John Tyler opened the 1973 season with a 20-0 win against Greenville and never looked back. They finished the regular season undefeated, with a gratifying win over Tyler rival Robert E. Lee High School. With the Lee defeat in their rear-view mirrors, Earl and the JT Lions went on to defeat Plano 24-7, an unbeaten squad from Conroe, an Arlington Heights team that featured Earl's future Houston Oilers teammate, Mike Renfro, and an Arlington Sam Houston team 21-7. Earl and the Lions found themselves on their way to the state championship, where they would match up against a team from Earl's future hometown, Austin Reagan, in a stadium that would be Earl's future NFL stomping ground, the Houston Astrodome.

Earl rushed for over 200 yards that night and led his undefeated team to a state championship over Reagan 21-14. The John Tyler Lions had finally reached their goal of achieving Texas football greatness.

But unknown to he and his family, Earl's powerful running and dominant presence on the field had attracted the attention of some of the most prominent collegiate recruiters, including the East Texas recruiter from the University of Texas, Ken Dabbs. It was at the state championship game where Dabbs brought legendary coach Darrell K Royal to see Earl play in person and meet him for the first time. He was impressed with Earl's stature, and he knew in that moment that he wanted Earl Campbell to be a Longhorn.The post-season brought Earl another All-American honor but this time at the running back position. In only his first season as the full time running back, Earl rushed for 2,224 yards, averaging 225 yards per game. But life after high school football also brought the confusing recruiting process into the lives of Earl and his mother, Ann. She already knew she did not want her "rock" going to college far from home. So Earl narrowed his choices down to Houston, Oklahoma, Baylor, Arkansas and the University of Texas.

At Coach Royal's insistence, Dabbs spent 17 consecutive days at the Tyler Ramada Inn so he could focus his recruiting efforts on the most dominant running back in Texas, Earl Campbell. Dabbs practically lived with the Campbell family during this time, learning more about Earl's personality, his family values, his work ethic and the many "guardian angels" that had become a part of his life, including Reuna, his mother and Coach La Croix and his wife Ann. But the day came when Coach Royal himself visited the Campbell home. Following on the heels of Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer's home visit, in which Earl committed a campus visit to Norman, Royal found himself very nervous about the meeting. Ann Campbell was also anxious about having such a well-known coach in her modest home. Due to the stress, she fell ill on the day of Royal's arrival. Always cordial and courteous, however, Ann found the strength to welcome Royal in her home. She apologized for the appearance of her home. Putting her fears at ease, Royal told her a story about his childhood in rural Oklahoma where he grew up extremely poor. He also promised Ann that he would ensure the safety and well-being of her son while he was away at college. This, he promised, would be an excellent opportunity for Earl to not only succeed at football but would also give him a chance to walk away with a college degree from the University of Texas.

After Royal's successful visit to Tyler and Earl's exciting visit to Norman, he narrowed his choices down to those two schools: it would be Oklahoma vs. Texas. He decided to "officially" visit UT. Raymond Clayborn, a future NFL defensive back, met Earl at the airport. Clayborn told him that he thought Earl had what it would take to win the Heisman trophy. But, ironically, Earl had never even heard of the Heisman trophy!

Earl was not accustomed to people giving him the "Royal" treatment. But that is what he received during his visit to Austin. He was so pleased with his visit that he decided to verbally commit to Texas on that trip. But everyone knows that in the world of recruiting, a verbal commitment means nothing until an institution receives a written letter of intent.

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