we-played-the-oakland-raiders-and-jack-tatum-and-i/) [Earl Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-campbell/) > [I learned from different guys I played with, too. The key was probably three people: The good Lord, the offensive linemen I played with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-campbell/i-learned-from-different-guys-i-played-with-too-the-key-was-probably/) [Earl Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-campbell/) > [I talk to student-athletes. I try to get them to remember that they're not just athletes, but student-athletes. You need to get an education,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-campbell/i-talk-to-student-athletes-i-try-to-get-them-to-remember-that-they-re/) [Earl Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-campbell/) > [I have a company called Earl Campbell Foods. I got into the meat business in 1991.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-campbell/i-have-a-company-called-earl-campbell-foods-i-got-into-the-meat/) [Earl Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-campbell/) > [Sometimes I pay for it, With the way I walk now, the things I did to my body wasn't supposed to be done. 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That's the team…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-campbell/pittsburgh-was-a-great-team-coach-noll-joe-greene-jack-lambert-l-c/) [Earl Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-campbell/) > [Somebody will always break your records. It is how you live that counts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-campbell/somebody-will-always-break-your-records-it-is-how-you-live-that-counts/) [Earl Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-campbell/) > [I try to get them to remember that they're not just athletes, but student-athletes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-campbell/i-try-to-get-them-to-remember-that-they-re-not-just-athletes-but/) [Earl Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-campbell/) [Explore all 28 Earl Campbell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-campbell/) ## More Coming quotes > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [With all the technology we're inventing and what they're coming up with scientifically, people are having longer lifetimes. 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He was watching from the outside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kell-brook/dominic-ingle-has-seen-me-probably-from-9-years-old-coming-through-he/) [Kell Brook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kell-brook/) > [When I see a fan coming over, I can't help but make an assumption about what they want to talk about. 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